Cycling Network Plan
On June 9, 2016 Toronto City Council approved the 10 Year Cycling Network Plan to connect, grow and renew infrastructure for Toronto’s cycling routes. On July 17, 2019 Toronto City Council approved the Cycling Network Plan Update, which provides a new timeframe to improve road work coordination, accountability, and implementation.
The Cycling Network Plan now consists of a longer-term overall proposed network, as well as a detailed three year rolling implementation program (currently 2019 to 2021). A new map illustrating Toronto’s Major City-Wide Cycling Routes has been developed to identify the significant projects completed, underway, and proposed, which serve as the backbone of the cycling network.
The Cycling Network Plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap and work plan, outlining the City’s planned investments in cycling infrastructure over 2019 to 2021 and beyond.
The originally identified routes from the Ten Year Plan are included in the Update. The routes have either been installed, outlined as 2019 to 2021 projects, or are in the overall proposed network, from which the annual program will be drawn to maintain a rolling three year implementation schedule.
The Ten Year Cycling Network Plan, approved in principle in June 2016, was the culmination of significant research, analysis, and extensive public consultation. The Cycling Network Plan Update builds on the work of the Ten Year Plan, with:
- Updated data sources;
- A strengthened focus on safety and equity; and
- A revised approach to short-term programming and longer-term planning that better reflects the nature of capital coordination, development planning, and challenging feasibility assessments.
The review process included stakeholder engagement and internal collaboration, as well as the City’s Equity Lens Tool, which informed enhancements to the cycling impact analysis and improvements to consultation and implementation processes.
Over the next three years (2019 to 2021), over 120 km of new cycling infrastructure is planned, with additional upgrades to existing infrastructure through the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. Additionally, over 70 km of routes will be studied within the near-term (2019 – 2021) for potential implementation.
District Maps: Near-Term Implementation Program (2019-2021)
Proposed Cycling Network by Analysis Scores
Many of the routes in the overall proposed cycling network have not yet undergone a feasibility review. They are included in the network because the cycling analysis demonstrates value, but assessing every route’s technical feasibility at this stage is not possible. In some cases, immediately parallel routes score well and are shown on the map to capture all possibilities. In these cases, further analysis and consultation will confirm the preferred route(s) as they are brought forward to the near-term implementation program.
Proposed Cycling Network by Analysis Scores Map
Major City-Wide Cycling Routes
There are a number of significant corridors that cross Toronto from east to west and north to south, where high order cycling infrastructure has been installed, or is being designed, and planned.
As part of the Update to the Cycling Network Plan, the original Major Corridor Studies were reviewed and prioritized based on the analysis results, as well as on previous Council commitments, recently completed Avenue Studies, and planned capital works.
The near-term proposals of the Major City-Wide Cycling Routes include:
- Danforth Avenue (Broadview Ave to Victoria Park Ave)
- Bloor Street West (Shaw St to High Park Ave)
- Bloor Street East (Church St to Sherbourne St)
- Warden Avenue / Warden Hydro Corridor (Gatineau Hydro Corridor to Finch Hydro Corridor)
- Yonge Street / Avenue Road / Mount Pleasant Road (for joint review)
- University Avenue / Queen’s Park Crescent (Bloor St W to Front St W)
Major City Wide Cycling Routes Map
The type of study needed for each corridor will take different forms for different streets depending on the corridor’s complexity of current and future uses, and on previous or concurrent initiatives. Some routes may include analysis of parallel streets to confirm the most feasible alignment of the route, while others may go directly into the detailed impacts, design, and engagement with stakeholders to work through specific issues. All studies will be undertaken with a Complete Streets and Vision Zero approach.
Cycling Impact Analysis
These maps illustrate nine areas of analysis that inform the scores and prioritization of proposed cycling projects. Attachment 6 of the staff report explains how the analysis has been enhanced through the Update.
