To: Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and Honourable MPP Stan Cho

Dear Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and Honourable MPP Stan Cho,

We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Willowdale and Sheppard Ave East, are writing to express our concerns regarding the bike lanes recently installed on Willowdale and Sheppard Ave E. While we understand and appreciate promoting sustainable and safe bike transportation option, the concern is not about the benefits of bike lanes, but we believe that the current implementation of bike lanes on Willowdale and Sheppard Ave East has led to unintended negative consequences that outweigh its benefits. 

Key Concerns:

Low Usage: The bike lanes have seen minimal usage since their installation. Observations and informal counts conducted by community members indicate that the number of cyclists using these lanes is significantly lower than anticipated. According to Statistics Canada data from May 2024, 71.2 percent of Toronto-area residents took a car, truck, or van to work, while 22.7 percent rode transit, and only 5.4 percent used “active transportation,” meaning they walked or cycled. This underutilization raises questions about the necessity and efficiency of dedicating full traffic lanes for this purpose.

Increased Traffic Congestion: The reduction in available lanes for motor vehicles has resulted in increased congestion, particularly during peak hours. This has led to longer commute times, increased frustration among drivers, and potential negative impacts on local businesses that rely on smooth traffic flow for customer access.

Environmental Impact: While bike lanes are generally considered environmentally friendly, the increased congestion caused by reduced traffic lanes on Sheppard Ave East leads to higher vehicle emissions. This is contrary to the original goal of reducing the community's carbon footprint.

Safety Concerns: The current configuration in fact poses safety risks for both cyclists and motorists. With limited space for maneuvering, there is an increased risk of accidents occurring between different modes of transportation.

Request:

In light of these concerns, we request scrapping the current on-going and future constructions of Sheppard Ave East bike lands. We also request the province to work with the city to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis to assess the long-term viability of maintaining the bike lanes on Willowdale and Sheppard Ave East.

We look forward to your response and hope for a constructive dialogue on this matter.

Sincerely,

Willowdale and Sheppard Ave East Residents and Community Members