iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom Babin @shifter.info · 18/09/2026

I joined @missingmiddleca.bsky.social to talk about the backlash to cycling that's happening in some places in North America recently. youtu.be/6z76EAQYZiU?...

youtu.be

Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes

YouTube video by Missing Middle Podcast

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 17/09/2026

This idea on making adventure accessible and achievable saved my summer www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibv4...

youtube.com

This idea renewed brought a spirit of adventure back to my life

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 02/09/2026

Wouldn't it be great if decisions about transportation were motivated by a desire to help everybody get around?

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 27/08/2026

New video: I sweated in all kinds of situations to find the best ways to mitigate it on your bike commute. Also: Did you know sweating is a key reason for the success of the human species? youtu.be/2Mym8uavTPU

youtu.be

I tested all the sweat hacks for bike commuters to find the ones that actually work

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 12/08/2026

New video: A big list of the things anybody can do to help their city get a little more friendly to cycling youtu.be/GlhoHnlmbtk

youtu.be

51 Things You Can Do to Make Your Community More Bike-Friendly

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 29/07/2026

Bike lanes work best when their benefits are amplified through the network effect. A great example of this in North America is at risk. youtu.be/jTTIqyPVxLA

youtu.be

When bike lanes are treated like transit

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 19/07/2026

There’s no easy answer if you use your bike for transportation and the air is toxic from wildfire smoke, but here are some ideas youtu.be/btz1vDl36H8

youtu.be

The mistakes I made riding my bike through wildfire smoke

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 10/07/2026

You're referring to on-bike storage for your stuff, rather than something to lock the bike securely?

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/07/2026

New video: Maybe me looking for the perfect electric cargo bike will help you find the perfect electric cargo bike youtu.be/RIhbHqSXCQ0

youtu.be

Here's how I'm deciding which type of electric cargo bike to buy

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 25/06/2026

I'm happy to see some accountability being advocated for here. Vision Zero was never intended to be empty platitudes. It's time to do some actual work to make the city safer and better. Great work @whoalansi.bsky.social and @alexwilliamsyyc.bsky.social calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

calgaryherald.com

Opinion: Cyclists need more than 'wear a helmet' to be safe on city streets

City needs to make changes to ensure cyclists are safe in sharing the road with vehicles

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 25/06/2026

I went hunting for gaps in Vancouver's bike-lane network, and found a bigger idea about how we think about bike lanes youtu.be/B93phHGSgYs

youtu.be

I found the worst gaps in this bike network. Here's what they cost every city

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 23/06/2026

I love the work @info.canadiancivil.com.ap.brid.gy is doing to highlight issues that feel local, but are really national. And I envy Paige’s stamina in watching those public hearings!

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Reposted by Tom Babin

Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

New Canadian Civil podcast episode! @paige.canadiancivil.com, @shifter.info, and I talk about Calgary's upzoning and subsequent repeal. Filled with all the wild edits and clips you can expect from a Canadian Civil video.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 11/06/2026

And of course you know I'm talking about Montreal

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 11/06/2026

My weekend exploring why it feels so different riding in this North American city youtu.be/T6A7SDXpNyA

youtu.be

The elements that make up the best cycling city in North America

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 27/05/2026

I found 4 big questions you should ask yourself before buying a bike for bike commuting, and some tips if you've already invested in a bike that's not a great fit for your life youtu.be/k0VzsSVSccc

youtu.be

Questions Nobody Asks Before Buying a Commuter Bike

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 22/05/2026

Just over a week until our mid-GoVelo bike ride and hangout in Montreal on May 30. There's still room to join me, @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social, Paige Saunders, and Priority Bicycles at the post-ride hangout. There will be giveaways! RSVP here: prioritybicycles.wufoo.com/forms/r1oh3y...

