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 Timestamps00:00 – “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
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