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Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
Micromobility Report: Education, Regulation and Data Are Keys to Success
BURNABY, BC, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ - A Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) study commissioned by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) notes the rapid growth of e-bike and e-scooter adoption across Canada, and highlights opportunities for a continued focus on safety regulations and public awareness. Among key findings for BC are that the province is a leader in establishing important safety regulations, and that shared micromobility programs like Evolve contribute to safety standards at the municipal level. Nationally, with the relative newness of micromobility and its rapid adoption, the report notes that there is some catch up to do. Many governments have yet to put in place laws or policies for e-bikes or e-scooters. It also calls for continued focus on consumer education and highlights a lack of consistent safety incident data as an area for development. "It's encouraging to see that BC is a leader in responsible micromobility and that shared programs like ours can contribute to the adoption of safety standards while actively providing more accessible and affordable transportation choices," says Leanne Buhler, Head of BCAA's Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter Share. "BCAA's commitment to road safety extends to all forms of transportation, and shared micromobility is no exception." "For years, Evolve has worked closely with BC communities to proactively address what's highlighted in the CAA report – from regulating speed and road access, to ensuring device integrity and empowering riders with essential safety education. Our commitment to safety with our community partners has helped make shared services like Evolve a positive force for urban mobility." The CAA study thoughtfully examines the landscape of micromobility and recognizes the strengths of shared micromobility services in addressing safety concerns. The report identifies several key findings, each of which is met with a strong, positive response from the shared micromobility sector, and actively supported in the province by BCAA's programs. Regulatory leadership: The report describes a patchwork of laws and policies across the country. In BC, province wide and municipality-led regulations include speed governors and other safety rules that shared mobility programs adopt and champion. Data-driven safety: The report notes data gaps leading to limited and inconsistent recording of safety-related incidents. Shared micromobility fleets are able to contribute to data driven insights by analyzing data on speed, road conditions, and riding patterns to better inform new and evolving safety policies. Device integrity: The report identifies inconsistent battery quality and safety as potential risks amongst personally owned e-bikes and e-scooters. High operating standards mitigate these potential risks for shared fleets. Structured and stricter operations: Shared micromobility's structured operations – including geofencing, designated parking, and enforced speed controls – are vital safety components that contribute to responsible use. Empowering Through Education: The report found a need for more consumer education to support the rapid growth of micromobility. In BC, Evolve empowers riders with safety education through in-app tutorials, community outreach, and clear guidelines – equipping riders for safe, confident journeys, and significantly boosting overall road safety awareness. "E-bike and e-scooter share are not just convenient options but are quickly becoming relied on as a way to get around town without a personal vehicle," adds Buhler. "By working hand-in-hand with communities, regulators, and our members, we are demonstrating that micromobility can be used responsibly and safely." Evolve offers the following tips for safe e-bike and e-scooter use: Conduct a pre-ride check: Check the tires, brakes and battery before you start your trip. Wear a helmet: Each Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter comes with a helmet. Be visible: Wear bright, reflective clothing – especially at night. For additional visibility, Evolve E-Bikes and E-Scooters have reflectors and head/taillights. Avoid distractions: To focus on your surroundings, put your phone away while riding. Never ride impaired: It's dangerous for riders and other road users. Riding while impaired is against the law in BC and could result in penalties. Obey the rules of the road: Always ride solo and watch for other road users. Follow road rules including stop signs, red lights, and yield to pedestrians. About Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter Share Evolve is a turnkey micromobility share program that offers e-bike and e-scooter share services in British Columbia. Created by BCAA and operating alongside Evo Car Share, Evolve operates public and private e-bike and e-scooter share programs in Metro Vancouver, Vancouver's North Shore, Whistler, Squamish and on Vancouver Island. Businesses, organizations, or municipalities interested in learning more about Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter Share can reach out at About BCAA Driven by its purpose to move British Columbians forward, BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) is a long-standing BC Top Employer (Mediacorp) and serves more than one in three B.C. households with industry leading mobility and protection services, including Membership, Insurance, Evo Car Share, Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter Share, BCAA Auto Marketplace and Auto Service. BCAA invests in programs and initiatives to make a positive impact by protecting the people and the Province of BC, recognizing that the place we call home is all of ours to protect. BCAA holds itself accountable to its purpose by setting goals related to its impact on People, the Planet and Prosperity, and sharing results in its annual Impact Report.
