Bicycle-friendly candidates are getting elected everywhere

Another mayor charging ahead with a progressive bicycle-forward agenda has been elected in a major North American city. Valérie Plante overcame a challenge from Denis Coderre to win re-election in Montreal, Canada. 

Both candidates ran on agendas that were similar: increasing police, affordable housing, community services. But Coderre lashed out in opposition to Plante’s expansion of the city’s cycling network, even vowing to actually remove existing bike lanes and replace them with car parking spaces. 

Last year, Plante and the city added more than 50 kilometers to Montreal’s cycling network. Earlier this year, the incumbent Plante and the city of Montreal unveiled a new cycling plan, which would see an additional 20 kilometers of bike lanes added to the more than 1,000 kilometers already established. In addition, the plan includes safe cycling facilities located around schools and a new linear park amongst other initiatives.

According to Velo Quebec, seven out of 10 Quebecers “would like their municipality’s bike network to be improved and expanded.” 

Four years ago, Coderre lost the mayoral election for the first time. Again, Plante offered a more progressive vision of the city that puts cycling and people-friendly places first. It’s surprising that Coderre followed a similar tactic this time around and expected a different result. Especially considering the same pattern is happening in other municipalities. 

One could simply look at Paris, and see what Mayor Hidalgo is doing to transform the French capital into a 100 percent cycling city. But it isn’t just Paris. It’s happening in London, Milan and it’s happening in North America as well.

“Paris’ phenomenal cycling transformation is an inspiration for aspiring cycling cities everywhere,” says Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation. “A few examples of other places that have made great strides in cycling in recent years, backed by progressive governments, include Brussels, Barcelona, Milan, and Ireland — which in its coalition agreement in 2020 allocated 10 percent of its annual transport budget to cycling and a further 10 percent to walking, which adds up to €1 million per day in this relatively small country.”

Last week in Detroit, incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan also won re-election, after he invested massively in the city’s cycling infrastructure, often despite significant criticism at the local level. Amongst Duggans many accomplishments in this area are a new bike-share program and the $200-million Joe Louis Greenway — a 27.5-mile biking and walking trail. 

And, it’s not just a transportation issue. Finally, and with good reason, urban cycling is being linked to solving the climate crisis. 

At COP#26 a coalition of organizations from around the world including Velo Quebec put forward a strong message that bicycles can fight climate change. And, governments should massively invest in getting more people on bicycles. 

The message is clear. Bicycles not only belong in cities, but they also need to be front-and-center going forward for the health of our people, our neighborhoods, our economies, and our planet. 

People recognize this right now, and finally, politicians are taking note. 

​​