The 2006 census figures just released show that 1% of people in the Greater Toronto Area get to work by bike.
With shorter trips and relatively more welcoming streets, it's safe to assume this number doesn't reflect reality for downtown cyclists. It would be interesting to see how this number varies throughout the region. Casually, I've heard that 5% of people cycle to work downtown. If that's true, the number of cyclists in the suburbs must be much less than 1 in 100.
I know I'm mixing anecdotes with real statistics here, but 1 in 100 is an amazingly small number considering how many people tell me they either do ride their bike to work or would like to but don't feel safe.
With cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen seeing numbers in the 30 to 40% range, there's obviously a lot of room to improve.
Comments
animated
I wonder if they account for secondary modes of transportation?
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 13:31How many of the other 99% ride to work only on nice days, or just in the summer?
Some people might ride 3 days/week, except rain days. To me, they still count as cyclists. Even if a bike isn't their primary mode of transportation.
They might even ride more if there were safe bike lanes available year round.
I have a car and I use it nearly every weekend. I certainly don't consider myself a driver. I'm a cyclist - even when I'm behind the wheel.
Martino (not verified)
The Bike Plan is dead
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 13:31Rest in peace.
Anonymous (not verified)
1% modal split
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 13:48The Stats Canada report showing 1% of the modal split as cyclists represents a significant increase: the last available figures (from seven/eight years ago) showed .6% cyclists, making for nearly a 50% increase in cycling trips versus all other modes in the city of Toronto.
As for downtown cycling, that is def. the bulk of that 1%. Suburban trips are more like 1/1000.
Still, works out to nearly 25 000 cyclists per day (in season) on any given day in T.O.
Darren_S
All numbers
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 14:28While the numbers probably accurately reflect the number of people riding to work they do not seem to include other uses, either pleasure or doing the groceries. They are probably somewhere in between Statscans numbers and those by the City who count people moving their bikes from one side of the garage to the other.
From repeated conversations with cyclists they all seem to feel that there are more people on the road at any given time. Something that is very hard to count but probably the most important number going.
I wonder how hard it would be to coordinate a grass roots count of the number of cyclists actually on Toronto streets at different times of the day.
Svend
Governments are more
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 15:00Governments are more concerned with collecting statistics and writing unread reams of reports than with actions. What's the point of measuring and drawing up blueprints if you aren't going to build?
Luke (not verified)
If one were to challenge the
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 17:12If one were to challenge the accuracy of the stats in the 2006 census a good place to start would be to use personal observation/study.
A perspective: During this winter my daily commute has taken me from Pape @ Danforth to Islington @ Rexdale - this traverses a large chunk of midtown real estate. My occupation involves shiftwork so the time slot varies between 5 AM - 8:30 AM to 5 PM - 8:30 PM. A day's riding (work and back) rarely exposes me to more than 7 cyclists - if that. Typically I seldom see more than one velo-commuter during my morning trek; and at my workplace, employing approximately 70, I'm the sole cyclist. (That's not precise: there are two others that are sporadic fair weather, summer only, cyclists; I'd estimated their annual velo-commutes at two dozen, if that.)
Of course, while on my rides to and fro work I regularly happen upon hundreds, probably a thousand, cars. So though there is a great variance in when and where I encounter two wheeled commuters, based upon my subjective scrutiny, Census Canada's one percent figure seems to accurately reflect my present reality: commuting by bike is a fringe activity. For the time being, a doubling or tripling of the percentage won't change that fact.
animated:
By your reasoning the roadways can be inundated with cyclists even though a bicycle is nowhere in sight. You're in a car, accordingly you require the same space and infrastructure as a car. You're not subjected to the hazards of cycling, are prohibited from using bike lanes, and emit the same noxious fumes as other cagers. When you're behind the wheel every other cyclist regards you as you are: a motorist.
Darren_S:
Often I feel the same way. In no way dismissing this impression, one must concede that it's human nature to notice that which inclines us, all the while overlooking that which doesn't. Dealing with notions is fraught. It seems to me there are more cyclists about town these days, but when I ride in the suburban nether regions it's not more bicycles I notice, it's more cars.
animated
I guess what I was trying to
Thu, 03/06/2008 - 11:48I guess what I was trying to say is that my very minor bit of driving doesn't make me a non-cyclist. And even people that drive or take the transit during the winter, but bike when it's nice, are still cyclists.
I identify myself as a cyclist pretty much no matter what I'm doing. Even right now -- stuck a my desk, having taken the bloody transit to work. I don't have to be on my bike to be a cyclist.
Hell, even Rob Ford or Case Ootes - our biggest City Hall opponents - if they ride once a year in the middle of the summer in a park for a photo op - they're still cyclists.
If we can get more people to identify themselves as cyclists, then maybe more people will ride to work once in a while. And maybe fairweather cyclists will try riding in the winter. And maybe then we'll be less of a fringe group.
Then again, I have high hopes for cycling in Toronto.
Darren_S
notice that which inclines us
Thu, 03/06/2008 - 12:48"...one must concede that it's human nature to notice that which inclines us, all the while overlooking that which doesn't. Dealing with notions is fraught."
Very well put and I agree with you. Still I am inclined to believe that there are more cyclists on the road. I cannot give you definite numbers just a sense I get.
I live on a road (Pharmacy Ave) that should see more cyclists throughout the year but does not. Yet this winter even with all the snow I am seeing at least 5 -10 day. This compares to virtually none just last winter.
If anyone is interested is organizing a street count I am in. I suspect we would need about 30 volunteers with one of them being able to oversight our results. We could pick an intersection each that is most convenient for us as long as we all did it in the same time period.
Svend
A street count by several
Thu, 03/06/2008 - 13:19A street count by several people at the same time is a good idea, Darren.
I'll take a corner if there is interest.
Tone (not verified)
Mean commute less than 10K
Wed, 03/05/2008 - 18:05The other interesting stat was that the mean commuting distance is only 9.4 km (see end of article on CBC website here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/03/04/car-toronto.html?ref=rss).
That is simply a measure point to point ... the actual commute is usually longer. But still ... that means half the people commuting are going somewhere less than 10 k away from their home.
That's a bikeable distance for a lot of people!
Luke (not verified)
Count me in as well.
Thu, 03/06/2008 - 21:01Count me in as well.