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May’s edition of Ring & Post features an invitation to Bike Month, a recap of our AGM, and a chance to vent. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
- Statement from the Executive Director
- Bike Month begins on June 1st
- Cycle Toronto holds Annual General Meeting
- Nominations open for 2025 Alex Amaro Cycling Kindness Award
- Bike Share for everyone
- Just for Fun: What’s your pet peeve?
- Social Media Spotlight
- In the Media
- Events
Statement from the Executive Director
I’m still buzzing.
This week’s Annual General Meeting was a landmark moment for reflection and celebration. I want to thank all of the Cycle Toronto members, board, and staff who joined us to mark the work we’ve done together over the past year. Special thanks to Alex Amaro’s uncle, Gary, who spoke about the devastating loss his family feels every day, and the feelings of hope inspired by our collective work.
The AGM was a chance to share our stories, and experience the impact that people coming together can have. It was a reminder that we’re not just screaming into the void, but part of a movement fighting together.
Bill 212 was an existential threat to Cycle Toronto. What’s clear to me now is the importance of our work regardless of the outcome of our legal challenge. Already by exposing the province’s misinformation, we’ve already won the moral argument. Where we go from here is the most exciting. It won’t be easy. But together, Cycle Toronto will continue building stronger and better connected communities, and a healthier and more vibrant cycling city for everyone.
I left that meeting energized by your ideas, commitment, and passion. Thank you for being part of this movement. We have important work ahead. And because of you I am ready for it.
-Michael Longfield
Executive Director
Bike Month begins on June 1st
Don’t listen to what those folks south of the border are saying. We all know that the real Bike Month starts in June! And Bike Month isn't just for "avid cyclists". This month-long celebration enables and empowers more people to choose to ride a bike for recreation and transportation.
We’re excited to be kicking off Bike Month 2025 with the annual Bike to Work Day group commute to Nathan Phillips Square on Wednesday, June 4th. All ages and abilities are welcome. Will we see you there?
After Bike to Work Day, all kinds of events are planned for June including a North York Community Ride on Saturday. June 14th. Plus did you know you can submit your own events to promote to the cycling community? Check out the calendar on the Bike Month website to post or find an event near you.
(Bike to Work Day at Nathan Phillips Square.)
Cycle Toronto holds Annual General Meeting
At the 2025 Annual General Meeting, Cycle Toronto members, staff, and board members came together to celebrate a historic year for the organization. A packed house re-elected 3 directors (welcome back, Dave Shellnutt, Julia Langer, Mark Emila), bid farewell to 2 directors (thank you, Andrea I. and Ashley Quan), approved financials, took part in a trivia contest, and discussed the year ahead for Cycle Toronto. Attendees also heard from the family of Alex Amaro, whose namesake award is now accepting nominations for 2025.
Want to attend the Annual General Meeting next year and help decide on the future of Cycle Toronto? Become a member today.
(Photos from Cycle Toronto’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.)
Nominations open for 2025 Alex Amaro Cycling Kindness Award
The Alex Amaro Cycling Kindness Award was created in memory of the eponymous 23-year-old cyclist who was killed while cycling in front of Dufferin Mall, December 2nd, 2020. Alex, who was in her final year of journalism, was a passionate cyclist who embodied kindness, generosity, positivity and humbleness throughout her brief, but vibrant life.
The award is designed to recognize an individual or not-for-profit group/organization who exemplify a positive approach to making cycling friendlier, more accessible, inclusive, environmentally healthier and sustainable for everyone. The winner of the 2024 inaugural award was Geoffrey Bercarich, who builds and maintains Toronto’s ghost bikes for Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC).
Applications for the award will be accepted until Monday, September 15th, 2025. The winner will be announced at Cycle Toronto’s annual fundraiser event, The Big Toronto Bike Ride presented by Bike Law Canada, on Sunday, October 5th, 2025.
Learn more about the award and how to nominate someone by visiting our website.
Special thanks to McLeish Orlando LLP and the Amaro family for their support. Read Pat Brown’s Legal Spin.
Bike Share for everyone
Cycle Toronto has long been a supporter of Toronto’s Bike Share Program, and has continued to advocate for it to grow and adapt to meet the needs of more Torontonians. Too many people face too many barriers to choose to ride a bike. Age shouldn’t be one of them.