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 22/05/2026

I totally agree. We often blame politicians for not understanding this stuff, but the disconnect among people who use their car for everything is deep and wide.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 15/05/2026

I didn’t know anything about these until they caught my eye and I looked them up. Amazing story.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 30/04/2026

This is true, and it should probably be called the safety stop everywhere.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 30/04/2026

Thank you for your concern! More and more, I go out of my way for car-free routes. It's just so much more pleasant to not stress about it.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 29/04/2026

My new video that explores how a counterintuitive traffic measure makes it safer and easier to get around a city by bike. youtu.be/KCs5nDEZpoM?...

youtu.be

12 Places Tried Letting Cyclists Roll Through Stop Signs. Here's What Happened.

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 29/04/2026

Come ride bikes with me! I'll be at the GoVelo festival in Montreal at the end of May, and, along with the team at ‪Priority Bicycles, we're also planning our own side event that will include a group ride and post-ride hangout www.prioritybicycles.com/pages/montre... youtu.be/oBLU6UzUtIg?...

youtu.be

Joins us at the GoVelo festival in Montreal #bike #ebike

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 29/04/2026

Thank you for posting!

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/04/2026

I got so much feedback on my video a few weeks ago about better options for e-bike laws that I made another video using that feedback to try to write a better law. Spoiler alert: It's impossible to write a law everybody will like. youtu.be/6Z35F2R7FeE

youtu.be

I Asked You How to Fix E-Bike Laws. The Answers Surprised Me.

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 25/03/2026

I spoke to @carterlavin.bsky.social about some of the most common mistakes people made when advocating for better transportation in our cities youtu.be/7d2gkfikNfs

youtu.be

5 Mistakes That Kill Bike Advocacy (And How to Fix Them)

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 12/03/2026

I'll look deeper into this. Thanks for sharing.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 12/03/2026

I’ve not rented a bike there, but Bishop’s Family Cycles is a great shop.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 11/03/2026

Also: I posted a survey to see what people think is the best way of regularing e-bikes. Let me know what you think: forms.gle/yzv62eY64oE8...

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 11/03/2026

I'm worried about e-bike crackdowns, so I looked at all the options. Can we find a better way forward? With help from @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social youtu.be/JJN4FqcI7WE

youtu.be

8 ways to fix e-bike laws before the crackdown comes to you

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 26/02/2026

Here's how my own experiences riding around these cities have influenced the way I think about urban cycling. youtu.be/IkvuMNRGtzI

youtu.be

I rode my bike in 12 different cities. Here's what I learned about cycling

YouTube video by Shifter

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

Yes, there has been a bit of a wink-wink-nudge-nudge attitude among some manufacturers about modifying pedelecs to get around the throttle and/or speed limits. That's another problem.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

In most places, there already is legislation to limit the performance, but it's being ignored and can be difficult to identify without closely inspecting each bike, which means it's not being enforced. This is one of the problems that needs to be overcome.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

I haven't read the legislation myself, but it sounds a little half-baked. Check out Berm Peak's videos on it youtu.be/v_M3gMfK5B4?...

youtu.be

E-Bikes Are Basically Motorcycles - What You Need To Know

YouTube video by Berm Peak

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

Yes, I think there are plenty of good arguments for throttles, but it seems be one place where a line can be drawn

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

And that's clearly a pedelec, so it sucks. This why we can't have nice things.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

All of the solutions kinda suck. It's a tough one.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

I wouldn't say it's a huge issue in Calgary, but it's already a topic of conversation. And I think the more bike traffic you get, the more you see these e-motos.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

Wouldn't it be an easy fix to tweak a design to keep all of the problems with an adjustable seat?

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

We're absolutely going to lose nuance in this debate. That's what makes it so tough.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

I can't keep the classes straight either. This is another example of the risk of banning throttles outright, even though that may be the best of some imperfect solutions.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

I don't love this option either, but it's also where I'm leaning.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

These look good in theory, but they also rely on an ability to differentiate between the classes, which can be tough. If we're educating police on this, it could work. But are we?

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

The especially shitty part is this problem is largely created by unregulated electric motorcycles sold online, not by reputable retailers selling good-quality pedelecs. It's a weird time for bikes in all sorts of ways.

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

So what do we do about this? I don't have an answer, but I worry if the bike world doesn't get proactive about this, we're going to end up with a mess of terrible laws like New Jersey. Thoughts?

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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 09/02/2026

3. Some people benefit, particularly those with mobility issues, with a throttle on a pedelec. If we ban them, we lose that opportunity.

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