Ride with Candidates: Mohamed Askalany – Kitchener Ward 9

For the 2026 municipal elections, CycleWR volunteers have been taking municipal electoral candidates on bike rides to show off the best and worst of the cycling infrastructure in their ward/city/region.

Below is a summary written by CycleWR volunteer Josh Ricker-Rampersad on their ride with municipal candidate for Kitchener Ward 9, Mohamed Askalany.

Disclaimer: CycleWR is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse a party or candidate. Summaries are written by volunteers or candidates and may not reflect the mandate or views of CycleWR. For more information, contact us at hello@cyclewr.ca.

On an overcast morning, Mohamed and I met for a ride around ward 9. Our route explored some of the best cycling infrastructure alongside areas for improvement. We rode from the Victoria Park clock tower to Cherry Park, back along the Iron Horse trail, on sections of Courtland and Queen Street S to St Mary’s hospital, and returned to our starting point via the Henry Sturm trail.

Mohamed likes to keep active and enjoys going for long jogs and bike rides, including a ride from KW to Stratford last summer. He shared that not everyone can afford to drive, so cycling should be an option for residents of the city.

We discussed winter snow clearing, and Mohamed highlighted the disparity between major roads and lower-traffic side roads. He talked about how municipal snow clearing on side roads can take a very long time, and shared frustration around snow plows pushing large blocks of ice onto sidewalks after they have been cleared. He also voiced that the city needs better data around seniors and those who need help clearing their sidewalks. When I asked his stance on municipal sidewalk snow clearing, he said that it’s something that he would consult residents on and gauge the costs of doing it efficiently.

While we rode along Courtland and Queen, Mohamed noted vehicles that were driving very close to us. He proposed better signage to communicate to drivers how to share the road with cyclists. He said that many of the drivers there are likely not from ward 9, so they might not be used to sharing the road.

Beyond active transportation, Mohamed highlighted effective communication and diplomacy as necessary to make positive change in our community. We also commiserated over the low voter turnout in Kitchener and specifically in ward 9. We talked about how important local government is in delivering the services and infrastructure we rely on every day.

Mohamed was friendly and would say hi to passersby on the trails. We both appreciated riding around the ward, getting to chat, and enjoying the autumn colours.