Cision Canada
19-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
BCAA Says Summer Travel Trends Mean Savings on Travel Insurance
- BCAA helps vacationers with tips to choose the right protection and save money BURNABY, BC, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - BCAA says that the latest travel trends are leading to more vacationers seeking help to choose the right insurance for their trip. And the good news is that many are saving money by making the right choice. BCAA notes a decline in demand for US travel insurance while, at the same time, monthly sales of worldwide plans without coverage for US destinations are up as much as 18% as more people choose to take their trips further abroad. Sales of policies to cover trips within Canada are also up by more than 22%. "Higher costs of health care in the US mean travel insurance costs more," explains Alana Udovicic, BCAA Consumer Marketing Manager. "If you're venturing elsewhere, choosing a policy that excludes the US can save you 10-28% for a BCAA policy for example, and provide valuable protection." While travel insurance is essential for any trip that takes you outside of BC, BCAA is noticing that travellers are increasingly appreciating its value and importance for far flung destinations. As Udovicic notes, "The bigger the adventure, the more importance travellers are attaching to travel insurance that can deliver practical help should plans go awry." For those travelling further abroad to less familiar destinations and possibly communicating in unfamiliar languages, Udovicic advises looking for a travel insurance policy with benefits that offer maximum value and peace of mind. For example, 24/7 support and telehealth services for quick assessment and guidance to medical care in an emergency. Additionally, BCAA's Travel Delay +AutoPay instantly provides a cash payout by e-transfer when your flight is delayed, to help cover unexpected expenses like meals and essentials to make the wait more manageable. Other travel insurance tips that BCAA regularly shares with travellers include: Don't pay for coverage you don't need - a policy that excludes the US can be 10-28% cheaper. You typically don't need US coverage if you travel through the US for up to 5 days to reach a non-US destination. Always check with your insurer to confirm. Make travel insurance part of your trip planning. Buy early to ensure you're covered before a major weather event, airline strike, or other unforeseen circumstances that may affect your plans. For quick cash to make flight delays more manageable, choose Travel Delay +AutoPay. Remember to register your flight details right away to get an alert the moment a delay happens. Travel Delay +AutoPay works in Canada too! If you get stuck at a regional airport, BCAA will e-transfer cash to help you plan your next move. A 'Within Canada' travel insurance policy is low cost and protects you from out-of-province medical expenses not covered by MSP for domestic trips. About BCAA Driven by its purpose to move British Columbians forward, BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) is a long-standing BC Top Employer (Mediacorp) and provides over 1 in 3 B.C. households with industry leading mobility and protection services including Membership, Insurance, Evo Car Share, Evolve E-Bike & E-Scooter Share, BCAA Auto Marketplace and Auto Service. BCAA invests in programs and initiatives to make a positive impact by protecting the people and province of BC, recognizing that the place we call home is all of ours to protect. BCAA holds itself accountable to its purpose by setting goals related to its impact on People, the Planet and Prosperity, and sharing results in its annual Impact Report.
Global News
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
B.C. wildfires 2025: Live map shows fires burning, locations and evacuations
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook B.C.'s wildfire season has begun, with fires cropping up around the province. Use the live and interactive map above to search for the wildfires, perimeters, evacuation orders and alerts. Evacuation orders are denoted by a red triangle, while an orange triangle denotes evacuation alerts. A wildfire of note is also a red triangle but flames can be seen in the centre, as opposed to an exclamation point. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The orange circles are wildfires that are out of control, the yellow circles are fires that are being held and the green circles are fires under control. As you zoom into the map and explore, you will also see red outlines, which show wildfire perimeters. These are fires, often thousands of hectares in size, which indicate fires that have merged and become clusters. Story continues below advertisement This wildfire map is sponsored by BCAA. BCAA — map designed and developed by William Howell and Max Hartshorn
Chicago Tribune
28-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Big Catch group's first female Angler of the Year ‘blessed with talent I didn't know I had'
