2024 Pedaling Progress: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Update

At HUB Cycling, we're dedicated to making cycling accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive for everyone. Over the past year, we've worked tirelessly to support diverse communities across Metro Vancouver and beyond. Here's a look at some of the key initiatives we've undertaken:

Community Rides and Partnerships

Our Go by Bike Week initiative, led by Yleana, saw a significant boost in community rides and partnerships. We collaborated with groups like Gravel Rides, Chill Rides, Cycling Without Age, and Spinal Cord Injury BC to promote rides for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and seniors. Additionally, we partnered with organizations like Kickstand, Bike Kitchen, and Our Community Bikes to promote bike skills workshops tailored for women/trans/queer individuals, youth, and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

In October 2024, as part of Go By Bike Week celebrations, HUB Cycling launched the ਸਾ, ਸਾਈਕਲ / Pedaling Towards Equity event, uniting around 100 participants in South Vancouver. The celebration began at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara, offering free bike tune-ups, test rides on Lime e-scooters, and demos by Mobi by Rogers, all aimed at promoting active transportation in the Punjabi-speaking community. The community celebration was followed by a guided bike/e-scooter ride from the Gurdwara to the Punjabi Market area, where a Punjabi Market Collective volunteer and artist, Jag Nagra, gave a tour of the Punjabi Market murals. Riders then returned to the Gurdwara where they were treated to a free lunch hosted by the Ross Street Gurdwara. Post-ride, participants returned to the Gurdwara for a communal lunch, experiencing the rich traditions and hospitality of the Punjabi community.

The event's success sparked new partnerships and opportunities, such as collaborations with the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House and local media outlets, amplifying the campaign's reach. HUB Cycling will continue to expand similar initiatives to promote active travel and strengthen community bonds to inspire future advocacy for safer, equitable transportation options.

“Events like this bring the community together and give people an opportunity who are learning about biking, like my friend Niri, to learn more about biking and learn about the bike routes in our local community.” - Ride participant, Sharon S.

We've also continued concerted efforts to highlight the diversity within the cycling community through our social media channels, using a wide range of imagery, including adaptive bikes. In our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect for all cultures, our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee has been doing ongoing work to revise our language to avoid commonly used but potentially harmful terms, like "stakeholders".

Board Recruitment and AGM

Over the past few years, the Board Development Committee has been working to foster diversity and inclusion within our Board of Directors. This year, we developed a Board Composition Matrix to identify gaps and direct our recruitment efforts. We sought applicants from marginalized communities, new immigrants, non-English first language speakers, single parents, and individuals facing financial barriers, among others. We also offered childcare to members to facilitate participation at our AGM and adopted a hybrid meeting format to accommodate both in-person and virtual attendance. 

As a member-based organization, HUB Cycling is accountable to its members and governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership. Our goal is strong and balanced leadership, and our nomination process helps us achieve it. Visit the Board of Directors' information page to learn more.  

Mentorship

HUB Cycling collaborated with the Immigrant Services Society of BC and service providers in Toronto and Halifax to develop an online guide for organizations to implement the Newcomer Bike Mentorship Program. The guide is based on what HUB Cycling learned from the direct delivery of the program for five years, matching local cycling enthusiasts with recently arrived immigrants and refugees to orient them to active transportation cycling. We encourage organizations to read more about this program and download the “how-to” guide.

Our StreetWise department also ran a successful four-week Newcomers Cycling Program, culminating in a bike giveaway for participants.

Seniors Cycling Program

In partnership with Lime, HUB Cycling launched a six-week Seniors Cycling Program at Thompson Community Centre in Richmond. This program provided older adults with the opportunity to improve their cycling skills in a supportive environment.

One participant highlighted the benefits, stating: "Learning and developing bike riding skills outside, with other seniors in a fun, engaging environment is a great way to reduce the risks of dementia and promote healthy aging." 

Support for First Nations Communities

In our ongoing effort to support the Indigenous communities, HUB Cycling partnered with many First Nations this year to deliver programs catered to community needs. We partnered with the Tsawwassen First Nation to run a youth course and provided free bikes, helmets, and locks. Following our youth program with Musqueam Nation Housing Department in 2023, we supported the Elder Cycling E-trike Program and provided Mechanics clinics during their annual More Cowbell Bike Rally.

ERG45 Small Community Train the Teacher Pilot

Our Everyone Rides Grades 4 & 5 Program (ERG45) Small Community Train the Teacher Pilot aimed to extend bike education to smaller communities. We developed a five-day cycling education program delivered by School District trained teachers, which included adaptive bikes. The pilot was well-received in Powell River and Campbell River, with notable success stories like an autistic student in Campbell River who found joy and confidence in cycling through the program.

Youth Engagement and Employment Programs

Our Bike to School program welcomed participants from the YWCA GEAR UP! Training Program for Youth with Barriers to Employment and Youth Climate Corp technicians. These programs provided valuable employment experience and will help improve the Bike to School courses by offering more personalized support to new riders.

By continuing to promote inclusivity, diversity, and community engagement, HUB Cycling aspires to build a more connected and vibrant cycling culture in Metro Vancouver and beyond. We look forward to building on these initiatives in the coming years and welcoming even more people into the cycling community. To learn more about HUB Cycling's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, check out the HUB Cycling Equity Framework here.

*Photo credit: Alex Trujillo