A new report has found Vancouver is one of the most popular places for self-powered, two-wheeled transportation in the country.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) recently released a research report which looks at cycling in Vancouver over the last decade. The report was produced in partnership with Eco-Counter, the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health, and HUB Cycling.
Various report findings include the fact that collisions involving vehicles and cyclists went down by 43 per cent in 2020 and that cycling in the city grew by 6 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic despite fewer commutes. In fact, the municipality has one of the highest commuting cycling rates of any major Canadian city at 6.1 per cent, the report states.
“By 2016, the percentage of people who regularly commute by bicycle rose dramatically to the current rate,” states the report. “The region also experiences a cycling modal share well above the Canadian average for regions: Metro Vancouver had a cycling rate of 2.3% in 2016, whereas the Canadian national average was 1.4%.”
Impact of the pandemic on cycling
Comparing 2019 and 2020 overall, bicycle activity during the weekday decreased by 5 per cent in 2020. This overall decrease is a result of a reduction in commuting and other utilitarian trips, the report finds. Comparatively, vehicle traffic decreased by 40-50 per cent and while traffic has gradually increased, well below pre-pandemic levels.
However, the opposite trend was seen during the weekends. Overall bicycle activity increased by 33 per cent in 2020. The data used to make these findings were collected through 15 publicly available bicycle counting sites scattered across the city.
All counting locations outside of the downtown area experienced a significant increase in bike activity. Only three bicycle counting locations in the downtown area had slight declines in counts. Meanwhile, bicycle activity along the Canada Line, Point Grey and the False Creek Seawall saw a massive uptick.
For example, the Canada Line Bridge at West Kent saw a 99 per cent increase in bike activity and Point Grey at Volunteer Park increased by 68 per cent year over year.
Reason for the changes
The report found the growth in cycling in the city is due, in part, to “the City’s ongoing commitment and development of its cycling network.” This was accomplished through initiatives like the Transportation 2040 Plan adopted by city council in 2012, the plan outlines the city’s long-term transportation targets and goals. Most notable among those targets is the goal that at least two-thirds of all trips will be made by walking, cycling or transit by 2040.
The report also includes an in-depth analysis of safety and collision data and how Vancouverites have taken to keep cycling far into the winter months.
