About Us

Mission

We are a voluntary, inclusive group of concerned citizens working to make cycling in Winnipeg a safe, enjoyable, accessible and convenient transportation choice year-round.

Vision

We envision a city where cycling is embraced as the preferred mode of transportation, where cycling is integrated into urban design and planning, and where Winnipeg is recognized as a leader in cycling infrastructure and programs.

Bike to the Future's history

After the intense focus on cycling in Winnipeg throughout the summer of 2006, a group of cyclists organized a forum entitled Bike to the Future, which was held at the University of Winnipeg on September 20th, 2006. Over 100 cyclists came together to discuss their vision for cycling in Winnipeg and to share their ideas about what is needed to make cycling better and safer in our city. The forum resulted in a report with recommendations for the City and Province. The report was delivered by bike to elected representatives at the Provincial Legislature and City Hall.

After the forum, the municipal election provided an ideal opportunity to raise the awareness of cycling in the City of Winnipeg. A group of people came together after the forum and under the organizational name of Bike to the Future created a questionnaire that was distributed to all municipal candidates asking for their vision of cycling in the city and what they were going to do to improve infrastructure for commuter cyclists in Winnipeg. As a result, Winnipeg cyclists were named "Most Effective Lobby Group" by the Winnipeg Free Press during the election.

Bike to the Future began meeting with city and provincial leaders to advance recommendations made in the Bike to the Future Forum Report, and getting organized to pursue an ambitious agenda, including a membership drive and continued advocacy for infrastructure improvements. Our Mission and Vision statements were formed at a Strategic Planning Session in November 2006.

Bike to the Future was incorporated in Manitoba in February 2007.

On Thursday, May 10th, 2007, Bike to the Future held its founding General Meeting to approve a set of organizational bylaws and elect a volunteer Board of Directors.

Bike to the Future’s main objective is promoting cycling as transportation, which includes the development and use of bike lanes, designated routes on traffic-calmed streets, and multi-use pathways as part of an interconnected bicycle route network.

The organization has been a strong participant in trail-development initiatives and stakeholder committees for public consultation. A few examples include the Northeast Pioneers Greenway, Bishop Grandin Greenway, Fort Garry Bridge and Disraeli rehabilitations, and Chief Peguis Trail development.

When the City of Winnipeg announced the creation of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (a recommendation of the 2005 Active Transportation Study, and something Bike to the Future had been lobbying for) in Spring 2007, we were invited to have a representative on the committee.

Bike to the Future has made many presentations to the City, Province, and community groups, and produced many publications, most notably:

• The report from the 2nd annual participatory forum held at the University of Winnipeg on October 11, 2007.
• Presentations to the City and Province during their 2008 budget consultations.
• A Cycling and the Future of Manitoba report that was presented to the Province.

Bike to the Future held its first Annual General Meeting on November 13, 2007, and a Strategic Planning Session on March 1, 2008.