WEBINAR:Perceptions of neighbourhood cycling environments:Insights from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver

Cities around the world are growing at a fast pace, raising concerns about the capacity of transportation systems to support increased demand. At the same time, the climate emergency is prompting policymakers to explore transitions away from automobile-centric design toward more sustainable transportation options. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic created conditions that led many cities worldwide to rapidly expand and trial improvements to their cycling networks. During this period, a “boom” in cycling activity was observed, with many people using bikes for both physical and mental health
benefits during lockdowns.

Now, important questions remain: Did this increase in cycling behaviour persist? How can we support a shift toward more sustainable transportation choices in the future? In this presentation, we will share initial findings from a cross-sectional survey that explores how these new cycling environments are impacting people’s travel behaviour, perceptions of safety, and accessibility.

This survey is a part of the Active Transportation Planning and Travel Behaviour Change in Post-COVID-19 Canada research program. This is a SSHRC funded program spanning Simon Fraser University, Toronto Metropolitan University, McGill University, and University of Toronto. The team uses a broad range of research approaches to explore factors contributing to active transportation policy and travel behaviour change in Canadian urban regions.

Presenter Bios:

Zarah Monfaredi: Zarah is a PhD Candidate at Simon Fraser University in Health Sciences. She has a MSc in Global Health and Public Policy from The University of Edinburgh and a BSc in Life Sciences from McMaster University. Zarah’s research is guided by a mobility justice approach to inform resilient and equitable active transportation planning in the future.

Remington Latanville: Remington is a PhD Candidate at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Policy Studies program specializing in urban and social policy. Remington’s research focuses on the impact of the pandemic in creating more resilient and supportive cycling environments.

Yichun Du: Yichun is a PhD Candidate at McGill University’s Department of Geography. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Planning from the University of Alberta and a Master of Spatial Analysis from Toronto Metropolitan University. He is interested in using spatial methods to understand how active transportation planning can foster equitable and sustainable transportation systems in the evolving post-pandemic urban landscape.

Moderator: Meghan Winters is a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. She leads the Cities, Health, and Active Transportation Lab (CHATR Lab), with a research focus on how city design impacts mobility, safety, and health, and on equity considerations within cities’ policies and plans. Meghan is also a CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Gender and Sex in Healthy Cities.