Toronto just elected a mayor who is a year-round bicyclist and people are thrilled

After more than a decade of right-wing, austerity-toting, conservative leadership, the city of Toronto kicked off a new era in style when newly minted mayor Olivia Chow rode her bicycle leading a group ride of about 100 cyclists to officially take office.

Olivia Chow, a well-known advocate for cycling and year-round bicyclist in Toronto, has been officially sworn in as the 66th mayor of Canada’s largest city. Chow, 64, has long been an avid cyclist and promised to create a network of 200 kilometres of bike lanes during her 2014 mayoral campaign, where she finished in third place.

Chow’s journey to the mayor’s office has been marked by her dedication to public service. She first became a councillor in 1991 and served as a Toronto city councillor until 2005. She then became the NDP’s Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina from 2006 to 2014. Married to the late NDP leader Jack Layton, Chow brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to the city.

What an amazing way to kickoff a new era at City Hall! Cycled into City Hall with @CycleToronto, Mayor-Elect @oliviachow and a huge entourage of cyclists this morning! It’s going to be a great day! #topoli #bikeTO pic.twitter.com/THR1xKHIio

— Norm Di Pasquale (@normsworld) July 12, 2023

Chow’s inauguration as the first mayor who rides a bike to work since the 1980s is seen as a positive sign for the city. Cycle Toronto, an advocacy group which helped organize Chow’s ride to take office, expressed optimism about the future while talking to local media, emphasizing the need to turn hope into action.

“She understands the benefits of riding a bike,” Michael Longfield, executive director of CycleTO, told CP24 on Tuesday. “She’s been riding a bike for decades. We’re happy to see that, and we’re hoping that her own choice to ride a bike will translate into policies as well. We’ve made a lot of rapid progress in the last three years, and we hope to see that continue.”

Toronto, a rapidly growing city with increasing congestion, requires substantial investments in people-powered transportation and public transit. Chow’s dedication to cycling aligns with the vision of creating a more livable and sustainable city. Her choice to ride a bike to work symbolizes her understanding of the benefits and potential of cycling as a mode of transportation and is an inspiration to others in the city who have long suffered under a regime that sees any progressive change as a war on cars.

Chow is also the first person of colour to lead Canada’s largest city.

As Chow takes office, her focus on implementing Toronto’s Vision Zero plan and sticking to the city’s bike plan is expected to bring positive change and support for cycling communities.

Cycling advocates in the city will surely be looking to Chow for the types of changes occurring in other major cities that have recently elected progressive mayors such as in Montreal, Boston and, of course, Paris, France.