HUB Cycling's 2024 - 2025 Provincial Budget Recommendations

HUB Cycling is a charitable nonprofit that has spent more than 25 years removing barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver while cultivating the health, environmental, and economic benefits that active transportation can bring. HUB Cycling gets more people cycling more often through education, advocacy, research, and events.

Since 1998, HUB Cycling has led the way to making cycling an attractive transportation choice for people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. More people cycling means healthier, happier, more connected communities.

HUB Cycling recently made three recommendations for the 2024-2025 Provincial Budget.

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Recommendation 1: To align with CleanBC's goal to lower emissions by 40% by 2030, we recommend reforming fiscal planning policies to encourage equitable investment in active transportation infrastructure. Increasing funding from the current levels closer to the 50% target for walking, cycling, and transit will allow people to shift to sustainable transportation modes.

Reforming fiscal planning to increase BC Government’s municipal cost-share contribution to $100 million per year and investing at least $21 per capita/per year will yield multiple benefits, including:

• economic growth
• affordability
• enhanced social equity
• reduced VKT and GHG emissions

The following research-based arguments support these recommendations:

Individuals living in neighborhoods with well-connected walking and cycling paths were more likely to engage in active transportation, leading to improved mental and cardiovascular health and reduced healthcare costs. The London School of Economics estimates that the health benefits of cycling save the UK economy $197 million (US) per year in reduced worker absenteeism.

Research shows that bicycle projects create 11.4 jobs for every $1 million invested — 46% more than car-only road projects. 

Research from Portland, Oregon, revealed that shoppers who arrived by bicycle or foot spent more money per month than those who arrived by car. 

Several cities and countries that have successfully increased active transportation funding have witnessed positive outcomes. For example, Copenhagen, Denmark, has achieved a modal share of 62% for cycling due to substantial investments in cycling infrastructure.

While adopting personal electric vehicles can reduce GHG emissions, many case studies have highlighted that merely replacing gas-powered cars with electric cars will not provide a comprehensive solution to climate change. 

Research shows that one kilometre driven by car costs society about 17 cents, whereas society gains 18 cents for each kilometre cycled. By prioritizing equity in cycling initiatives, we help ensure that these economic benefits reach all segments of society.

In the short term, funding can be reallocated from motor vehicle infrastructure to active transportation. In the longer term, as funding needs increase, sources could include the carbon tax, curbside taxes, and electric vehicle levies that cover the cost of the roads and parking they use.

Recommendation 2: It’s not only about building safe active-transportation infrastructure; awareness, education, and promotion work together with a connected cycling network to achieve mode shift and Vehicle Kilometres Travelled reductions. We recommend increased funding for cycling education and the promotion of active transportation.

Research demonstrates that cycling education, along with well-executed events/campaigns, can generate awareness of the benefits associated with active transportation, address safety concerns, and reshape social norms surrounding transportation choices.  We recommend dramatic increases in funding for cycling education and promotions.

Dedicate $1,000,000 annually to fund school cycling education so that all BC children receive training through programs like Everyone Rides Grade 4-5.  Research shows that providing bike education at an early age, including education about road rules and hazards, makes roads safer for all and encourages children to continue cycling later in life.

It’s not just kids that need support on how to ride. We recommend fully funding adult cycling education so that all British Columbians, regardless of their age or social-economic background, can access free or affordable online or in-person courses that enable them to be comfortable, confident, and safe while cycling for transportation. Research shows adult bicycle training courses enhance people’s cycling confidence by improving skills, road sense, and practice time. Allocating $1,000,000 per year initially would reach the most interested adults in the province. 

Research shows that effective promotional events/campaigns and event participation can help promote mode shift by highlighting the benefits of active transportation and reducing barriers by addressing concerns. Behavioral change events like Go by Bike, Bike to School, Bike the Night, etc. motivate thousands of British Columbians each year to shift modes from driving to cycling. Underfunding these events means the messaging and support fail to reach as many people as possible. $1,000,000 dedicated to the promotion and motivational events yearly would go a long way. 

That’s $3 million well spent to build a culture that shows that active transportation is a great way to get around for daily trips.

Recommendation 3: We recommend prioritizing equitable investment in active transportation to ensure historically underserved communities benefit from access to cleaner, healthier environments and more affordable transportation options.

Historically, cycling investments have been prioritized in urban and wealthy neighbourhoods rather than economically disadvantaged and peripheral areas.  Research shows that the absence of equity-oriented appraisal methods during planning and decision-making processes may perpetuate the uneven distribution of bicycle-related investments. HUB Cycling’s recently published Equity Report (coming soon) highlights the importance of integrating equity considerations into all aspects of active transportation.

BC’s income-tested e-bike rebate is a step in the right direction to address social equity.  The program's overwhelming popularity and subsequent over-subscription highlighted the urgent need for increased funding to meet the demand and encourage the adoption of e-bikes. We can build on this momentum by ensuring an equitable increase in funding on an annual basis. 

Funding should be equivalent to funding for e-vehicle rebate programs and adequately funded to allow all interested individuals to access the incentive. Further, the rebate should be extended to subsidize electric-assist mobility devices for people with disabilities to improve their transportation options and the associated individual and societal benefits. 

The provincial government should also explore other incentives like an income-tested daily commuter bicycle allowance, as introduced in Belgium. Even though 45% of commutes in British Columbia are less than 5 km, 69% percent of commuters continue to drive these short distances.

Means-tested levies on companies according to their economic performance have been used successfully in other jurisdictions, such as France, to fund mobility services. Their government is investing €2 billion to promote cycling as a mode of transport.

Active transportation is often the most affordable and accessible mode for many communities with limited access to private vehicles or public transit. Studies have shown that marginalized communities, especially children, benefit most from active transportation investment as it improves access to jobs, education, healthcare, and recreational opportunities.

Support HUB's Advocacy Work

If possible, consider making a donation to HUB Cycling and support our advocacy work in expanding the cycling network across the region. Your support enables us to make an impact on people of all ages and abilities, and promote access to cycling across regional and diverse communities.

What is the Impact of Your Generous Gift? 

• $2,500 will help us develop programs for communities that may face social, cultural, and/or financial barriers to cycling.
• $1,000 helps us provide infrastructure research support needed for an advocacy project like cycle highways phase 2 analysis.
• $200 will help HUB organize online learning like our Biking for Mental Health webinar to encourage people of all ages and abilities to bike.