EBC has been the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society since 1980.

A lot has changed since 1980, including our mandate and the people that we serve. These days, we strive to make Edmonton a more livable city through supporting anyone who wants to ride a bike. Especially those who don't necessarily think of themselves "cyclists". What's more: we recognize that doing this makes Edmonton better for everyone, even those who may never touch a bike. We do this through education, youth & special needs programs, working with community groups and businesses to support better infrastructure, organizing rides, providing a host of other services, and of course through our two volunteer-run community bike shops. We count among our supporters and members many people who rarely use any of our services directly, but who support our vision of Edmonton. They include world-class athletes, youth, parents, seniors, community leaders, students, teachers, engineers, laywers, and doctors. Our members include people who are marginalized, have special needs, and people who are still learning the English language. Our members even include a sizable number of people who rarely ride a bicycle.

This shift in our focus has happened organically, but our name hasn't necessarily kept up. Our strategic planning committee is currently developing our 5- and 10-year plans, and one point that has arisen is the inclusivity of our name.

Therefore, we are now considering rebranding the organization, and are seeking input from our members. No formal decisions have been made yet, but considering that across the country many organizations have recently changed their names, and recognizing that we are a part of a broader community, and also faced with the practical considerations of opening a new shop and printing new signage, we feel that now is the right time to think about updating our name to better reflect who we are today, and who we want to be in the future.

Give us your thoughts by responding to the poll above, or e-mailing us at [email protected].