Bike Sense

Curious about cargo e-bikes but hesitant to invest thousands without trying one first? North Vancouver has created an elegant solution that's transforming how families approach transportation decisions. All you need is a library card to check one out. Duncan Wilcock , co-founder of Better North Shore, joins Bike Sense to share the story behind North Vancouver's groundbreaking cargo e-bik...

Nick van Egmond, CEO of Bicycle Broker, introduces 'Sundays' — a comprehensive insurance solution designed specifically for cyclists that covers theft and damage for all types of bikes across Canada.  Traditional home and tenant insurance typically demands a high deductible and leaves gaps in bicycle coverage. This new product provides 24/7 protection both on and off your property, with...

Find out how the simple act of feeling wind in your hair can transform a day of isolation into one filled with joy, connection, and even awakened memories. Jennifer Reid, Co-Founder and Director of Vancouver Cycling Without Age Society, joins us to explore how specialized three-wheeled 'trishaws' are creating magical moments for seniors across British Columbia. What began with one bike n...

Active transportation in Indigenous communities isn't just a matter of movement — it's also about culture, identity, and safety. Aaron Pete , Chawathil First Nation Councillor (and Podcaster!), shares how the Chawathil are forging partnerships to support the Coast to Canyon Trail near Hope, BC, identifying the changes necessary for safe travel within the region, and integrating tradition...

UBC Prof and Transportation Engineer Dr. Alex Bigazzi explains how e-bike rebate programs are transforming the transportation landscape in BC. Bigazzi has all the data on who gets the subsidies, how the bikes are being used, whether anyone is taking a 'free ride' on the program, and whether e-bikes are actually replacing cars ... or bikes. Dr. Bigazzi also shares how a pioneering subsidy...

What if a simple policy change could dramatically decrease road injuries and elevate community well-being? Dr. Michael Schwandt , Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, helps us unravel the transformative potential of a 30 km/hour speed limit on residential streets in British Columbia. We examine how this seemingly small adjustment could significantly reduce traffic fatalities and in...

Tannis Braithwaite , retired lawyer and director with the Connect the Coast Society, shares her passionate advocacy for the Connect the Coast Trail — a visionary cycling project linking Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Sunshine Coast along the Highway 101 corridor.  Inspired by the success of Cycle 16's Smithers-to-Telkwa trail, we explore how provincial and federal support can b...

Subha Ramanathan, Manager of Programs and Partnerships for the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Ontario, explains Ontario's transformative Bike Friendly Community Awards – touching on how municipalities achieve scores (The Five 'E's), how the awards competition boosts active transportation, and how we might bring this program to BC. BONUS: Peter's Rant! In which Peter unleas...

An eye-opening conversation with Steve New, board member of Island Pathways and former Chief Operating Officer of BC Transit . We explore the ambitious vision of completing the 180-kilometre Salish Sea Trail loop on Salt Spring Island's narrow roads, and dive into the role of BC Transit in enabling active transportation across B.C. Island Pathways: improving transportation on Salt Spring Isla...

Consul General for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to BC, Sebastiaan Messerschmidt, shares his firsthand experiences of growing up in a country that prioritizes cycling. From his nostalgic childhood memories of biking freely and safely to his current efforts in promoting active transportation projects globally, Sebastiaan offers a unique perspective on the transformative power of cycling-friendly i...

How does a fleet of cyclists lobby City Hall at a meeting where there's no bike parking? BCCC Bike Valet Grant Administrator Sam Holland explains how that bike parking gap in San Francisco in the 1970s led to an explosion of bike valet parking around North America. He explains how bike valets change the way people get to festivals, sporting events, town hall meetings and shopping destinations...

Welcome to Powell River: home of BC's first  small-city semi-protected intersection! It may be one small step, and it didn't come without controversy — but  Anastasia Lukyanova, Sustainability Planner for the City of Powell River, sees it as a victory.  What will it take now, to satisfy the City's demands for transportation alternatives and build a comprehensive cycling network in P...

The City of Penticton gained infamy when  its City Council tried to ban discussion of bike lanes until 2026. One  Councillor's political about-face almost stopped the bike lanes, but a clever amendment and determined advocates got the project back on track. Matt Hopkins tells the story of how four friends and their farmers' market bike valet kick-started cycling improvements in Penticton...

New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone answers the $4 billion question : What would happen if the BC government spent as much on active transportation as it is does on one tunnel crossing?  Answer: Castlegar would have a full bike and pedestrian network, and New West would be Copenhagen. Johnstone makes a passionate case for why this level of spending is needed to meet BC’s CleanBC transportation...

Is helmet-wearing  the key to safe cycling ? Maybe NOT! Kay Teschke, retired UBC Prof in Occupational and Environmental Health , joins Peter to  debunk misconceptions and talk about what really makes cycling safe. Whether it's helmet laws, safe passing distances,  bike lights, or cyclist-pedestrian conflicts — Kay's got the data and she's not afraid to use it. Read about the BC Gove...

Shared Mobility Architect Sandra Phillips believes in connecting the dots between shared transportation modes to help people get around safely and quickly, while reducing dependence on privately owned automobiles. Movmi, her BC-based consulting firm, has worked with communities from Switzerland to Vancouver, and from Moncton NB to Portland, Nelson, Osoyoos, and New York  state — helping communitie...

Peter Ladner brings in son Brendan and daughter-in-law Amanda to dish on the reality of life as a bikes-only family in Whistler, BC.  We talk ice, snow, studded tires, e-bikes,  irate drivers, singing kids, and Whistler's political will — or notable lack thereof. Read about the Whistler Climate Action Plan at www.whistler.ca/climate-action/big-moves Please feel free to reach out to Amanda Lad...

Kamloops Pediatrician Dr. Trent Smith is a passionate advocate for active transportation, starting with the basics: how our kids get to school.  Kent talks to Peter about the benefits of getting kids out of cars, building safe routes to school, changing cultural norms around cycling, the success of this spring's 'Drive to 5' pilot project, and how we can start moving the needle beyo...

Peter Ladner talks to Matt Vader,  Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture, District of Lake Country, about the amazing 50-km Okanagan Rail Trail starting at the north end of Kalamalka Lake and ending at Okanagan Lake in downtown Kelowna.   Okanagan Rail Trail - Where Will It Take You?   Learn why this is more than a trail, and how to celebrate and join the community spirit in giving back to t...

As Mayor of Tofino, Josie Osborne was a prime mover of the spectacular  multi-use trail  from Tofino to Ucluelet , through Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Join host Peter Ladner in conversation with Josie, who tells us which MLAs ride their bikes to work, her reaction to the huge uptake on the province's e-bike rebate program and her favourite sections of the...

Support the show *********************************************** The Bike Sense podcast with Peter Ladner is produced by the BC Cycling Coalition – your voice for safer and more accessible cycling and active transportation in British Columbia. Membership in the BCCC is now FREE! The future of this podcast depends on people like you becoming members at   BCCycling.ca. Please join us. Got feedback o...

Welcome to Bike Sense: the podcast of the BC Cycling Coalition. Join host Peter Ladner as he talks to guests about all things related to cycling advocacy, education, and road safety in BC. Listen to stories that can influence changes that make active transportation and mobility safer, more equitable, and more accessible, so we can meet our climate, health, social justice, tourism and economic deve...