Over the last decade, Vancouver has doubled down on investment in biking and active travel. It is not the only city using pedal power as the solution to cutting carbon and congestion; from Montreal to Smithers, Toronto to Calgary, cities of all shapes and sizes are investing in cycling.
Our Community Bikes has witnessed this progress from the frontline. However, as demand for our services and programs has demonstrated, there is a long way to go.
To find out more about how Canada’s cities are advancing cycling, and the barriers they face, OCB talked to Professor Meghan Winters, a leading active travel expert at Simon Fraser University. Leading the Cities, Health and Active Transportation Research Lab, Mobilizing Justice, INTERACT and many other projects, Winters has conducted research on a range of sustainable transportation-related initiatives.
Your work has involved extensive research into accessible and inclusive active travel. What led you to this field? And what excites you about it?
I’ve been riding my bike to get around in the city for 30+ years. For a long time, it was because it was the cheapest way to get where I needed to go. Certainly I also ride for physical activity, for efficiency, and for climate reasons. I’d say it just became a part of who I am. I love seeing the city at this pace. Many of my ideas come to me while I’m on my bike!
While in my early years I may have been somewhat fearless, I’ve certainly realized – as I rode around the city pregnant, then with kids on the bike, and then letting them ride alongside or independently – that gaps in the cycling network mean many people can’t get where they need to go on a bicycle. They don’t have route choices that feel safe and comfortable.
That is to say, in my research I am working toward ways we can shape our cities so that people of all ages and abilities have transportation choices – and they don’t need to be as reliant on motor vehicles. Making major shifts in how people get around can create quieter, safer, and less polluted cities for EVERYONE to live in, for years to come.
On the Mobilizing Justice project you are on the Transportation Modes working group. This explores the barriers Canadians face when using different modes of transportation (e.g. walk, bike, transit, car). What are the leading barriers which you feel Canadian cities should address, and have the current capacity to do so?
I’d start by giving a call out to a great new book by Anna Zivarts “When Driving is not an Option”. This book does a stellar job of bringing forward the stories of people who cannot or do not drive, for reasons related to disability, to age (young or old), for financial constraints, or for personal reasons.
Most people don’t realize that for 30% of our population, driving is simply not an option.
Governments design and invest in our cities largely overlooking these people – those who might most need the support.
In terms of what barriers need to be addressed, simply put, we’re in a major deficit of sustainable transportation infrastructure as a result of building cities in ways that prioritize motor vehicle travel for many, many decades. Governments always face budget constraints; however, it’s all trade-offs. We can choose to spend more transportation dollars on public transit, on sidewalks, and on bicycle infrastructure, instead of roads and highways.
Which barriers will take longer and involve more investment and resources?
While sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure may come at a fraction of the cost of new roads and highways, initiatives like rapid transit projects are certainly big ticket items. Still, this is a crucial investment, as rapid transit can enable large volumes of people to travel longer trip distances. I’m pleased to see the federal government making greater investments, such as through the Canadian Public Transit Fund, which will provide $3 billion per year for public and active transportation infrastructure, starting in 2026-7.
Why might some of these barriers be specific to Canadian cities? (eg: urban design, social, political factors)
Something that often comes up as a barrier to Canadian cities is our climate – the cold winters and snow. Being from Vancouver I do get teased when I speak about this, but I’d highlight that Canadian cities such as Edmonton, Quebec City, and many others have established proactive plans for snow clearing for their bike networks. Also in Montreal, the BIXI bike share program is open year round (and expansion from 50 stations in winter 2023 to150 stations in winter 2024).
Politics are always at play, although that is not anything uniquely Canadian. Cities with bold leaders can make major progress towards supporting sustainable transportation (e.g., Mayor Valorie Plante in Montreal!). They can also take us backwards. Currently, we’re all watching Ontario Premier Rob Ford’s Bill 212. If this controversial bill passes, it gives the province sweeping control over municipal bike lanes and may result in the removal of three major corridors in Toronto (Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue).
