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 – Why transportation choice matters – Measuring Halifax’s cycling boom and annual growth – How new bike lanes boost usage across networks – Connected networks and where Halifax is lagging – Halifax’s national ranking and lessons from other cities– E-bikes and making cycling more accessible– Micromobility and policy challenges – Why protected, connected networks matter – Sidewalk riders and the hierarchy of vulnerability– Respect between drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians – Weight, physics, and responsibility – SUVs, trucks, sightlines, and heavier vehicles – Street design and safety for everyone – Speed and lane width – Door zones and safe cycling practices – CAA’s Bike Assist benefit – Everyday Membership for people without cars – David’s wish list: a connected bike network in HRM– Why one unsafe gap can make a trip a “no go” – Extending safe cycling into suburban and rural HRM – Recreation vs. transportation – “Recreational cycling is a gateway drug” to commuting– Fitness, transportation, and saving money– Why cycling works well into older age – The Traffic Safety Act and vulnerable road users– Higher fines and judicial tools for collisions – Law, enforcement, and public perception – Introducing the Cycling Guide app– Colour-coded routes and lower-stress navigation– Finding quieter, friendlier routes – Cycling Guide’s expansion into Canadian cities – The struggle to get good-news cycling stories covered – Point Pleasant Park and beginner-friendly riding– Chain of Lakes Trail, BLT, and St. Margaret’s Bay Trail – Salt Marsh Trail – Shubie Park – Cogswell Interchange and new connections – Brunswick Street protected lane – Progress and the need for complete networks – David’s takeaway: hierarchy, respect, and lost momentum Aggressive driving and 2025 injury collision statistics– Aggressive vs. distracted driving– Rapid-fire cycling questions– What people get wrong about cyclists – The one habit David wishes every driver would adopt: ignore the phone – Why distracted driving is terrifying for cyclists – David’s favourite CAA benefit – What “share the road” really means– Cycling Guide expanding province-wide across Nova Scotia – Other cycling apps and resources – Closing thoughts and thanks
