2026 AT Summit: An Abundance of Content, and Other Nice Problems to Have

“Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”. So goes the old adage about the unexpected consequences of getting what you want.

For this year's AT Summit in Victoria, we wanted a strong turn-out of smart, experienced active transportation leaders to share what they know.

What we got: more conference proposals than we could fit in 3 days, from almost 100 of the province's leading AT researchers, planners, engineers, advocates and educators, representing First Nations, local and regional governments, agencies, operators and NGOs. “An embarrassment of riches”, said one committee member…

The challenge was to strike a balance across a wide range of topics, including those from a variety of different kinds of communities—on everything from accessibility, equity and reconciliation, to data, shared mobility, and policy-based political issues (or politically-charged policy issues, take your pick).

And this is how it's shaping up. No matter who you are and how you intersect with the AT community, at this year’s Summit you may also get what you want.

It might even be more than you wanted. But as another old saying goes, you just might find, you get what you need.

Catch the latest podcast episodes!

S4 Ep6: Building Dutch Inspired Bike-Friendly Streets in BC

BC is often compared to the Netherlands with a shrug: “We've got too many hills!” But scratch beneath the surface and the similarities outweigh the differences. Sustainable transportation engineer Roy Symons of ISL Engineering and Land Services has spent years studying how the Dutch do street design, and he’s leading the charge for bringing Dutch-style infrastructure across B.C. (hills or not).

S4 Ep5: Bicycle History, from Penny Farthing to E-Bike

Gordon Hobbis runs his own bicycle museum in Maple Ridge, and takes Peter on a wild ride in this episode, linking early two-wheel transport to climate disruption following the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora. Coasting into the modern era, they discuss the changes to bike retail since the explosion of e-commerce and model variety, plus the e-bike evolution.

S4 Ep4: How the City of North Vancouver is Beating “Bikelash”

Bike lanes can feel like a simple street design choice, so why do they set people off like a cultural lightning rod? We sit down with City of North Vancouver Councillor Tony Valente, who’s been on the front lines of active transportation advocacy and the backlash that comes with it, to unpack what’s really driving “bikelash” across B.C. and beyond.

B.C. Resource Roads and Backcountry Road Networks: Have Your Say

In a new survey, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is asking British Columbians for their opinions on BC's back-country resource roads.

Resource roads provide access to outdoor recreation destinations across the province, and can also be part of the transportation network connecting rural communities.

Which roads are most important? Where is access at risk? What are the possible solutions? Provide your feedback today!

The BC Resource Road Access Survey is led by ORCBC with participation from the the BC Mountaineering Club, Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, BC Snowmobile Federation, Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, and Quad Riders ATV Association of BC.

Province engaging with local governments on BC Road Safety Strategy

As part of the engagement process for the next B.C. Road Safety Strategy (BCRSS), and with the support of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), last month the province invited local government staff and elected officials to provide input on how the road safety needs of communities throughout B.C. can be better supported.

Topics raised in the virtual sessions included lowered speed limits, increased speed management and enforcement, vulnerable road user protections, the integration of AT into road safety planning, and updates to road safety legislation and regulations.

See the BCRSS engagement presentation deck and draft action plan on the UBCM website.

What’s New in AT?

• A bike-themed film is coming to Vancouver’s VIFF Film Centre—The award-winning indie “A Simple Machine” will screen at VIFF from Aug 7-13. The story follows a young man whose life changes when he gets rid of his car and commits to getting around by bike. Meet director Mark Hoffman at Q&A's following screenings on Aug 7 & 8.

• This year, BEST Mobility celebrates 35 years of advancing healthier and more sustainable transportation across B.C., and they recently released a new, long-term strategy for the organization. Their 2026-2030 Strategic Plan focuses on their role as a voice for walking, multimodal initiatives and education, and helping mobilize transportation policy province-wide. It’s a great read!

• Road safety concerns along Vancouver Island’s Highway 19 have led local AT advocates to seek access to the island rail corridor. Representatives of the Mid Island Velo Association (MIVA) say it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed along a dangerous stretch of the highway between Nanoose Bay and Lantzville. Read the CBC News story.

• Cycle for Seafarers, Saturday Sep 19: Did you know Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, with more than 3,000 commercial vessel calls each year? Seafarers keep our ports moving, and Mission to Seafarers Vancouver Station has organized a group ride for maritime companies and their community members to raise funds for the welfare of the people who spend months away from home keeping global trade moving. The ride honours their work while raising funds to provide care, transportation, communication with loved ones, and a warm welcome when they arrive in port.

Help us keep doing what we’re doing

As a BCCC supporter, you don’t have to do much to support our work for cycling, active transportation and road safety in B.C….just click a button.

Your membership or donation helps us make the case for more investments for AT in communities across the province—as we did on June 8th when we presented our Budget 2027 submission to the provincial government (starting at the 3:50pm mark).

If you like what we’re doing, please support our work by joining us, or by making a small one-time or monthly donation . Everything counts.

Thanks for reading, and stay cool,

Colin Stein | Executive Director
on behalf of BCCC Board of Directors & Staff