Cycling, whether for transportation, recreation or fitness, provides a wide range of benefits to people and the cities they live in. Biking improves health, happiness, independence, community integration, and economic opportunity. In cities such as Toronto, biking is the most efficient way to get around for distances under 5 km. However; a car dominated public realm paired with a lack of comfortable and connected cycling infrastructure are big barriers, particularly for women, children and the elderly to adopt biking.
BYCS is an Amsterdam-based global NGO supporting community-led urban change through cycling under the simple premise that bicycles transform cities, and cities transform the world. In September 2024, I became Toronto’s second Bicycle Mayor and am proud to be an ambassador who works to promote biking as a safe, sustainable, and accessible mode of transportation.
Alison Stewart 