Over the last few years, getting around by bicycle has surged in popularity. On this week’s show, we’re going to explore what has led to the increase and how we might be able to make Canada a cycling nation.

We first talk with Meghan Winters at Simon Fraser University about the rise in biking across the country. She reveals some of the reasons behind the surge and why biking hasn’t become the most utilized form of transportation. Using examples of success stories in this country, she shares her belief that Canada may one day mirror European cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where biking predominates.

Making a cycling community takes more than just promotion. Cities also need to plan for increased ridership and this means spending money to ensure access and safety. We next speak with Khandker Nurul Habib, a professor at the University of Toronto who is one of the go-to researchers on how to best achieve this goal. His research reveals some of the obstacles that prevent increases in cycling and how these can be managed.

In our SASS Class, we look at a new trend in biking, the e-bike. Our guest teacher is Alex Bigazzi at the University of British Columbia. He has been looking at what makes these motorized vehicles more attractive and explains that they offer not just a quicker and easier ride but also some good exercise in the process.

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Twitter: @JATetro
Email: [email protected]

Guests:

Meghan Winters
Web: https://www.sfu.ca/fhs/about/people/profiles/meghan-winters.html

Khandker Nurul Habib
Web: http://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/khandker/

Alex Bigazzi
Web: https://www.civil.ubc.ca/faculty/alex-bigazzi  

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