The Centre for Active Transportation - TCAT

The sense of economic uncertainty driven by the turbulence and scale of Trump’s tariffs and trade war threats towards Canada and beyond is palpable and is shaking financial markets globally. The dizzying pace — and unpredictable swings in tone and content — of Trump’s economic and sovereignty threats can make it challenging for advocates and policymakers in Canada trying to mitigate the fallout to know what issues and strategies to prioritize even minute-to-minute.

Our advice? Focusing on growing cycling, including through active transportation infrastructure and micromobility economic development, can provide Canadians a lifeline, always but especially in the face of economic uncertainty. In Clean Air Partnership's latest news piece, TCAT Project Manager Sophie Callahan and Rob McMonagle explain why.

Check out their blog piece here:
https://loom.ly/B0iBC68

Three reasons to focus on cycling when threatened with trade wars (and always)  – Clean Air Partnership Three reasons to focus on cycling when threatened with trade wars (and always)  April 7, 2025 by Sophie Callahan Canadians and Americans find ourselves in the midst of a trade war: Donald Trump’s second U.S. presidential term has been jam-packed with new tariffs being threatened, imposed, delayed...

🌈🚲✨How does 2SLGBTQ+ identity shape people’s experiences with active transportation modes, especially cycling? TCAT's latest briefing note explores this question - check it out here: https://loom.ly/Inxpkbk

Q***r folks — particularly visibly gender q***r, non-conforming, or gender minorities, and those with intersecting marginalised identities — face greater safety and comfort risks in public spaces compared to their cis and straight counterparts.

Previous research on the intersection between public transit use and two-spirit, le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and q***r (2SLGBTQ+) identities has demonstrated that 2SLGBTQ+ individuals encounter frequent harassment, discrimination, and violence while navigating all stages of their public transit journeys.

But do these trends translate to active forms of travel?

Our latest briefing note synthesizes a literature scan we conducted to understand the current research landscape, future areas of study, and important takeaways for advocates working in the active transportation space.

***rMobilities

🔧 Eager to turn your passion for cycling into a career (or know somebody who is) and based in the GTA? We've got good news for you!

There are still a few spots open in one of the free, 8 week (24 hours total) bike mechanic training courses hosted through our fellow Bike Training Collective Canada partner CultureLink. The training is from March 5 to April 23, 2025 on Wednesdays from 3pm-6pm, on Tobermory Drive in North York, Ontario. These courses equip participants with all of the essential mechanical and professional skills needed to step right into a variety of roles in the bike industry.

Apply now and/or share this post to help us spread the word!
🌐 www.bikecareer.ca

Why are municipalities opposed to Ontario's anti-bike lane Bill 212?

Here are six key reasons, from the consensus-based input of the 40 Ontario municipalities in the Clean Air Council:

🤝The unparalleled level of Ministry oversight over community roads undermines essential democratic principles.

💰 Bike lanes help to make transportation less expensive for Ontarians.

🛣️ Bike lanes aren't what cause road congestion; in fact, they need to be part of the solution.

🚫 Increased red tape will be a huge local financial burden and create more delays in delivering road work unnecessarily.

🏪 Bike lanes make business sense.

🚸Bike lanes save lives.

Read the Clean Air Council's full submission on Bill 212 here: https://loom.ly/IXF0N4c

Clean Air Council Submission on Ontario Bill 212 - The Centre for Active Transportation This submission to the Ontario government summarizes the consensus-based input from the Clean Air Council (CAC) municipal network regarding Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane (ERO 019-9266). The CAC includes 40 mu...