Tom Babin
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shifter.info
Tom Babin
@shifter.info
4.7K followers 580 following 290 posts
Creator: Shifter | Urban cycling and bike commuting
Author: Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling
More here: linktr.ee/shifter
Posts Replies Media Videos
shifter.info
Riding a bike in Chinese cities blew away my preconceptions
youtu.be/f-ReivbR07U
China's bike lanes are mind-blowing. But there's a problem.
YouTube video by Shifter
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October 1, 2026 at 5:11 PM
shifter.info
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?...
Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes
YouTube video by Missing Middle Podcast
youtu.be
September 18, 2026 at 3:58 PM
shifter.info
This idea on making adventure accessible and achievable saved my summer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibv4...
This idea renewed brought a spirit of adventure back to my life
YouTube video by Shifter
www.youtube.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:16 PM
shifter.info
Wouldn't it be great if decisions about transportation were motivated by a desire to help everybody get around?
September 2, 2026 at 4:24 PM
shifter.info
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
I tested all the sweat hacks for bike commuters to find the ones that actually work
YouTube video by Shifter
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August 27, 2026 at 8:27 PM
shifter.info
If you're in the Montreal area, this sounds fun! And you get to hang with @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social
site.canadiancivil.com/precious-car...
Precious Cargo: A Cycling vs. Transit Family-Friendly Face Off
Patrick from Oh The Urbanity leads a ride across Montreal's cycling infrastructure, seen through the eyes of a modern family that does not own a car.
site.canadiancivil.com
August 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
shifter.info
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
51 Things You Can Do to Make Your Community More Bike-Friendly
YouTube video by Shifter
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August 12, 2026 at 5:35 PM
shifter.info
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
When bike lanes are treated like transit
YouTube video by Shifter
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July 29, 2026 at 3:08 PM
shifter.info
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
The mistakes I made riding my bike through wildfire smoke
YouTube video by Shifter
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July 19, 2026 at 6:11 PM
shifter.info
New video: Maybe me looking for the perfect electric cargo bike will help you find the perfect electric cargo bike
youtu.be/RIhbHqSXCQ0
Here's how I'm deciding which type of electric cargo bike to buy
YouTube video by Shifter
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July 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
shifter.info
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...
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
calgaryherald.com
June 25, 2026 at 9:55 PM
shifter.info
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
I found the worst gaps in this bike network. Here's what they cost every city
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
June 25, 2026 at 7:21 PM
shifter.info
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!
info.canadiancivil.com Canadian Civil @info.canadiancivil.com · Jun 22
Rezoning in #calgary brought out NIMBYs with Albertan characteristics.
@calgary
June 23, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Tom Babin
carastern.bsky.social
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.
info.canadiancivil.com Canadian Civil @info.canadiancivil.com · Jun 22
Rezoning in #calgary brought out NIMBYs with Albertan characteristics.
@calgary
June 23, 2026 at 2:04 AM
shifter.info
My weekend exploring why it feels so different riding in this North American city
youtu.be/T6A7SDXpNyA
The elements that make up the best cycling city in North America
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
June 11, 2026 at 2:38 PM
shifter.info
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
Questions Nobody Asks Before Buying a Commuter Bike
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
May 27, 2026 at 11:38 AM
shifter.info
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...
May 22, 2026 at 3:07 PM
shifter.info
My attempt to fix the first-mile/last-mile problem of commuting
youtu.be/SBy4D8_vq6w
I Commuted Two Different Ways. The Winner Isn't What You Think
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
May 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
shifter.info
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?...
12 Places Tried Letting Cyclists Roll Through Stop Signs. Here's What Happened.
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
April 29, 2026 at 2:10 PM
shifter.info
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?...
Joins us at the GoVelo festival in Montreal #bike #ebike
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
April 29, 2026 at 4:50 AM
shifter.info
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
I Asked You How to Fix E-Bike Laws. The Answers Surprised Me.
YouTube video by Shifter
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April 9, 2026 at 7:29 PM
shifter.info
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
5 Mistakes That Kill Bike Advocacy (And How to Fix Them)
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
March 25, 2026 at 7:24 PM
shifter.info
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
8 ways to fix e-bike laws before the crackdown comes to you
YouTube video by Shifter
youtu.be
March 11, 2026 at 5:47 PM
shifter.info
Here's how my own experiences riding around these cities have influenced the way I think about urban cycling.
youtu.be/IkvuMNRGtzI
I rode my bike in 12 different cities. Here's what I learned about cycling
YouTube video by Shifter
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February 26, 2026 at 8:38 PM
shifter.info
So cool to be given a glimpse into life after cars with @thewaroncars.bsky.social in their own neighbourhood!
youtu.be/K9qYiCYGwiE
A glimpse into what life after cars actually looks like (with @TheWarOnCars)
YouTube video by Shifter
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February 12, 2026 at 8:44 PM