Riding for Change: Eleanor McMahon’s Journey in Cycling Advocacy
For Eleanor McMahon, cycling has always represented freedom. Growing up in a family of nine with only one car, her bike was more than transportation, it was independence. She rode everywhere as a child and teenager, biking to work and gaining a sense of confidence and self-sufficiency fostered by her mother. Later in life, cycling became something deeply shared with her husband, OPP Sgt. Greg Stobbart, as the pair trained for triathlons together and found joy in riding side by side. But in June 2006, tragedy struck when Greg was killed while on a training ride in Milton, just north of their Burlington home. At only 44 years old, his death was devastating and, Eleanor says, preventable. Losing him while he was doing something he loved became a turning point, inspiring her to dedicate herself to creating safer roads and stronger cycling communities through advocacy.
In the years since, Eleanor has helped lead meaningful change in Ontario’s cycling and road safety landscape. Through collaboration with organizations, community partners, and advocates across the province, she has supported legislative progress including three Highway Traffic Act changes aimed at improving road safety. She points to the 2012 Coroner’s Review into Cycling Deaths as a pivotal moment that helped shape Ontario’s first Cycling Strategy in 2013, the province’s first coordinated cycling policy in more than 20 years, designed to align resources, investments, and programs across government. Advocacy efforts also contributed to securing $125 million in cycling infrastructure investments, and Eleanor continues to push for renewed support alongside the All-Party Cycling Caucus at the Ontario Legislature.
Eleanor’s cycling advocacy saw her navigating the provincial legislature as she worked with politicians from all sides of the aisle. In 2013 she met and began working with Kathleen Wynne who at the time was Minister of Transportation. Their policy work together led to an invitation by Kathleen to join her team. In 2014 Eleanor was elected the Member of Provincial Parliament for Burlington and was later appointed to Cabinet where she had responsibility for the cycling file. While elected she oversaw the passage of Ontario’s one metre safe passing law (2015) and in 2017, two additions to the Highway Traffic Act – Careless Driving Cause Death and Cause Bodily Harm, both of which have vulnerability provisions. If a motorist hits a cyclist or pedestrians further penalties can be applied.
Despite this progress, Eleanor says one of the greatest challenges facing cycling advocacy today is the constant effort required to maintain momentum and combat misinformation. She finds it discouraging when public narratives suggest cycling causes congestion or places unfair blame on people who ride bikes. Instead, she believes safer mobility is a shared right, and that energy should be focused on designing and implementing safe places to ride. More people cycling, she argues, means fewer cars on the road, lower healthcare costs, improved affordability, and benefits to local economies. While polarization and misinformation continue to present barriers, Eleanor remains committed to the work, even as she struggles to understand why, in a province where 3.2 million Ontarians cycle at least weekly, some decision-makers remain reluctant to invest in protecting riders. “We all want to get home safely,” she says, “and enjoy riding our bikes, it shouldn’t be this hard.”
As a woman in leadership within cycling advocacy and public policy, Eleanor has also witnessed encouraging change in the landscape for women in cycling. She sees growing prominence of women leaders in public policy, advocacy, and safe mobility across Canada, Europe, and the United States, alongside politicians advocating for safer streets and communities where people can ride comfortably and safely. At the grassroots level, she has also seen cycling clubs and organizations create more opportunities through women-led rides, events and initiatives she believes are helping lower barriers to participation and create more welcoming, supportive environments for women. Having participated in many herself, she has seen firsthand how meaningful and empowering these spaces can be.
For women and girls interested in leadership whether in cycling, advocacy, or sport Eleanor’s advice is simple: never give up. Be bold, fight for what you believe in, and build a strong community of support around you. That same belief in collective action extends to her message for everyday cyclists, whom she encourages to become advocates in their own communities. Whether speaking to local councilors, MPPs, or MPs, supporting organizations working toward safer streets, or voting for leaders who champion cycling, Eleanor believes everyday voices matter. She also encourages riders to support advocacy efforts directly, including organizations like Share the Road, and invites the cycling community to participate in events like the 20th Share the Road Gran Fondo in Milton, a celebration of safer roads, stronger communities, and a shared commitment to road safety.
While Eleanor has countless cycling memories, one experience remains especially meaningful: riding through Copenhagen and seeing firsthand a city designed to support and prioritize cyclists. The experience, she says, was magical and reinforced what is possible when communities truly invest in safe cycling infrastructure. Above all, during Women’s Month, Eleanor hopes more women and girls will simply get involved, join a ride, gather friends, and experience the joy of cycling for themselves. She describes the cycling community as welcoming and inspiring, adding that becoming involved in cycling advocacy changed her life in a positive way.