The width of a queen-size mattress. That’s the picture we keep coming back to when we talk about BC’s new minimum safe passing distance for cyclists. But how can police actually prove a too-close pass, and what tools — from dashcams to clear signage to fines — will result in safer daily rides? Corporal Michael McLaughlin, Media Relations Officer for BC Highway Patrol (RCMP), joins us to unpack what’s enforceable, what’s cultural, and where advocates can focus to move the needle.

Bill 24 (safe passing distance legistlation)

Share the Road Cycling Coalition (ON)

ICBC - Road Safety

Road Safety - BC Government

Okanagan Gran Fondo death

Cops for Cancer fatality Prince George

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The Bike Sense podcast with Peter Ladner is produced by the BC Cycling Coalition – your voice for safer and more accessible cycling and active transportation in British Columbia.

Got feedback or ideas for future episodes? Please drop us an email at admin@bccycling.ca.

Membership in the BCCC is now FREE! The future of this podcast depends on people like you becoming members at BCCycling.ca.

Imagine riding along dedicated trails through ancient forests and pristine valleys, stopping at local cafes and wineries along the way. This vision of cycle tourism isn't just a cyclist's dream – it's a billion-dollar economic opportunity, as Let's Go Biking author Colleen MacDonald reveals in our captivating conversation.

Colleen brings unparalleled expertise to the discussion, having completed 150 cycling trips across 44 countries and authored three definitive guidebooks on cycling in British Columbia. Her philosophy is refreshingly practical: build cycling infrastructure for locals first, then connect communities, and finally invite the world to experience what BC has to offer.

Whether you're a cycling enthusiast planning your next adventure, a community planner interested in sustainable tourism, or simply someone who appreciates BC's natural beauty, this episode offers a compelling vision of how cycle tourism could transform our province while preserving what makes it special.

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To read more about Colleen's adventures, order her books, or connect with her about Cycle Tourism, visit www.letsgobiking.net

Support the show

***********************************************

The Bike Sense podcast with Peter Ladner is produced by the BC Cycling Coalition – your voice for safer and more accessible cycling and active transportation in British Columbia.

Got feedback or ideas for future episodes? Please drop us an email at admin@bccycling.ca.

Membership in the BCCC is now FREE! The future of this podcast depends on people like you becoming members at BCCycling.ca.

Trail Rep for the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association, Founding Member of the Mission Community Cycling Coalition, former bike-shop owner, and also motorcycle enthusiast Rocky Blondin reveals how the once-clear distinction between motorized and non-motorized vehicles has become dangerously blurred.

In BC pedal-assist e-bikes are classified as bicycles, but this has opened the door to much more powerful devices exploiting regulatory gaps. From teenagers racing modified e-scooters at 80km/h on sidewalks to disguised electric motorcycles damaging mountain bike trails, these situations create real safety hazards.

Despite these concerns, Rocky remains enthusiastic about electric mobility's transformative benefits. Listen in to hear his innovative solutions such as a "green sticker" system to identify compliant devices, and how 'right to repair' can support the cycling industry as well as making e-bikes more sustainable.

Reach out to Rocky at bruce.rockford@gmail.com

Support the show

***********************************************

The Bike Sense podcast with Peter Ladner is produced by the BC Cycling Coalition – your voice for safer and more accessible cycling and active transportation in British Columbia.

Got feedback or ideas for future episodes? Please drop us an email at admin@bccycling.ca.

Membership in the BCCC is now FREE! The future of this podcast depends on people like you becoming members at BCCycling.ca.