Celebrating 35 Years of BEST: A Night of Ideas, Community, and Celebration
October 1 was a celebration for the books. Almost 100 people gathered to mark BEST's 35th anniversary at Creekside Community Recreation Centre. The room was buzzing with great conversations, old friends catching up, and new connections being made. You could really feel the sense of community in the room, the same spirit that has carried BEST for 35 years.
We came to celebrate 35 years and left inspired with ideas about what a city for all ages could look like, sparked by stories from people committed to streets that serve everyone.
Where it all began
Colin Stein’s book “VanBikes: Vancouver’s Bicycle People and Fight for Transportation Change” captures a lot of this history.
35 Years ago a group of people who saw the benefits of active transportation, self-referred as the “bicycle people”, came together around a simple but bold idea: that our streets should work for people. Not just for cars, but for everyone walking, rolling, cycling, and taking transit.
The idea grew into Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, or BEST. And all these years later, it still drives BEST Mobility’s mission: to make healthy and sustainable transportation part of everyday life in BC.
In the early years, that meant publishing the Spoke N’ Word bicycle advocacy newsletter, and starting Our Community Bikes. Today, it means operating signature programs like Bike Valet, Seniors on the Move, and the annual WALK30 campaign, and growing the advocacy voice for walking at the municipal and provincial levels.
Many paths to a City for All Ages
BEST has always played an important role as a connector, and this night was no different. We were so glad to highlight six speakers whose work is making our streets safer, more accessible, and more joyful. Each brought a different lens on the same question: what does it take to build a city for all ages? Thank you to all our fabulous speakers for sharing their passion and wisdom:
Jane Talbot, President + CEO at Downtown Van, on lessons from transforming Granville Street into a pedestrian-focused public space
Naeva Scott Bouris, Active Transportation Researcher at CHATR Lab, on mobility of care and active travel with young children
Aman Chandi, Director of Programs and Fundraising at Movement, on Making Moves toward transportation equity
Dr. Kishore Seetharaman, Postdoctoral Fellow at SFU Gerontology, on building inclusive neighbourhoods for people living with dementia
Lisa Corriveau, Bike Education Manager at HUB Cycling, on getting more kids on bikes
Dr. Beverley Pitman, Manager, Healthy Aging at United Way, on the experiences of British Columbians 65+ on the move
From toddlers in bike trailers and school-aged kids learning to ride a bike, to older adults living with dementia navigating crossings and the need for more community shuttles for seniors, the stories spanned every stage of life. It was wonderful to hear perspectives from people working on the ground, alongside insights from research, and to have so many people in the room taking in ideas from fields and age groups beyond their own.
Honouring our Seniors Transportation Advocacy Committee
One of the standout moments of the night was recognizing BEST's Seniors Transportation Advocacy Committee. These volunteers show up to meetings, workshops and consultations. They share their own stories of getting around the city, and they push decision makers to see our streets through the eyes of older adults.
Getting to thank them on National Seniors Day made it extra special. Their advocacy is proof that the people who use our streets every day are the experts on how to make them better.
The people who made the night
A huge thank you to our MC Sabrina Lau Texier, Director of Infrastructure Programs at TransLink, for setting such a warm and welcoming tone and tying the whole evening together beautifully.
We're grateful to Steamworks Brewing and Rain or Shine Ice Cream for their generous in-kind donations. Thanks you to Potluck Catering for the delicious food and to Satya Photo for capturing the evening!
And thank you to our Bike Valet crew supporting guests arriving by bike at the Milton Wong Plaza, and keeping their rides safe throughout the evening.
Here’s to the next 35 years
Over 35 years, BEST has helped more people in this region choose to walk, bike, roll, take transit and car-share, and helped make those choices easier, safer and more joyful. None of that happened in isolation. It happened because volunteers, partners, researchers, funders, and engaged community members kept showing up.
Thank you to everyone who came, and to all who have been part of BEST's story. If the stories from this milestone evening inspired you, there are lots of ways to be part of what’s next: volunteer with us, join a program or an upcoming WALKtober walk, or make a gift to help BEST keep advocating for streets that work for everyone.
