Lanrick Bennett Jr. is Toronto’s first Bicycle Mayor and currently serves as Manager of Donor Education & Engagement at United Way Greater Toronto. In that role, he designs immersive experiences and educational opportunities that help donors understand the interconnected challenges facing communities across the GTA.
He has served as Executive Director of Charlie’s FreeWheels and The Laneway Project, two Toronto-based non-profits focused on empowering youth and reimagining neglected urban space.
His overall advocacy focuses on climate justice, access to public space, democratic reform and building cities that prioritize the equitable movement of people.
Before stepping into urban advocacy full-time, Lanrick worked as a producer with The Second City, where he honed the collaborative power of “Yes, And…” – a mindset that continues to shape his approach to public space, community engagement, and placemaking.
Lanrick sits on the City of Toronto’s Climate Advisory Group for the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, contributes to affordable housing policy through HousingNowTO, mentors student groups from the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University on real-world planning challenge and most recently was asked to join the Road Safety Community Action Committee at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto. This committee will play a central role in guiding research on road safety for micro-mobility device users and vulnerable road users, supported by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Index of work Explore Lanrick’s work for Spacing
Could Congestion Pricing Unlock a Better Toronto?
A look at how Toronto could benefit from congestion pricing, inspired by New York City’s new vehicle charge. This piece revisits Toronto’s 2017 toll proposal, estimates potential $500M in annual revenue, and explores how such a policy could reduce traffic, improve transit, and advance climate goals. With global examples showing success, the question remains: Is Toronto ready to try again?
Bike Share Toronto E-Bike Analysis
Exploring e-bike usage in Toronto’s Bike Share system via charts and data
Who are streets for?
More than 80% of street space in Toronto is inequitably dedicated to motor vehicles. How can this be fairly re-designed?
