President

A bicycle user since age 10, I became a fietsster/urban cyclist in 2011. That year a serious injury made walking any distance difficult, but I found that pedalling my bike worked like physio and riding allowed me to get to work, socialize with my friends, and reduce my environmental impact. I became an all season bicycle commuter when Stantec sponsored Edmonton's initial downtown bike grid, and the city plowed it all winter. The thrill of winterbiking, especially the sound of tires on fresh snow, was so unexpected! I became an advocate for women's urban cycling partly in response to the ignorance of drivers and legislators who seemed to believe — contrary to the actual legislation — that all streets were soley the domain of cars. I have stayed a fietsster because of the major cost savings, ease of transportation, reduced environmental impact, wonderful community, and most of all the absolute freedom that my bicycle provides.

Vice-President

Secretary

Karly grew up in small towns located in northeastern Saskatchewan and central Brasil, giving her an eye for exposing the taken-for-granted in people’s lives. She seamlessly blends practicality with humour and so returned to university to pursue her Ph.D. She’s interested in bikes, cats, cozy murder, creative non-fiction, phenomenology and history. When she’s not writing about bike lanes, life in general, and her life specifically, she’s renovating her home, quelling cat fights, or performing random acts of gardening.

Treasurer

I've been riding on two wheels since I was five years old. I grew up riding my bike to school in elementary and junior high, to the grocery store with my dad, and to the mall. In high school I mostly relied on public transit, as my friends didn't ride bikes. Then my bike was stolen, so I continued to rely on public transit. Eventually, I bought a BMX bike in my early twenties and would use it to cycle commute because the tires were small enough to allow me to "legally" ride on the sidewalk; riding on busy roads intimidated me too much. However, this was not a sustainable form of transportation, so I sold the bike after about a year. Shortly after returning to university, I bought my first road bike. A singlespeed Brodie. I rode it to campus regularly, and as I became more comfortable riding on the road I started cycle commuting to all sorts of places. Two years after buying my Brodie, I decided I wanted to try winter cycling. The implementation of said decision was a bit trickier than I anticipated. At the time, there was a limited assortment of studded winter tires on the market. The ones available were expensive, and none, it turned out, worked with my frame. However, I was determined to start riding that winter! So, I did some research and determined that riding fixed-gear might enable me to stay upright on my Brodie without studded tires. It worked! I have been winter cycling now for over a decade. Still fixed-gear, but with winter cycling becoming more mainstream, I have, successfully, added studded tires into the mix. A necessity, given Edmonton's new norm of frequent freeze-thaw cycles that leave surfaces slick. Why did I go through all that trouble just to be able to ride my bike in the winter? Because for most of my trips, riding my bike is quicker than taking public transit, and a lot quicker and warmer than walking! Year-round cycling is the healthier choice for my body and the environment. 

Director

Director