Below are a few items that I think you might find interesting:
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is currently accepting applications for a second round of the national Active Transportation Fund (ATF) Capital Projects stream and, in a win for shared micromobility, non-fixed assets like bike share bikes are no longer ineligible for funding. I wrote about this for NABSA's blog. Check out the full post for more details. Applications are due February 26, 2025, and Indigenous communities can apply until April 9, 2025.
A reminder that Stuckless Consulting Inc.'s active transportation research tracker is available to help you make the case for walking and wheeling! The tracker includes highlights from academic articles showing the benefits of active transportation for the environment, health, economy, equity, and safety. Sign up to receive access today. A huge thank you to my colleague Nancy Smith Lea for her incredible work on this one.
My last newsletter in Fall 2024 was focused solely on everything that was wrong with Ontario's Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act (Bill 212). Since then, Bill 212 has received Royal Assent, and the provincial government is making plans to remove select bike lanes in Toronto, and require municipalities to get approval from the Ministry of Transportation to build bike lanes that reduce the number of motor vehicle lanes. The bill was widely opposed and Cycle Toronto has officially launched a legal challenge against the bill. Learn more about the legal challenge and support Cycle Toronto financially if you can.
On that note, Cycle Toronto is hiring! The cycling advocacy organization is looking for a Development Officer and a Programs Manager. Postings for both roles are currently on their website and applications are being accepted until February 16, 2025.
Mobilizing Justice has released a policy brief on how local elected officials in Canada think about transportation equity. I found this brief to have a lot of interesting insights, including the critical role of municipal staff. 81% of elected officials said they regularly relied on municipal staff for information about transportation barriers. They also highlighted the need for clearer, less technical communication from staff, not only for their own sake, but also so they can communicate better with their constituents.
Award winning planning and policy expert Charles T. Brown has written a book and it's available now for pre-order. “Arrested Mobility: Overcoming the Threat to Black Movement” examines why mobility is not afforded in the same way to everyone and how un-arresting mobility creates an opportunity not just for a better society for Black people, but for all people. The book is being released in May 2025, and you can pre-order it now online or through your local bookstore.
In case you missed it: Ontario's kick-style e-scooter pilot has officially been extended until November 2029. At present, there are 16 jurisdictions that have opted in to the pilot to permit e-scooters on public roads. The pilot extension is good news for jurisdictions looking to opt-in, and those hoping to continue evaluating safety and local demand. The pilot was initially scheduled to end in November 2024.
Last year, New York City launched an e-bike battery charging pilot to promote the safe use of e-bikes, reduce fire risks, and test different battery charging technologies. E-bike charging stations serve a group of pre-registered delivery workers and feature three charging technologies - two battery swapping cabinets and one dock-based charging solution. Initial reports on the pilot say it has been highly successful, with positive feedback from delivery workers and over 8,000 battery swaps made and nearly 1,000 charging sessions completed.
Vancouver-based HUB Cycling has been a longtime leader in the delivery of cycling education programs, and they are currently hiring for a Director of Bike Education. The deadline to apply for this exciting role is February 15, 2025.
It's looking like Ontario will be heading into a provincial election soon, and that a federal election will follow sometime later this year. For the last few years, I have been actively volunteering with local candidates that I want to represent me by knocking on doors, dropping informational postcards, and making phone calls. There's a lot to feel overwhelmed, angry, scared, and disappointed about in politics right now. For me, volunteering is a chance to be part of supporting the positive change I want to see in our community. And that feels good. I also like hearing what community members are thinking about and I feel proud providing people with the information they need to get out to vote. I was so nervous and unsure the first time I volunteered, but quickly found that it was fun and easy! I know campaign volunteering is not an option for everyone, but if it is for you, I encourage you to get out there. Candidates should provide you with training when you sign up. Bring a friend, or make a few on the campaign trail.
