Putting Pedal to the Metal in St. John’s

What started as a push to swap short car trips for bike rides has turned into one of the most energizing community events we've seen from any of our N:OW for Net-Zero grantees. This spring, École St. Matthew's School in St. John's, Newfoundland hosted their second annual Bikefest 2026, and the community showed up in full force. Last year's event drew 82 registered participants. This year? 164 registered, with walk-ins pushing the total close to 200 parents, students, and families.

The celebration wasn't just about bikes. It was a full demonstration of what active, sustainable transportation can look like when a school community gets behind it. Fifteen children were matched with refurbished used bikes and scooters, with helmets provided for each, thanks in part to local partner Ordinary Spokes who brought the donated bikes up to standard. The school plans to expand this re-CYCLING initiative even further next year.

The event also drew some notable guests: MP Tom Osborne and Paul Dinn, MLA and Minister of Education, both attended Bikefest on May 23rd to celebrate the students' efforts firsthand, a testament to the real-world impact this project is making beyond the schoolyard.

"The city's starting to see that shared use pathways are an opportunity — we can get people walking, we can get people more healthy." - Laun Shoemaker, Teacher Lead

Want to learn more about École St. Matthew's journey toward a bike-friendly St. John's? Check out their full solution story on our website: https://nowfornetzero.org/solution-story/ecole-st-matthews-school/ 

If you’re thinking of starting an active transportation project in your own school or teaching about its importance, you can check out our Green and Active Transportation Resource Guide and our Bicycle Infrastructure lesson plan.