The Ontario government is introducing legislation that would require municipali- ties to get provincial approval before building any new bike lanes that remove car lanes.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria made the announcement on Oct. 15 at an Etobicoke-based restaurant on Bloor Street West, where bike lanes were installed last year and have become a flash point of the debate about bike lanes in the city.

The province is blaming bike lanes for congestion, and municipalities are being asked to demonstrate that any proposed bike lanes will not have a “negative impact on vehicle traffic”.

The government will also request data from municipalities on bike lane projects, initiated in the last five years, that replaced car lanes. The province may attempt to remove these lanes, pending a review of data related to their impact on travel times for drivers.

The announcement follows Premier Doug Ford’s recent critical comments regarding bike lanes that were fact- checked and debunked by CBC News.

A City of Toronto study for bike lanes on Bloor St. W. saw a 56% increase in cyclists, positive economic impact for businesses, and improved safety for all road users, among other benefits.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called the move “government overreach” which was echoed by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Others point to the province’s failure to activate the city’s three LRT projects at Eglinton Crosstown, Finch and Hurontario.

Advocates are dismayed given the record number of cycling deaths in Toronto this year. Advocacy groups have organized rallies and petitions in response to the pending new measures that will stunt the progress made by the city, which has seen over 100km of new bicycle infrastructure since 2018.

A recent Nanos Research survey for CTV says that 54% of Canadians vs. 41% support bike lanes that remove car lanes.

In early August, the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program was launched. Vouchers ranged from $800 to $2,400 for standard e-bikes, cargo e-bikes, adaptive e-bikes and powered handcycle wheelchair attachments. Recipients also got $150 toward the purchase of bicycle safety equipment. The program was open to residents who are 18 years of age or older, and a 60+ senior; or an adult with a chronic or permanent disability; or an income- eligible adult at or below 40% AMI.

This year has been the deadliest for cyclists in Toronto since record-keeping began in 2006. In August a 26-year-old woman, struck by the driver of a vehicle while cycling in Etobicoke, succumbed to her injuries, marking the sixth cycling death this year in Canada’s biggest city.

According to the City, about 100 kilometres of new bikeways were installed between 2018 and 2023, and 90 kilometres of existing bikeways were upgraded. Despite the changes, advo- cates say other critical components are missing.

“We need bold leadership and big changes for today’s reality. The danger- ous driving and negligent driving out there is prolific,” said lawyer Dave Shell- nutt (@TheBikingLawyer), who special- izes in representing injured cyclists and pedestrians. “Enforcement of the current laws is weak along with legislation sur- rounding penalties for vehicular deaths.”

Educating drivers is another key factor, including curbing the growing culture war that is being stoked between road users. Even government officials are fanning the flames, such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford who recently made exaggerated and negative claims about bike lanes in Toronto that are not based on data and facts.

“Cyclist safety is a public health issue—everybody benefits from this type of infrastructure. Walking on the sidewalk or riding a bike in the city shouldn’t be an act of courage,” added Michael Longfield, Executive Director of Cycle Toronto.

In mid-May, Boston’s CargoB was officially launched as the USA’s first on- demand e-cargo bike share operation, with hubs in three neighbourhoods opened around the city.

Success came early — only a short month later, founders Dorothy Fennell and Zack DeClerck said the response has far exceeded expectations.

“CargoB’s first 300 riders have moved their dogs, lawn mowers, BBQ grills, teenagers, air conditioners, etc...,” wrote Fennell on LinkedIn.

Boston is a city that’s embracing cycling. Mayor Michelle Wu is an avid cyclist, and last September, Wu and the Boston Transportation Department announced the launch of Boston Delivers, an e-cargo bike delivery pilot program.

According to Fennell, more neighbourhoods are in the works and CargoB will be at community events all summer long.

In August, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Bronco eBike, and the Mustang eBike including a Limited Edition model in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Mustang brand, via a licensing agreement with N+ Bikes.

The MTB-styled Bronco eBike is designed with a G.O.A.T.TM (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) dual-suspension system and a motorcycle-style seat. The more urban, sporty-looking Mustang eBike celebrates the performance- driven design of the iconic sports car.

Both models feature a 750-watt, rear hub motor that provides 85Nm of torque and a top pedal-assisted speed of 28mph/45kph (Class 3 U.S.), with an approximate range of 60 miles/96km.

As well both models come equipped with lighting systems. The Mustang 60th Anniversary Edition will be available exclusively through Ford dealers in limited quantities.

The SRP for the Mustang eBike starts at $4,000 US and the Bronco eBike starts at $4,500 US — both models offer additional colour options.

Minnesota’s recent $2 million e-bike rebate initiative was overwhelmed in early June, resulting in a crashed website that re-opened almost a month later on July 2 with over 10,000 applications received in 18 minutes.

The two-year rebate program provided a discount of up to $1,500 on a qualifying e-bikes. Minnesota became the second US state after Colorado to launch such a program. The two-year initiative will see funding of up to $2 million per year in both 2024 and 2025.

In mid-August, New Zealand’s Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey announced a funding initiative to establish e-bike charging stations for the country’s popular 23 Great Rides. This network of rides sees more than one million visitors annually, generating an estimated $1 billion in revenue.

Great Rides’ governance organizations must co-fund 50% of the purchase and installation costs, and determine how many e-bike charging stations to install in their respective regions. Applications for funding will be open for two months from August 18 to October 18, 2024.

BikeInsure, an American insurtech company specializing in bicycle insurance for cyclists, was founded in 2021 by Buzzy Cohn, an avid cyclist who had a bicycle accident that made him aware of shortfalls in the insurance industry for cyclists.

“I created BikeInsure due to a bicycle accident and a home insurance fiasco,” said Cohn who faced a large deductible and possible cancellation of his policy following an accident.

“Traditional bicycle owners assume that a homeowner’s insurance policy adequately covers their bike. E-bikes, since they are classified as motorized vehicles, may be excluded from homeowner’s insurance policies.”

While most home insurance policies allow you to add coverage endorsements for valuable personal items such as art, jewellery, or a $10,000 bicycle, and simply pay a premium, coverage for e-bikes is not always straightforward.

BikeInsure Comprehensive Bicycle Coverage provides up to $10,000 in coverage per bike, and it can be purchased for $16.99 per month. The policy covers e-bikes, road, mountain, triathlon, gravel, fat bikes, cyclocross and cargo bikes, including accessories in the event of damage/loss caused by riding accidents or while in transit, with a $100 deductible.

They also offer optional Bicycle Theft Insurance, which is available for an additional $8 monthly, with a $250 deductible.

The company is the official bike insurance of USA Cycling, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), the League of American Bicyclists, the Belgian Waffle Ride and the Adventure Cycling Association.