29 April 2026
Our next BIKE MINDS event is on April 29, 2026. Once again, we’ll be meeting at the Ottawa Bike Café on 79 Sparks Street in Ottawa.
We decided not to have a theme this time, but pivot to a variety of topics instead. More like a live 3D magazine with positive cycling stories.
Our Sponsors
The Biking Lawyer, personal injury lawyers for injured cyclists and vulnerable people, is sponsoring our website. The Ottawa Bike Café, surrounded by classic bikes from Retro-Rides, generously offers their space, labour and A/V equipment for free.
Each story will be allocated approximately 8-10 minutes. At the end of the storytelling, there will be an open question period, where members of the audience and storytellers will be able to ask you questions.
Schedule of the evening
Note: We are starting at 7:00 pm
6:30 pm – doors open for our event. This is the time to buy your food and drinks if desired
7:00 pm – stories start (with a 15 minute social break halfway)
8:00 pm – stories end/mingling time
8:15 pm – café doors close
The Speakers
James Lin
Road cyclist, aspiring Ironman, supporter of active transportation
James started road cycling in 2024 after going on a bike tour through the Netherlands and Belgium. Since then he has completed the CN Cycle for CHEO and the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour, biked among sand dunes in Abu Dhabi, and currently has his sights set on the 2026 Ottawa Ironman Triathlon. You can read more about his journey at James Cycling Journey.
Xiaobin Wang
Active City Wander, Human-paced Explorer
Xiaobin thrives on active transportation, whether it’s biking, walking, or any other way to get around that makes discovering new places feel more engaging and rewarding. Whether rolling through a city or wandering on foot, Xiaobin loves the small discoveries that turn streets into stories. By day, Xiaobin works as an urban mobility engineer shaping people-friendly streets; by heart, Xiaobin just enjoys soaking in the world at a human pace, one ride or walk at a time.
Mathieu Bouchard
Proud father, 4-season cyclist, university professor
I moved with my family from Montreal to Ottawa in the summer of 2024 to start as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Strategy and Organization at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management. My family and I were used to living without a car in Montreal and meet our mobility needs through biking, walking, and car-pooling, and we loved our life that way. When preparing our move to Ottawa, we made it a family priority to keep living without a car and organized our daily life around active mobility, despite Ottawa’s cycling infrastructure and culture being way behind that of Montreal.
Since then, I have begun getting involved in Ottawa’s cycling advocacy/activism community, and am currently developing a qualitative research program on cycling activism for sustainable transportation systems, with a focus on what is happening in Ottawa and Ontario. I am a four-season cyclist firmly committed to transforming Ottawa into a healthier and more sustainable city through active mobility. Over the 25 years I have lived in Montreal beforemoving to Ottawa, I have seen how cycling has transformed that city for the better, although much remains to do, of course. I know we can do this in Ottawa as well, and I’m determined to be part of that transformation.
Samuel Benoit
Dad, federal bike lobbyist, silly person
Samuel Benoit thinks bikes are great and has supported various projects aimed at helping get more people on them. He currently serves as Executive Director for Vélo Canada Bikes, where he is working to strengthen federal support for everyday cycling, mobilizing cycling research and supporting the grassroots bike advocacy community. Before that he organized cycling tours for the youth-led environmental organization The Otesha Project, ran the community bike shop Right Bike and promoted walking and cycling to school with EnviroCentre. Many years ago he cycled from Toronto to Ottawa with his bestie Eric. Their shoes got wet on the first day and didn’t fully dry out for three days. Samuel’s shoes are now dry and he lives in Overbrook with his wife and two boys.short bio
“The Biking Lawyer” sponsors our website. The Biking Lawyer are personal injury lawyers for injured cyclists and vulnerable people, deeply committed to the betterment of our communities. Our passion is fighting for cyclists against motorists and big insurance companies. Bike crashes call for a high level of expertise. We are different from other law firms in that we are committed to cyclists. Our dedicated team of cycling injury lawyers are experienced in investigating crashes in order to build a strong, cycling specific case. If you have been in a bicycle crash do not take chances with poor advice and uneducated opinions. Contact our team. We will advise you on the process and ensure that you are legally protected.
Reserve your spot today
As usual, you can sign up at our Eventbrite site now. There is space for about 30-40 people. Entrance is free, but please cancel your reservation if you decide not to go after all. If it is fully booked, don’t hesitate to sign up on the waiting list. If you are in luck, someone cancels and you might get a notification that places are opening up again.
Looking forward to see everyone again soon.
BIKE MINDS 