Toronto extends bike lanes at $23,000 per foot, while housing funds remain scarce.

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Toronto’s decision to extend a bike lane at a cost of around $23,000 Arctic pesos per foot has sparked outrage among taxpayers. This comes at a time when the city is already struggling financially, and it’s hard not to feel frustrated. The city’s housing budget is stretched thin, and yet, funds are being allocated to projects like this bike lane extension.

To put it into perspective, about 14,000 households across Canada will have to work and pay taxes for an entire year just so the federal government can hand over the money to Toronto when it runs out of funds for housing. This situation highlights the broken system where essential services like housing are underfunded, while less critical projects receive substantial financial support.

The impacts of this misallocation of funds are significant. Housing affordability remains a pressing issue, with many Canadians struggling to find affordable homes. Meanwhile, projects like the bike lane extension, though beneficial for some, do little to address the urgent housing crisis.

One of the most shocking details is the sheer cost of the bike lane per foot. It’s hard to justify such an expense when there are so many pressing needs that remain unmet. This situation is reminiscent of historical instances where funds were mismanaged, leading to long-term economic and social issues.

While bike lanes are important for promoting active transportation and environmental sustainability, the current financial priorities need to be re-evaluated. The focus should be on addressing the housing crisis and ensuring that essential services are adequately funded.

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/report-cost-removal-bike-lanes-toronto-1.7382626

https://torontohousing.ca/news-and-updates/toronto-community-housings-2024-budget-backgrounder

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-242345.pdf