October 5, 2021 - (North Vancouver, BC) A hearty crew of 30+ riders braved inclement weather for the inaugural North Shore Cargo Bike Festival Meet Up and Ride to showcase the mobility infrastructure and network in the City of North Vancouver. The event also served as a warm up for next year’s Canadian version of the Cargo Bike Festival in EU.

Over a month in the making, the event was organized by Sam Starr of Critical Mobility for Sustainable Cities, Tony Valente, a City of North Vancouver Councillor, and Mark Simmons, a cycling for transport advocate. Our Greenway, based in Toronto, assisted with management of insurance, PR, and more.

The route went along the Spirit Trail and Green Necklace with stops at various locations for group photos. In 2019 the City of North Vancouver approved the Priority Corridors for All Ages and Abilities (AAA) for infrastructure improvements, and the current Mobility Network Project involves upgrading and expanding the exisiting bike network, including wider protected routes – read more here.

Joining the inaugural ride was B.C.’s new Minister of State for Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma, who is also a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Vancouver and is often seen riding her e-cargo bike.

According to Starr, “Yes, the goal next year is to really up the image of this Festival to include manufacturers, delivery companies, and more. We plan to run a conference with a focus on bikes for business and the opportunity for municipalities and businesses to use cargo bikes.”

“We would call this the Western Canada version of the Cargo Bike Festival in Europe, and the successor to earlier Cargo Bike Championships in Vancouver and Toronto which Our Greenway supported and managed.”

There were plenty of smiles and high-5s as riders enjoyed the day and welcomed laughs and beverages in the name of sustainable mobility. Look for more announcements regarding the 2022 festival over the next few months.

Lots of great photos here.