Earlier this month, we addressed the Toronto Parking Authority to urge the city to expand Bike Share access to younger Torontonians, expand the 20% off youth discount program to teens, and reiterated our calls to integrate Bike Share with the provincial One Fare program to make multi-modal trips for TTC riders more affordable. Along with an earlier motion from Deputy Mayor Malik to expand Bike Share to Toronto Island, summer 2025 is looking to be the best ever yet for Toronto Bike Share users.
Read more about these Bike Share policy changes on our website.
(Shua, a 16 year old student at Alpha II, deputes on item PA14.8 - Bike Share for Everyone)
Just for Fun: What’s your pet peeve?
In an increasingly busy city, with less and less space, there is more and more potential for tension and conflict between road users. Here at Cycle Toronto, we spend our days fighting for more dedicated space for vulnerable road users, so that we can reduce the major harms that motor vehicle drivers can cause on our roads. But today, we want to focus on the minor everyday conflicts we experience. We want to hear about your pet peeves.
We want to know, from a cyclist’s perspective, what are your biggest pet peeves on the streets of Toronto? What do drivers do to get on your nerves? What do pedestrians do to get under your skin? And how about other cyclists? Feel free to delve into the weeds: the more minor the inconvenience, the better. Afterall, a ‘pet peeve’ is “a minor annoyance that an individual finds particularly irritating to a greater degree than the norm”.
Read this month’s full Just for Fun blog post on our website, and tell us all about your pet peeves here:
(Yonge and Dundas. Image: On the Record)
Social Media Spotlight
Can’t get enough Cycle Toronto content? As we near the end of this month’s Ring & Post, you may find yourself already yearning for more. Although our newsletter is monthly, we post on our social media channels daily. Follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, or TikTok to stay up-to-date on Cycle Toronto news and events. Here is a highlight from this month:
(A Bluesky post sharing a recent podcast epsisode featuring discussion on Cycle Toronto's Charter challenge. Note: Click image to visit post.)
In the Media
Doug Ford’s budget will target more Toronto bike lanes | Toronto Star
Mixed reaction over Ont. governments plan to remove some bike lanes in Toronto | CTV News
Ontario expands number of Toronto bike lanes to be removed | CityNews
Ontario 2025 budget: Highlights from bike lanes to alcohol revenue and housing | Global
Bikeway construction on The Esplanade draws community controversy | CBC
Ride of Silence 2025 | Biking in a Big City
Judicial Defense of Bike Rights in Canada and California, Commuting in Minneapolis, and Bike Share in Los Angeles | Bike Talk Podcast
Events
Your Bike Month Event!
When: Sometime in June!
Where: Somewhere in Toronto!
You tell us! Add your bike-friendly event to the Bike Month calendar to promote it to everyone celebrating Bike Month!
(Note: Posted events are not an endorsement by Cycle Toronto. We know we don’t need to remind you that any event promoting hate or discrimination or for any other reason can be removed solely at the discretion of Cycle Toronto.)
Bike to Work Day
When: Wednesday, June 4th at 7:15 am
Where: Meet at Ramsden Park at 7:15 am , End at Nathan Phillips Square at 7:45 am
The Bike to Work Day group commute is an annual tradition that brings people from across Toronto together for the largest FREE group bike ride in the city. Join us to ride down to Nathan Phillips Square for a community celebration with free coffee and pancakes.
North York Community Bike Ride
When: Saturday, June 14th at 10:00 am
Where: Hendon Park (near Finch TTC)
Organized with Smart Commute Toronto and the City of Toronto, join this all ages and abilities slow roll along the Hydro Finch Corridor.
Ride to the Aga Khan
Did you know that the Aga Khan is free on Wednesday nights from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm? It is one of the many wonderful free cultural activities offered in the city. To celebrate, Cycle Toronto is hosting a ride to the Aga Khan on Wednesday, June 18th. See below for details.
- When: Wednesday, June 18th from 5:00 - 6:15 pm, Ride departs at 5:15 pm
- Where: Thorncliffe Park, Meet at the corner of Overlea Boulevard and Millwood Road
Bike Engagement Stations
As a part of bike month we will be hosting bike engagement stations at different farmers markets across the city. Please check the Bike Month website for the full schedule.
Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Ring & Post. As always, every member counts to help us continue the work you've read about in this newsletter.
