Whitehorse Car Ban Forces 32‑Year‑Old to Bike & Walk

Vivienne Steele, a 32‑year‑old epidemiology researcher in Whitehorse, Yukon, lost her driver’s licence in October 2024 after a seizure‑related medication change prompted Transport Canada to suspend it for a year. Without a car she had bought in 2022, Steele relied on buses, a fat‑tire bicycle, walking up steep Two‑Mile Hill, and informal rides from strangers. Over 11 months she mapped obscure routes, noted curbs and crosswalks that are unsafe, and learned that the city’s infrastructure is limited for pedestrians and cyclists. The experience deepened her sense of community interdependence, inspired her to buy an e‑bike, and sparked reflections on accessibility for all residents.