The real tragedy is removing the bike lanes in Toronto

Re Toronto’s bike lane fiasco a tragic waste of money,

Letter, Dec. 4

How do we mitigate climate disruption if we don’t help motorists leave their cars at home?

Bike lanes provide a sustainable transportation alternative. Research shows they also support local businesses — no small virtue given that merchants are struggling.

In 2019, University of Toronto researchers published a study on the economic impact of the pilot bike lane on Bloor. Their conclusion: “Monthly customer spending and number of customers served by merchants both increased on Bloor Street during the pilot.”

What’s tragic is removing bike lanes when they’re needed most.

Gideon Forman, The David Suzuki Foundation