Did you know that TransLink is much more than just transit? We play a big role in making biking better for everyone in the region, including by funding cycling improvements, educational programs, maps and other amenities.

HUB Cycling has awarded TransLink a Biggest Leap Award and a Bike to Shop Champion Award at its annual awards celebration. The awards recognize our efforts in making impactful cycling policy and infrastructure changes.

We earned a Biggest Leap Award for our updates to the Bicycle Infrastructure Capital Cost Sharing program and our Bike Bus program that provides additional bike carrying capacity between Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and Bridgeport Station during the summer.

The Bicycle Infrastructure Capital Cost Sharing program is one of six funding streams available within our Municipal Funding Program. The program provides municipalities between 50 and 100 per cent of eligible capital costs for infrastructure upgrades that improve mobility options for people walking, biking, rolling, taking transit, or driving. Since 2017, we’ve invested $330 million in walking, cycling, and road improvements — with $115 million dedicated to better bikeways. Some of the other $215 million also supported expanded cycling infrastructure.

Our Bicycle Infrastructure Capital Cost Sharing program now only funds “comfortable for most” bikeways. These facilities are either fully protected from motor vehicle traffic or are on shared roadways with low posted speed limits and low car traffic.

Through this program, we’ve also made funding available for rapid implementation bikeways. These are characterized by reallocating road space from other uses and relying on quick-build, low-cost materials like planters, delineator posts, cement blocks, or other materials.

This enables municipalities to install a safe and comfortable protected network quickly, providing a “big leap” in getting more people cycling and using active transportation.

One of the projects that was made possible through this new funding was the City of Surrey’s six kilometres of protected bike infrastructure in its city centre, which also earned a Biggest Leap Award.

Together, these efforts help us work toward our long-term priorities, including making half of all trips by active transportation and transit by 2050 and completing 75 per cent of the Major Bikeway Network in the next 10 years once the Access for Everyone plan is funded.

TransLink along with its partners also earned a Bike to Shop Champion Award for the Vancouver City Centre Bike Valet service. A bike valet is like a coat-check service but for bikes. It operated all summer in 2023 and was a partnership with Cadillac Fairview, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, the City of Vancouver, and BEST – Bike Valet.

HUB Cycling is a Metro Vancouver organization that’s dedicated to promoting and advocating for cycling in the region.

Their Bike Awards, which have been held annually for 13 years, recognize municipalities, schools, organizations, and community leaders for their contributions to making people of all ages and abilities feel more comfortable and safer on two wheels. For the full list of winners, please visit bikehub.ca.