Episode #2
Share the Road: Cycling & Safety Getting Around
In this episode of Let’s Go Together, we’re joined by David Trueman, chair of the Halifax Cycling Coalition, to talk about safer streets, the growth of cycling and micromobility, and what it really means to “share the road.” From cargo bikes and e-bikes to protected bike lanes and rural shoulders, David explains how better infrastructure, smarter laws, and small culture shifts can make cycling safer and more appealing—for everyone from weekend riders to parents biking kids to daycare. He also shares insights on Halifax’s best routes, the Cycling Guide app, and a little-known CAA benefit for cyclists. Whether you’re a driver trying to understand cyclists, a parent curious about cargo bikes, or someone who’d like to bike more but doesn’t feel safe yet, this episode offers grounded, local insight into building safer streets and happier riders. We cover cycling advocacy, cargo bikes, e-bikes and micromobility, Halifax’s cycling infrastructure, vulnerable road users, the Traffic Safety Act, lower-stress route planning, recreational routes in HRM, and CAA’s Bike Assist benefit. Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – “It’s just physics that higher weight vehicles are more dangerous.” 00:06 – Julia introduces the episode: cycling, micromobility, and safer streets in Halifax 01:41 – Meet David Trueman and his path from tweeting about cycling to advocacy 02:23 – Founding Cycle Waterloo Region and moving back to Halifax Cycling Coalition 03:44 – David’s role at Halifax Cycling Coalition 04:06 – David’s cycling journey, including Ottawa–Halifax by bike 05:10 – Seeing cycling from the perspective of people who feel unsafe 05:49 – Biking his grandson to daycare on an e-cargo bike 06:50 – The rise of cargo bikes and “kids as cargo” 07:16 – Kidical Mass and family-focused rides 08:24 – Fuel prices, transit, and mode shift 09:55 – Why transportation choice matters 10:45 – Measuring Halifax’s cycling boom and annual growth 11:26 – How new bike lanes boost usage across networks 11:39 – Connected networks and where Halifax is lagging 12:04 – Halifax’s national ranking and lessons from other cities 12:48 – E-bikes and making cycling more accessible 13:19 – Micromobility and policy challenges 15:07 – Why protected, connected networks matter 15:22 – Sidewalk riders and the hierarchy of vulnerability 16:09 – Respect between drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians 16:44 – Weight, physics, and responsibility 17:39 – SUVs, trucks, sightlines, and heavier vehicles 18:42 – Street design and safety for everyone 20:01 – Speed and lane width 20:45 – Door zones and safe cycling practices 21:55 – CAA’s Bike Assist benefit 22:31 – Everyday Membership for people without cars 24:13 – David’s wish list: a connected bike network in HRM 24:36 – Why one unsafe gap can make a trip a “no go” 25:01 – Extending safe cycling into suburban and rural HRM 26:15 – Recreation vs. transportation 26:40 – “Recreational cycling is a gateway drug” to commuting 27:13 – Fitness, transportation, and saving money 27:43 – Why cycling works well into older age 28:44 – The Traffic Safety Act and vulnerable road users 29:06 – Higher fines and judicial tools for collisions 29:50 – Law, enforcement, and public perception 30:09 – Introducing the Cycling Guide app 31:02 – Colour-coded routes and lower-stress navigation 31:36 – Finding quieter, friendlier routes 32:07 – Cycling Guide’s expansion into Canadian cities 32:44 – The struggle to get good-news cycling stories covered 34:12 – Point Pleasant Park and beginner-friendly riding 34:26 – Chain of Lakes Trail, BLT, and St. Margaret’s Bay Trail 35:23 – Salt Marsh Trail 36:04 – Shubie Park 36:42 – Cogswell Interchange and new connections 37:38 – Brunswick Street protected lane 38:10 – Progress and the need for complete networks 38:10 – David’s takeaway: hierarchy, respect, and lost momentum 38:58 – Aggressive driving and 2025 injury collision statistics 39:26 – Aggressive vs. distracted driving 40:39 – Rapid-fire cycling questions 41:44 – What people get wrong about cyclists 42:35 – The one habit David wishes every driver would adopt: ignore the phone 43:23 – Why distracted driving is terrifying for cyclists 43:54 – David’s favourite CAA benefit 44:07 – What “share the road” really means 44:12 – Cycling Guide expanding province-wide across Nova Scotia 44:46 – Other cycling apps and resources 45:21 – Closing thoughts and thanks Resources Mentioned: Halifax Cycling Coalition: https://cyclehalifax.ca Cycling Guide App: Lower-stress cycling navigation with colour-coded route comfort levels. Kidical Mass Halifax: https://www.kidicalmasshfx.ca CAA Atlantic Bike Assist & Everyday Membership: https://atlantic.caa.ca CONNECT WITH CAA ATLANTIC Website: https://atlantic.caa.ca/ Instagram: / caaatlantic Facebook: / caaatlantic LinkedIn: / caa-atlantic IDEA FOR A FUTURE EPISODE? Send us your ideas at info@atlantic.caa.ca!
