Statistics

Cycling by the Numbers

Cycling statistics in Canada highlight safety concerns and environmental benefits.

Here is some of what the numbers tell us.

Cycling on a road within a bike lane

Sharing the Road

What measures can help cyclists and drivers safely share the road?

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To keep everyone safe, most Canadian road users (85 per cent) feel both motorists and cyclists need to remain alert and not distracted while on the road.  

CAA polling, 2021

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78 per cent of Canadians think leaving one metre or more of space between drivers and cyclists is important for safely sharing the road.

CAA polling, 2021

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Nearly four in five Canadians (79 per cent) feel shoulder checking for cyclists when opening doors, turning or changing lanes is integral.

CAA polling, 2021

Commuting

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The number of Canadians using bicycles as their main method of commuting nearly doubled between 1996 and 2016.

– Globe and Mail, 2016

Safety

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An average of 74 Canadians die in cycling collisions each year; 73% of those incidents involved a collision with a motor vehicle.

– StatsCan

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Road safety rules may not have been respected in approximately 1 in 3 cycling fatalities.

– StatsCan

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Areas where cycling is more prevalent tend to have lower rates of bicycle-related collisions and fatalities.

– StatsCan

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Most cycling injuries and deaths occur between 4pm and 8pm—during rush hour and as it gets dark.

– StatsCan

Infrastructure

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31%

of Canadians say they would cycle more if cycling infrastructure was better.

– CAA polling, 2020

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40%

of Canadians feel lanes separated by physical barriers would encourage them to cycle more.

– CAA polling, 2020

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30%

of Canadians who cycle at least occasionally have increased their cycling activity since COVID-19 began.

– CAA polling, 2020

Cycling infrastructure

Find out how CAA is advocating for better active transportation infrastructure in Canada.

Learn about active transportation