Our History

In 1996, feeling uncomfortable cycling on roads in urban areas was the expected norm. It felt unsafe crossing bridges and major roads to get from one community to another, and collisions weren't unusual; streets were designed almost solely for motor vehicles.

HUB Cycling (formerly the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition) was formed with a vision that the cycling community could have a significant impact working together across Metro Vancouver to improve conditions. Better roads and connections, protected bike lanes, and better rules, laws and education would make cycling a lot better in the region.

Starting with successes like bikes on transit and bridges, and more bike-related signage, signals and separated paths and lanes, HUB Cycling began to make an impact on the network. The community and membership base grew. In 2006, we ran our first public cycling education courses, now called Streetwise Cycling Courses. In 2007, HUB hosted its first Bike to Work Week in Metro Vancouver, and soon we became known for not just advocacy but also education and events.

Today, there are ten Local Committees, representing 18 Metro Vancouver communities, each with a primary focus of working with local communities and governments to keep removing barriers to cycling and working together to make our communities healthier, happier and more connected.

HUB Cycling Historical Timeline

2025

HUB Cycling launches the Bike Bus Program, in partnership with Society for Children and Youth of BC, Capital Bike and support from the Government of BC. The program turns the morning commute for elementary-school aged children into a safe, social, and fun group ride to school. It was launched in April 2025 through partnership with Society for Children and Youth of BC, Capital Bike and support from the Government of BC.
Revolutionized how we track network infrastructure by launching an ArcGIS-based interactive HUB MAP
HUB Cycling partnered with the City of Vancouver and the Zero Emission Innovation Centre (ZEIC) delivers free bike parking retrofit options reports for non-market housing.

2024

HUB Cycling proudly brought the international Bicycle Film Festival to Vancouver for the first time
HUB Cycling held the fifth edition of Bike the Night on Saturday, September 14th, 2024. This was the first time the event was held since 2019.
Everyone Rides launched community led school cycling courses in smaller towns around BC

2023

Released our comprehensive equity report, “Pedaling Towards Equity: Analyzing Transportation Access in Metro Vancouver’s Cycling Network.” This report provides a detailed analysis of the equitable distribution of cycling infrastructure across Metro Vancouver.
Progress is made on Motor Vehicle Act reform. The BC Government passed Bill 23, addressing some of these recommendations, including adding a vulnerable road user definition, a safe passing distance and stronger penalties for unsafe behaviour around vulnerable road users.
Province launches a very popular e-bike rebate, which HUB Cycling supports with online and in-person education around BC.

2022

$100 million in new funding for active transportation over the next three years in the 2023-24 Provincial Budget
HUB planning team released pioneering research: Cycling and Older Buildings: Exploring the Impacts of Outdated Building Design on Access to Cycling. This report shines a light on the role of older buildings in limiting equitable access to cycling.
We launched our first-ever StreetWise Cycling Education Centre at the Trout Lake Community Centre in Vancouver.

2021

Newcomer Bike Mentorship Program launched in partnership with the Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) matching people experienced in urban cycling with recently arrived immigrants and refugees.
Taking the #UnGapTheMap initiative to a new level, HUB Cycling completed an extensive research project: Making the Case for Cycling Highways in Metro Vancouver
Thanks to local advocacy efforts, the temporary Beach Ave Bikeway that was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic for physical distancing became permanent.

2020

The first-ever Benchmarking State of Cycling in Metro Vancouver report is released, in partnership with TransLink
Launch of “Everyone Rides Grade 4-5” pilot project
Bike to Work Week rebranded as GoByBike Week and runs virtually during COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

HUB Cycling is instrumental in the release of BC’s Government first ever Active Transportation Strategy.
HUB Cycling provides feedback on the BC Active Transportation Design Guide
Vision for the future released as part of TransLink's Transport 2050

2018

Launched the 20 in 20 Infrastructure Challenge
First annual Arno Schortinghuis Lifetime Achievement Award winner announced
HUB Cycling celebrates its 20th anniversary with Spoke Up! Let’s Talk Bikes
TransLink increases bicycle infrastructure spending from 1.55 million (2016) to 13.45 million in 2018

2017

Launch of HUB’s Newcomer Bike Host Program
New educational program BIKESAFE launched

2016

Launch of first Bike to Shop Days in August
First annual Bike the Night took place on September 16th
First bike share in the region launches in Vancouver

2015

Launch of new bike registry to protect against bike theft called Project 529
Cycling improvements accelerated across the region with infrastructure wins like the Port Mann Bridge bikeway opening

2014

HUB worked on improving the ICBC driver’s training and testing standards to include more information on interacting safely with cyclists
Construction began to widen bike bike paths on the Iron Workers’ Memorial Bridge