The future of transportation in Maple Ridge

Last issue we told you about a transportation survey for Metro Vancouver. 

Now there's an opportunity to make your voice heard even closer to home – but you have to hurry!  

The City of Maple Ridge is updating their Strategic Transportation Plan, and they say they are keen to hear from a range of voices to create a vision for the future of transportation that is inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking. They envision a Plan that is directly influenced by the priorities, needs and aspirations of our community. 

They've created an interactive map where you can flag your concerns and ideas related to walking, cycling, transit and driving in Maple Ridge. There's also a survey to capture your priorities. 

The map and survey are only open until May 31.  That's not much time, but it's important that the City hear from us, so they understand that Maple Ridge citizens place a priority on cutting emissions and getting people out of their cars - with safety and convenience! 

Take the survey and comment on the map**
** tips: the site is slow to load, so be patient. Also, try using the pop-out icon for the survey - it's easier to use in its own tab. 

Go by Bike week May 31 - June 6 

Go by Bike Week, previously known as Bike to Work/School Week, is fast approaching. The annual campaign is designed to showcase cycling as a fun and useful mode of transportation with a ton of benefits. This year's campaign runs from May 31 - June 6.

The fun’s all free, so form a team or go solo and register today at btww.ca. Then get ready to track your kilometres, be entered to win great prizes, and see how many greenhouse gas emissions you've saved. Informative webinars and videos will be offered each day – view the schedule on the HUB Cycling website.  

This year the Climate Hub is teaming up with HUB Cycling Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows to offer local events.    

MOTHERLOAD is a documentary that follows director Liz Canning on her quest to understand the increasing tension between modern life and our hunter-gatherer DNA – and how cargo bikes offer a solution.  

Along the way, she learns that sustainability is not necessarily about compromise and sacrifice, and that there are few things more empowering in an age of consumption than the ability to create everything from what seems to be nothing. 

Watch the MOTHERLOAD trailer

The free screening runs from May 28 through May 30, with a panel discussion the evening of May 31. 

REGISTER for the MOTHERLOAD screening & panel discussion

To wrap up Go by Bike Week, HUB Cycling is presenting a bonus webinar on Monday, June 7, 12-1 p.m. on the need for safe cycling infrastructure in our suburban communities. 

Presenter Kay Teschke, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health) will offer some of her valuable research and insights into the cycling infrastructure needed to make people of all ages and abilities feel safe. 

In view of the climate change emergency and the urgent need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the rapid growth and densification of our city, it's critical that we reduce our car dependency by improving opportunities for active transportation and transit.

Register for this free webinar 

CEED Centre launches new podcast

The CEED Centre has launched its new podcast with the first in a series on the history of salmon in the Alouette River system, from before the dam was built in 1926 up to the present.   

The informative series features Jack Emberly, a long-time local environmental advocate and columnist for the News. 

The podcast is available on the CEED Centre's website, as well as podcast directories like Spotify and Stitcher.

Feel free to forward this newsletter

At this critical time in the race to combat climate change, it's crucial that we stand together and act in big and small ways to move our community to a low-emissions future.   

You can take one simple step today: forward this newsletter to friends and family members, neighbours and co-workers. One of the most effective ways to fight climate change is simply to talk about it. By sending this newsletter out into your world, you are talking about it, and helping others join the conversation. 

Sustainably yours,

The Maple Ridge Climate Hub team