Winter Cycling in Oil Country

Winter Cycling in Oil Country

Author: The War on Cars, LLC May 21, 2024 Duration: 1:43:19

An unlikely cycling revolution is happening in one of the coldest big cities on the planet: Edmonton, Alberta. Despite freezing temps, lots of sprawl, big trucks and an economy built on pulling oil out of the Albertan tar sands, the Western Canadian city is in the midst of a four-year, $100 million CAD investment in active transportation that will connect far-flung neighborhoods with a network of safe, high-quality, protected bike lanes. Many of these bike lanes will even get priority over roads for cars when it comes to snow removal. We traveled to the home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers to attend the Winter Cycling Congress, where we talked with the people pushing for this transformation, including the city's former mayor, Don Iveson. Plus, hear our appearance on drive-time radio in the heart of oil country.

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LINKS:

Tom Babin of Shifter says Edmonton is "the most exciting bike city in North America."

Learn more about Edmonton's former mayor, Don Iveson and City Councillor Michael Janz.

Check out The Winter Cycling Federation and listen to Sarah's dispatch from the 2020 Winter Cycling Congress in Finland.

Read all about the Edmonton Bike Plan.

Learn more about "Oil Country Urbanism" from Oh The Urbanity! and check out About Here on YouTube.

Lorne Gunter of the Edmonton Sun thinks charging drivers to park is a "war on cars."

Buy toques, t-shirts, stickers and more in The War on Cars merch store. Save 10% with code BIKEMONTH.

Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us!

This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Doug Gordon and Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear.

TheWarOnCars.org

 


Imagine a world not built around traffic jams and parking lots, but shaped for people. The War on Cars is a dispatch from the front lines of that effort, a collective conversation questioning the automobile’s dominance over our cities, our environment, and our daily lives. Each episode digs into the real-world fight to reclaim public space, examining everything from the politics of a new bike lane to the history of how cars came to rule. You’ll hear from urban planners, activists, historians, and ordinary people pushing back, offering a mix of sharp analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and compelling narratives. This isn’t just about transportation; it’s about the culture and societal choices that have led us here, and the tangible, often inspiring work to create safer, quieter, and more connected communities. Tune in for a thoughtful and necessary critique of the status quo, a podcast dedicated to the idea that our streets can-and should-be for so much more.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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