With just two weeks remaining until Toronto’s municipal election, Etobicoke residents are weighing in on the issues they want the city’s next mayor and council to address, including traffic congestion, bike lanes, and housing affordability.
As the Oct. 26 election approaches, candidates are making their final pitches to voters. Now Toronto spoke with residents in the city’s west end about the concerns they hope elected officials will prioritize.
Traffic and bike lanes top concerns for some residents
For Etobicoke resident Gary M., traffic congestion is a major concern, and he hopes the next mayor will take steps to address it, saying bike lanes contribute to the problem, particularly when they appear underused.
“I understand people need to get around, and a bike is a great way to do it. I’m a cyclist myself, but Toronto is a new city. We’re not an old European city, so these things are sitting vacant during winter time, especially out here,” he said.
Gary believes the city could do a better job of listening to residents and responding to their concerns about traffic.
“Sometimes you’ll come down Bloor Street, trying to get on the Gardiner, you see just a line of traffic, and then there’s these two giant bike lanes on each side, there’s nobody using them,” he said. “If they’re not using them in July, they’re certainly not going to use them in January.”
Jeff K. shares similar concerns about bike lanes in the Kingsway area, arguing that they are negatively affecting nearby businesses and contributing to traffic problems.
“It’s all the businesses. The traffic’s terrible. Safety vehicles can’t get through. So it, yeah, it’s got to be fixed. It’s got to be fixed fast,” he said.
Jeff also believes the city has not addressed the concerns of people who live and work in the area.
“They’ve ignored everybody here completely. It’s all about the environmental piece, and people aren’t looking at the day-to-day lives of people who live in the area,” he said.
He wants the city and the next council to remove the bike lanes and consider alternative routes.
“Take them out fast. Put them back to where they were. Put them on a secondary route,” he said.
Housing affordability remains a concern
For other residents, housing affordability is a more pressing issue.
Helen B. said she wants the city to address the growing number of people who lack access to affordable housing.
“I would say there are too many people in this city who don’t have a place to live,” she said.
Helen also highlighted the importance of maintaining Toronto’s infrastructure, but said housing affordability needs greater attention as more residents struggle to find a place to live or afford to buy a home.
“I see more and more people without housing, and I know that it’s almost impossible for people to buy housing unless you are in that upper category of wealth. So that’s unfortunate in all cities,” she said.
George O. also identified affordability as a concern, but said he believes creating more opportunities for residents is an even greater priority.
“The city, they’re not doing the best job about it. Honestly, affordability is a smaller issue than opportunity, and I feel like opportunity is the biggest issue right now,” he said.
