Urban Planning and Cycling in Toronto

The growing number of cyclists in Toronto "have greater expectations for cycling infrastructure" and "for the city to do even more to ensure that cyclists and motorists alike are safe”(City of Toronto, 2010).

In 2009, the City of Toronto commissioned Ipsos Reid to study a range of cycling issues and the progress achieved since the previous cycling study in 1999.

Utilitarian cycling in Toronto

The 2009 City of Toronto Cycling study shows that numbers of cyclists in Toronto increased by 6% over the past 10 years and reached 54%. Ipsos Reid attributes this “small, but significant increase in cycling” to the shift from recreational cycling to using a bicycle as a mode of transportation. The number of  people who cycle to get to work or school, to shop or to visit friends (a.k.a. utilitarian cyclists) increased from 20% to 29%. While this increase occured in all districts, the highest number of people commuting by bicycle (36%) is in Toronto downtown.

Safety and Infrastructure

The majority of the study participants (72%) said that the overall quality of cycling routes and facilities improved, however, the quality of infrastructure was evaluated the same, or in some cases, lower than in 1999. Safety remains a major concern: two-thirds of cyclists do not feel comfortable biking on major roads without bike lanes. Both cyclists and non-cyclists agree that more bike lanes, paths and safer road conditions (e.g. "separating bicycles from motorized traffic") would increase likelihood of cycling.

Other suggested infrastructure improvements include “secure bike parking at subway stations and bike rental stations close to transit terminals” to accommodate needs of those who combine cycling with public transportation. Bike rentals could increase likelihood of cycling, as reported by non-cyclists.

Materials used:

1. IPSOS Reid. (2010). 2009 City of Toronto Cycling Study. Accessed on January 25 from http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/

2. City of Toronto. (2010). Key findings. Accessed on January 25 from http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/reports/pdf/cycling_study_1999_and_2009.pdf