For several of the analyses, the city is split into two context areas with different thresholds and ranges applied for like-comparisons and to support geographic equity:
- Context 1 – High existing cycling mode share, high density of population, employment, and destinations; built-out environment with a tighter grid network and narrow street rights-of-way.
- Context 2 – Lower existing cycling mode share, and – in most but not all locations – low density of population, employment, and destinations; more boulevard space.
Current Cycling Demand: Measuring Existing Rates of Bicycle Use in Different Parts of Toronto
This analysis highlights areas of the city where there are currently high volumes of cycling traffic, to visualize where the greatest number of existing cyclists could benefit from new or upgraded bikeways.
Data source: 2016 Toronto Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) – total cycling trips.
Potential Cycling Demand: Measuring Where People Are Making a Lot of Short Trips by Car or Transit
This analysis highlights areas where there is currently a high demand for short trips (under 5 km) not currently being made by bicycle that could potentially be completed by bicycle in future. This updated analysis also includes long walking trips (over 1 km)
Data source: 2016 TTS non-cycling and non-walking trips of 5 km or less, and walking trips over 1 km.
Trip Generators: Identifying Attractions, Destinations, and Places Serving Daily Needs
This analysis measures the number of key trip generators served by a bikeway project (such as libraries, community and recreation centres, schools, hospitals, health care centres, grocery stores, daycares).
Data Source: City of Toronto
Transit Access: Identifying Opportunities for Multi-Modal Travel
This analysis highlights key connections to transit stations. It is based on the streets modelled to carry the highest number of commuters from their home to the closest public transit station within a cycleable catchment (2 km for TTC, 3 km for GO), specifically in Context Area 2.
Data Source: City of Toronto
Connectivity: Identifying Areas of High and Low Network Cohesion
This analysis highlights bikeway projects that can close gaps in the existing network, by providing cycling-friendly connections between nearby routes. The result will be more routing options for cyclists using those facilities.
Data Source: City of Toronto
Coverage: Identifying Parts of the City that Currently Lack Bikeways
This analysis applies a buffer (up to 500m in Context 2 and 250 m in Context 1) around the existing cycling network to identify areas of the city that do not have cycling routes (projects outside of the buffer areas receive a higher score).
Data Source: City of Toronto
Barriers: Identifying Which Ones We Need to Cross
This analysis identifies opportunities to provide safer crossings where none exist, within 1 km in either direction from a barrier, including highways, railways, rivers, ravines, etc.
Data Source: City of Toronto
Safety: Identifying Where Vehicle-Bicycle Collisions have Occurred
This analysis ranks mid-block and intersection locations into 4 quartiles to identify which locations are experiencing a higher proportion of cycling collisions (4 being highest and 1 the lowest), based on the number of collisions that were reported at each location from 2012 to 2017. The quartile ranking analyzes cycling collisions relative to each other depending on whether the locations are in Context Area 1 or Context Area 2.
Data Source: City of Toronto
Equity: Engaging and Elevating Equity-Seeking Groups and Vulnerable Populations
This analysis is based on the Equity Index Score previously used to identify the Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), and key access destinations abutting potential cycling routes, as identified by the NIA Planning Tables. Projects that fall within NIAs receive a higher score.
Data Source: City of Toronto
Contributing and Supplementary Analyses
Cycling Mode Share
Based on the 2016 Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS), this map illustrates the percentage of all trips taken by bicycle in each area of the city (specifically using TTS traffic zone boundaries for greater detail). TTS trips do not include trips by active modes for non-work / school purposes.
Data Source: Transportation Tomorrow Survey 2016
Population and Employment Density
Based on the 2016 Toronto Employment Survey and 2016 Statistics Canada Census, this map illustrates the number of people and jobs per hectare.
Data Source: Source: Toronto Employment Survey 2016 and Statistics Canada Census 2016
Neighbourhood Equity Index
Neighbourhood Equity Index Scores (out of 100) are those identified by City of Toronto Social Development, Finance & Administration Division for the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020. The scores are based on five domains: economic opportunities, social development, participation in decision-making, physical surroundings, and healthy lives. The greater the opportunities and services, the higher the score.
