By Christina Bouchard

You can see it.  You can sense it out on the roads and the trails.  More and more people in Toronto are cycling.  In fact, whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, commuting to work or spending a day on the trails with the family, more people are using bicycles than ever before.

A City of Toronto survey recently found more than half of all adults in Toronto are cyclists .  They may not ride every day, but the majority of people in Toronto who own and use bikes, out-number people who don’t ride at all.

A third of cyclists use their bicycles for practical purposes—for work, school, shopping, and other errands and thirty-six percent of residents in downtown Toronto cycle for practical, day-to-day purposes.

What does this trend mean for the future?  All road users stand to benefit from the increase in cyclists.  In fact, Toronto needs bikes to keep our population moving.  The GTA is the fastest growing region in Ontario, with its population projected to increase by 3.1 million, or 51.7 per cent by 2036.

As Toronto’s population increases, the amount of  road space remains finite.  For this reason, bikes are an important part of Toronto’s overall transportation mix. For distances up to 10 kilometres, cycling is often the fastest mode of transportation from door to door in urban cores .  They park well too—10 bikes can easily fit in the space necessary for one car.

Looking at major urban centres around the world, it is likely this trend will continue. Evidence suggests, when it comes to cycling, there is safety in numbers. While the number of cyclists has increased every year, the number of collisions has not .  The more bike riders using the road, the safer our roads are becoming for pedal-powered people.

The “safety in numbers” trend can be attributed to road-user awareness. Motorists who also ride are more aware of cyclists on the road, expect to share the road with bikes, and are more cautious.

Expanding cycling infrastructure is the most effective means to encourage more cycling.  Toronto’s Bikeway Network has grown from 166 kilometres in 2001 to more than 420 kilometres by 2010. Although 72 per cent of Toronto residents feel that cycling infrastructure has improved, they also want more bikeways. And the growing number of cyclists on the road and trails supports investments in new cycling infrastructure.

If you want to discover Toronto’s Bikeway Network of multi-use trails, dedicated lanes, and suggested routes to plan out a bike ride, you can obtain a free cycling map by calling 311 Toronto, or view the online version at www.toronto.ca/cycling

Christina Bouchard works for the City of Toronto, Transportation Services.
Bikeway Network, cycling, eco-travel, Herbicides, Toronto