Lisa - "I never felt the need to buy a car..that hasn't changed since we had 2 children"

Meet our Members!

HUB members are passionate individuals, families and organizations who are committed to making cycling in Metro Vancouver safer and more accessible to everyone!

Meet Lisa Corriveau, who holds a ‘Family Membership’ with HUB and who is a cycling advocate and blogger at www.spokesmama.com

Why are you a HUB member?

I support the advocacy work that HUB does. I also enjoy the benefits like the discounts and members events.

You are a big advocate for family biking.  Many families are intimidated by the choices in gear/presumed amount of gear needed.  What are the basics you recommend and what gear do you use to cart your kids around town?

It's really hard to recommend one thing for everybody. it depends on the family's situation how many children how much storage space they have how often they want to ride if they want to carry other things other than their children not to mention budget. Our family uses a Yuba Mundo cargo bike to get the kids around as well as things like furniture or Costco runs or bricks or lumber. But when we started we used a trailer and then we got an iBert front mounted child seat so even for us there isn't one answer. We still use the ibBert occasionally and the trailer once in awhile.

What's your top cycling tip for families?

Join the Vancouver Family Biking Facebook group. It's a great forum for advice with choosing gear, buying; selling family biking stuff, talking about routes, and so on. Vancouver Family Biking also organizes free social rides that are a great chance to meet other families & have fun on bikes. Www.Facebook.com/groups/yvrfamilybiking

Have you always been a cyclist and if not when did you make the shift to use your bicycle as your primary means of transit?

I have always had a bike but I haven't always used it as my primary form of transportation. I started commuting when I was in my early twenties on a hand-me-down 3-speed Raleigh. Despite the poor fit & sketchy brakes, I fell in love with bike commuting. Because it was so easy, fun, such great exercise & cheap, I never felt the need to buy a car. Modo & occasional car rentals were enough, & that hasn't changed since we had two children.

What do you think the biggest problem for cyclists is in Vancouver at the moment?

Driver education. I think biking in Vancouver would be a lot safer & more enjoyable if drivers were more aware of the laws regarding cycling. Like that people on bikes are entitled to take the lane if we feel it's necessary. If drivers could learn to pass cyclists with more space, & do simple little things like opening the driver's door with the right hand (which forces you to shoulder check) that could prevent many conflicts & serious injuries. HUB's campaign on dooring is a great start but I'd like to see the driver's license test include many more questions on cycling.

What is your favorite place to bike with your family?

 Right now, anywhere quiet & ideally fully separated from vehicle traffic because my five-year-old has just started riding his own bike. He wants to bike everywhere we go

If you had a tandem bike, who would you like to ride with?

I'd love to take my mom for a ride--I think it's been quite a while since she's ridden a bike.

Join HUB today and get great discounts on car sharing, at over 30 bike shops and invites to great events!