Data Source: Source: City of Toronto
Cycling Service by Neighbourhood
“Cycling Service” is the proportion of street kilometres in the neighbourhood (excluding highways) that have cycling routes (cycle tracks, bike lanes, trails, quiet street sharrows), represented as a percentage (out of 100). The more cycling routes that exist, the higher the score.
Data Source: Source: City of Toronto
Cycling Service by Neighbourhood
Cycling Service and Equity Scores by Neighbourhood
This map illustrates the cycling service by neighbourhood as described above, with the addition of the equity scores overlayed in the form of density dots. The larger the dot, the greater the inequity.
Data Source: Source: City of Toronto
Cycling Service and Equity Scores
Combined Cycling Service and Equity Scores by Neighbourhood
This map illustrates the combined scores of cycling service and the equity index, which are out of 200 when merged. The lowest scoring neighbourhoods represent those in greatest need of investment.
Data Source: Source: City of Toronto
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the implementation progress for the City’s Cycling Network Plan, establish a priority framework for Major City-Wide Cycling Routes, and share next steps for effective implementation of proposed cycling infrastructure. The Cycling Network Plan, alongside the draft Official Plan cycling policies currently under review, present a strong vision for improving cycling across the city.
More people are riding bicycles in Toronto than ever before, especially where new or improved cycling infrastructure has been provided. In some Toronto neighbourhoods, the cycling mode share is now over 20 percent. Demand for safe, connected cycling routes throughout the city is on the rise, and recent polls demonstrate the majority of residents support protected bike lanes.
This report provides information requested by City Council as part of a two year review of the Ten Year Cycling Network Plan (2016), including status, changes to project timing, and recommendations for the initiation of major studies. This updated Cycling Network Plan also reflects enhanced analyses and lessons from implementation challenges to date.
Attachment 1 – Map of Proposed Cycling Network by Analysis Scores
Attachment 2 – Map of Major City-Wide Cycling Routes
Attachment 3 – Map and Table of Cycling Infrastructure Completed 2016 – 2018
Attachment 4 – Maps of Near-Term Implementation Program 2019 – 2021
Attachment 5 – Stakeholder Engagement Summary
Attachment 6 – Analysis Methodology and Enhancements
Attachment 7 – Maps of Cycling Analysis Results by Category
Attachment 8 – Project Selection Process Summary
The 2016 Ten Year Cycling Network Implementation Plan details the public consultation, research process, analyses and coordination involved in the development of the 10 Year Cycling Network Plan, which has been incorporated into the Cycling Network Plan Update.
Table of Contents & Sections 1-4
- Introduction
- Background & Related Studies
- Study Process
- Cycling Network Critical Review
Section 5 – Mapping the Potential to Impact Cycling in Toronto
7. Cycling Projects Priority Analysis
8. Ten year Cycling Network Implementation Plan Capital Scenarios
9. Cycling Network “Renew” Program
Section 10 – Recommended Ten Year Cycling Network Implementation Plan
11. Implementation
12. Setting and Tracking Objectives
13. Conclusions
Appendix A – Ten Year Cycling Network Implementation Plan Maps (City-Wide, District and Ward)
B. Cycling Impact Analysis
C. Unit Costs of Construction
D. Project Priority Ratings
Appendix E – Cycling Network Outcomes for Various Implementation Plan Scenarios
F. Studies Led by Others
View City of Toronto previous ward maps (44-Ward Model) of the original Ten Year Cycling Network Plan.
Prior to the 10 Year Cycling Network Plan the City created the 2001 Bike Plan. This plan set out integrated principles, objectives and recommendations regarding safety, education and promotional programs as well as cycling related infrastructure, including a comprehensive bikeway network.
While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact the Cycling Unit at 416-397-7097 or cycling@toronto.ca.