Transportation is a challenge in cities of all sizes – the large, the mid-sized, and the small communities. People need sustainable transportation infrastructure to travel within their community, but also options for travel between communities, or across larger regions. In much of Canada there are not currently intercity rail- or bus- options, making for different patterns than Europe.
What I would say is that cities are interested in learning from each other and learning from cities they consider “peers”. Partnerships like Mobilizing Justice, or national practitioner-oriented meetings like the Transportation Association of Canada, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, or the Canadian Institute of Planners are great places for Canadian communities to share with each other.
Your working group also addresses transport poverty. What have been the main findings? And how might these factors have changed in the last decade?
Transport poverty occurs when social and economic disadvantage compounds with transportation disadvantage, such as not having access to a car, poor public transit options, or substandard walking and cycling infrastructure. When transportation options are unsafe, unaffordable, or unsuitable, they can create barriers for people trying to get and keep a job, access healthcare and social services, buy groceries, or participate in community activities.
Estimates suggest that more than 1 million Canadians are in transport poverty. Unless we are building major public transportation projects, and in communities that most need them (not only the easiest, politically or logistically), we’re not going to see that decline. Luckily, we do know what is needed!
The Transportation Modes group seeks to develop and implement an outreach and engagement strategy for involving local and national organizations. Where have you seen good practices for this?
With Mobilizing Justice, the Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) has been running a Community of Practice since 2022. This is a venue where community organizations and researchers can come together to improve the understanding of experiences of Canadians facing transport poverty, and help to move forward priorities and community initiatives in response.
Mobilizing Justice has also developed a Catalogue of Canadian Community Initiatives Addressing Transport Poverty, which documents and describes community initiatives across Canada that are addressing transport poverty and increasing modal choice. There is an interactive map so you can find community organizations in your local area.
Mobilizing Justice is also creating other end-user tools, such as the Transportation Equity Dashboard. On this tool you can explore, map, and share the accessibility in your community.
What would be your advice for local governments and transport sector stakeholders who are seeking to coordinate outreach with local advocacy and grassroots initiatives?
I’d encourage governments and decision-makers to be listening carefully, valuing the expertise, and compensating local advocacy and grassroots initiatives for time and input. There is so much passionate advocacy in our communities, and a vibrancy in this space. However, it’s done on such a shoe-string budget, or off the side of one’s desk.
Our Community Bikes conducts extensive work on engaging young people in cycling by equipping them with the skills and knowledge around bike maintenance. Through your research, what have been some of the other factors preventing young people from cycling?
I know in our work with youth in South Vancouver, we’ve heard they really need safe, comfortable infrastructure that connects them to the places and people they care about. Many youth rely on active transportation – they don’t have cars to get around – but the see active transportation as both functional and fun.
Bike share might be one way to help youth to have more choices for how get around. It can be faster and more flexible than our crowded transit lines! One thing I’ve been pleased to see is the Mobi’s partnerships with high schools. Offering passes for $20 annual pass is a great deal! In my neighbourhood I regularly see teens commuting to school using Mobi. Especially for kids who may not have bikes and/or places to store them, this is a great way to still enable them to use bikes to get around the city.
When it comes to Canada’s progress on active travel, what are you most excited about? And what do you feel will be one of the biggest challenges ahead?
I’m loving that e-bikes are more affordable and available. E-bikes allow more and different people to get on a bike, for more and different kinds of trips. My 87 year old father is still regularly out and about on his e-bike! We also see families with kids on e-bikes, getting to school, to soccer practice, or just around town. All this makes a difference to everyday travel choices, and the volumes of motor vehicles on the road.
The biggest challenge will always be political will. As the region continues to grow it is true that we will need ‘sticks’ alongside ‘carrots’ in our policy solutions if we are to get a handle on congestion and keep goods movement flowing. Congestion pricing will be a vital policy for liveable cities. The City of Vancouver looked into congestion pricing in 2020 but voted it down in 2022. In January 2025 congestion pricing launched in New York City, and the very early estimates suggest ~10% decreases in motor vehicle traffic.
Something to watch carefully!