Paula Stovall, 62, of Country Club Hills, became the first female to win Angler of the Year in the Big Catch Angler Association, a south-suburban organization which was established in 2004. Her 'Pops' would be proud. Stovall was presented with the award in front of friends and family on her birthday, April 13, at a BCAA meeting in Chicago Heights. 'She loves fishing,' said Sam Steele, one of the founders of the organization. 'She catches a lot of fish, and we are really proud of her for that.' But Stovall went an overwhelming majority of her life without knowing the joy she could experience casting lines into the water. She said that changed about 12 years ago. 'I was 50 years old and didn't even know how to put a worm on a hook,' she said. 'I started at Monee Reservoir and ever since then, I caught a fish every single time.' She got hooked on the activity thanks to her godfather, Ellison Fisher, who was known to her and other family members as 'Pops.' Fisher loved fishing but was dying of cancer. Friends and family members joined him for one last outing 12 years ago. That's when she started to take an interest in the sport, even though that day she abstained. 'We wanted to take Pops fishing before he died,' Stovall said. 'I didn't get a chance to fish, then. We took all the grandkids, and I was busy with the kids and cooking hot dogs and all of that kind of stuff.' Fisher's spirit, and fishing equipment, stayed with Stovall. So, after he died, she and a group of novices took his poles and headed to the Monee Reservoir. 'I didn't even know how to set up a pole,' she said, but they caught the eye of more experienced anglers who saw them 'and knew something didn't look right.' 'They said we had to do this, that and the other,' Stovall said, 'and they helped us set our poles up.' Little did those kind strangers know that day that they may have helped change a life. In the years since, Stovall has enjoyed great success angling. And she believes she might be getting a bit of a boost from above. 'Every time I fish it's in honor of my godfather,' Stovall said. 'Yeah, he's there with me. He would always bless the heavens and say 'thank you, God' every time he caught a fish. He would thank the Lord and when I fish I look up at the heavens, and I catch a lot of fish. 'The Lord has blessed me with a talent that I didn't know I had.' Steele said the Angler of the Year award goes to those who accumulate the most points. Certain fish that are caught are worth more points based on difficulty of catching them and other criteria. Stovall had such a big lead in the point standings for 2024 that Steele said he couldn't remember who finished second and third. 'She made a really big splash,' Steele said. Meanwhile, Stovall admits that she probably could have earned this honor earlier. She unwittingly hurt her own cause by not always turning in the paperwork on the fish that she caught. But in 2024, Stovall decided to turn in all the information on the fish she caught and ultimately won the honor. There is a little luck to fishing. There is also a lot of skill. And there is determination and Stovall has plenty of that. 'Paula is very consistent,' Steele said. 'I know we've been on certain overnight trips where some of the other anglers get tired at a certain point and go in. But Paula would still be out there until 2, 3 or 4 in the morning catching fish. 'And her technique is really good.' The BCAA has more than 100 anglers, Steele said. While the group mainly fishes in the South Suburbs, they take six-to-12 overnight trips a year. They fish all over the Midwest on those trips. 'You name a place and we've probably been there,' Steele said. Stovall said she loves the 'peace and tranquility' of fishing. And she obviously loves to bring in big hauls of fish. 'I have a niche for fishing for some reason,' she said. 'The fish just come to me, I don't know why.'
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
EMA Recommends Treatment for Maple Syrup Urine Disease
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted an exceptional circumstances positive opinion for Maapliv, a solution of amino acids intended for the treatment of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) in patients presenting with an acute decompensation episode from birth and who are not eligible for an oral and enteral branched-chain amino acids (BCAA)-free formulation. MSUD is a rare genetic disorder of BCAA metabolism. In this condition, buildup of toxic metabolites from BCAAs produced from protein breakdown leads to significant and potentially irreversible developmental effects. It may cause metabolic derangements, cerebral edema, seizures, coma, and respiratory failure, and it may be fatal. It affects fewer than 0.1 in 10,000 people in the EU, equivalent to fewer than 5000 people. This is below the ceiling for orphan drug designation (5 in 10,000). In 2020, the EMA granted orphan designation to a solution of amino acids not containing any BCAAs, intended to be given by infusion to replace other sources of amino acids. At the time, the EMA said, there were no suitable treatments authorized in the EU for MSUD, and patients were managed with strict diets to control the amount of BCAAs taken in from proteins. Some forms of the disorder also responded to vitamin B supplements. Some patients needed hospitalization for enteral feeding or procedures to filter BCAAs directly from the blood. Other patients were judged suitable for liver transplantation, which restores the ability to break down BCAAs. Medicine Reduces Harmful Amino Acids Maapliv, manufactured by Recordati Rare Diseases, is a combination of amino acids free of BCAA. It is used as a solution for infusion in combination with carbohydrate and lipid supplementation to prevent or reverse protein catabolism and promote anabolism in patients with MSUD decompensation, thereby reducing harmful alpha-keto acid levels. The CHMP said that leucine normalization had been shown in patients with MSUD decompensation who are given Maapliv in five scientific publications that reported on parenteral use of BCAA-free solutions with the same formulation as Maapliv. Treatment with Maapliv should be initiated under the supervision of a physician experienced in the management of MSUD disease. Detailed recommendations for the use of Maapliv will be described in the summary of product characteristics, which will be published on the EMA website in all official European Union languages after the marketing authorization has been granted by the European Commission.
