Category: Advocacy

26th of May, 2022
In: Advocacy, Cycling Culture, Organization News
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Every Rider Counts!

Bicycle Nova Scotia has recently launched an initiative to better understand how many people are walking and cycling in Nova Scotia. This initiative aims to create a data collection guide that can be used by partners across the province to collect more detailed user data along different types of active travel infrastructure. “There is a lot happening in Nova Scotia to build a culture of walking and cycling, however there is nothing being done to measure the success on a province-wide scale,” says Steve Bedard, Director of Operations for Bicycle Nova Scotia. “Bicycle Nova Scotia is looking for ways to improve access to data that can help us make informed decisions and monitor progress on getting more Nova Scotians moving.” The ...

BNS and the Province are Increasing Cycling in Nova Scotia

Last week, the Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development had a special meeting on Active Transportation. At Bicycle Nova Scotia, we are so thrilled to see this kind of meeting taking place, with provincial staff from multiple departments highlighting to MLAs all the work that is happening in Nova Scotia. It is clear the Province recognizes that active transportation is good for our health, our environment, and our economy and they are our greatest allies in increasing cycling in Nova Scotia. Opening remarks by Deputy Minister Karen Gatien highlight the value of active transportation to the province, and the role that Bicycle Nova Scotia is playing to advance this work: “The Province supports the vision of an integrated network of ...

20th of July, 2021
In: Advocacy, BNS, BNS Blog, Organization News
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BNS Official Statement – July 20, 2021

In April 2021, Ms. Ehrenhold-Poole corresponded with Bicycle Nova Scotia expressing her regret at online statements regarding cyclists made in 2018. We chose not to publicly release this because we do not support any political candidate or party nor did we formally accept an apology. We were deeply concerned about the online statements made in 2018 and raised our concern at that time. There is a significant amount of work to do in Nova Scotia to improve cycling infrastructure, safety, education and grow a greener and healthier economy - and we hope that all political parties and candidates will work towards this vision. Nova Scotia has committed to completing 3000km of the Blue Route and there are numerous municipal active ...

Pedal Poll – Call for Volunteers in Nova Scotia

Help us make an impact by collecting cycling data across Nova Scotia! Bicycle Nova Scotia is looking for bicycle enthusiasts from across the province to count cyclists wherever you like to ride. Whether it is your favourite trail, a popular road loop, or your local section of Blue Route, we need you to pick a spot and observe cyclists for 2 hours, using a simple phone app. The Pedal Poll is being conducted in 14 cities across Canada, filling an important gap in cycling data This count is being done as part of the Pedal Poll, Canada’s first national count of cycling. Vélo Canada Bikes is leading this project in 14 cities across Canada, including Halifax. This count will help to fill ...

Traffic Safety Act – Our Recommendations

Photo from the Cabot Trail by Tim Foster on Unsplash Did you know that Nova Scotia’s outdated Motor Vehicle Act is being replaced with a modern Traffic Safety Act? It’s great news for all road users, given that the original Motor Vehicle Act is now almost 100 years old! The last major revision to the legislation was back in 1989, so an overhaul is long overdue, given how much things have changed since then. The Province of Nova Scotia says the new regulations “include improvements to help keep pedestrians safe” and “measures to better protect cyclists,” among many other updates. One major win is right in the title of the new act: instead of focusing strictly on the use of motor vehicles, ...

HRM Bicycle Networks in Jeopardy

Anybody who rides a bicycle knows the challenges of riding in traffic. You might start your trip on a local street or a rural road, but sooner or later (usually sooner) you hit a busy arterial, speedy highway, or difficult intersection. Although seasoned riders can often cope with high traffic speeds and volumes, for most riders this can be a major deterrent to cycling. As long as riders have to contend with and behave like cars (which they are not), cycling’s tremendous potential will be held back. Streets Designed for All Ages and Abilities Changing attitudes about our transportation system has led to new planning and design ideas that recognize the limitations of mixing cars and bikes and seek ways to disentangle them. ...

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