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Letters To The Editor

Letter to the editor: E-bikes are here to stay, get used to it

I’ve seen a lot of bad electric vehicle drivers

Re E-bikes on Toronto streets: It’s a love-hate thing (NOW, November 18-24).

The popularity of e-bikes is a change we all have to get used to. There will be more in the future. The city needs to plan accordingly.

I have an e-scooter and drive on a bike lane. I don’t go more than 20 kilometres an hour. The problem is some cars are deliberately pushing or pinning us to the side of the road onto bike lanes when we try to pass into vehicle traffic. Bike lanes are often full of parked cars.

I admit I’ve seen a lot of bad electric vehicle drivers and the community has been trying their best to educate everyone on proper use. But if you think about it, it’s the same with cars – there will always be bad drivers.

Ara J.From NOWTORONTO.COM

Size – and speed – matters with e-bikes

We require a license for motorbikes but not electric bikes. Size matters and being hit by an electric bike (which almost has the same footprint as a motorcycle) can be catastrophic. There is no “cycling” aspect to it (or very little of it) as the pedals on some bikes are for show. Newer e-bikes use throttle control which is very similar to a motorcycle.

People on e-bikes are gutsier than motorcyclists. They shoot down the centre dividing lane, ride against traffic, then jump on the sidewalk when they meet an obstacle. Some of them have zero regard for even the most basic rules of the road because they are nimble and can easily make a getaway. It’s chaotic. And it’s only going to get worse if we don’t get ahead of it.

I’m a cyclist and a driver, and I cringe when I see e-bikers do stupid things. They need to realize that they can only get away with this behaviour because we let them.

Kev ChoiFrom NOWTORONTO.COM

Car advertising still not geared up for global warming

One would think that car makers would have gotten the message by now that perhaps a little sensitivity should creep into their advertising. Yes, there are ads for hybrid and all-electric cars, and nods to the part these vehicles play in helping temper global warming. And then there’s Nissan Pathfinder burning rubber up a mountain track barely hanging on to the gravel surface, and speeding through a quiet forest road.

Geoff Rytell TORONTO

The argument against term limits for councillors

In regards to Carl Canmore’s letter on term limits for city politicians (NOW Online, November 14). It seems like a good idea. However, the problem with term limits is once a politician is elected to that second term, they can stop caring because they won’t be running for re-election anymore. A more practical solution would be three terms, then the person has to sit out one term before being allowed to run again.

Mitch KlingerWillowdale

Making health services more accessible

Re Op-ed: City needs its own mental health and addictions strategy (NOW Online, November 12).

One way the government could make mental health service more accessible would be to stop taxing psychotherapy.

Rachel FulfordFrom NOWTORONTO.COM

Lack of COVID enforcement to blame for sinking TTC ridership

Re Can the TTC be saved from pandemic devastation? (NOW Online, November 19).

The lack of mask enforcement on the TTC is a huge issue and they have no one but themselves to blame for that. Before COVID, staff were rude and insulting, schedules were a joke and overcrowding was commonplace. Go to Berlin to see a functioning transit system.

Stephanie QuinlanFrom NOWTORONTO.COM

@nowtoronto

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