Facts about Bicycles

Number of cyclists in Ontario in 1993: almost 500,000. 4 
Estimated number of regular cyclists in Metro Toronto in 1986: 350,000. 1
Percentage of those cyclists who cycle to work in Metro: 11% (38,000 commuter cyclists). 1
Adult cyclists in the City of Toronto in 1986: 40,000. 1
Percentage of those who bike to work in 1986: 17,000. 1
Kilometres of bike lanes in Toronto in 1995: 20. 3
Number of Bicycle User Groups in 1993: 150. 2

Bicycle accidents
Proportion of bicycle accidents that occur at intersection: half. 7
Proportion of bicycle accidents caused by a motorist hitting a bicyclist from behind: 4%. 7
Percentage of bicycle fatalities that are caused by a motorist hitting a bicyclist from behind: 43%. 7

Benefits of cycling - pollution
Ontario's cyclists reduce pollution by 80,000 tonnes a year, saving the equivalent of 156 million litres of oil at a cost of $78 million. 4

Time involved in bicycling
A typical bicycle commuter travels up to 10 kilometres in less than half an hour. 4
In rush hour or on congested streets, bikes travels distances of up to 9.5 kilometres faster than cars. 4
About 70% of all car trips are for reasons other than work. Of these trips, 63% are under 3.2 kms, 84% under 6.4 kms and 92% are under 9.75 kms. Of the trips that are work related, more than half are under 8 kms. 9

Cost of bike parking
It is 10 times more expensive to create and operate one parking space than a bicycle hitching post. 4

Cost of a bike
Car drivers typically spend between 25 and 40 per cent of their income on gas, parking, fines, taxes, repairs, licences and other associated costs. 4
A bike costs about 2 percent of the capital needed to maintain a car. 4

Value of the bicycle industry
More than 500,000 bicycles are sold in Ontario each year with a value of $100 million. 4
48.2 % of all of Ontario's households own at least 1 adult bicycle. 6

Profile of cyclists in Metro Toronto
Household income. 5
$70,000 +  39%
$60,000 - 69,000 12%
$50,000 - 59,000 14%
$40,000 - 49,000 16%
$30,000 - 39,000 6%
$20,000 - 29,000 7%
under $20,000 6%

Age. 5
15 - 19  14%
20 - 24  10%
25 - 34  34%
35 - 44  24%
45 - 64  17%
65 and over  1%
Median age of an adult cyclist: 31.7 years.

Occupation. 5
Managerial, Admin. Professional 27%
Service    12%
Supervisory, tech., sales, clerical 13%
Teaching, health religious  8%
Manufacturing, transp, utils. 8%
Clerical    5%
Other     27%

Education. 5
Thru Grade 8    4%
High school    39%
Technical school/ comm. college 22%
University    35%

Home ownership. 5
Own dwelling 56%
Rent dwelling 44%

Bicycle theft
In 1991, more than 8,000 bicycles were stolen in Toronto, 2,500 more than were stolen in New York City and 50% more than Montreal. In 1992, reported bicycle thefts has risen to 11,745, with an estimated value of $6,000,000. The number of cases solved by the police was only 2.2%. 8

by Regan McClure

1. City of Toronto, Planning and Development, 1986.
2. Eye, March 25 1993. p. 36
3. Ren, April 1/95 p. A1
4. Spokes Info: Benefits of Cycling, Ministry of Transportation, 5/10/93
5. Based on random telephone surveys conducted in 1986 and 1991 by Ryerson Polytechnical Institute for the Toronto City Cycling Committee. Total sample, 1,306 households.
6. Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 64-202, Household Facilities and Equipment
7. Statistics refer to Oregon 1992 only. "Bicycle Motor Vehicle Accident Summary," 1992, Oregon Dept. of Transportation.
8. Review of Bicycle Facilities on Metropolitan Toronto Roads: A Research Report, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto - Planning Department, Toronto, October, 1993.
9. "Traffic Conformity and Demand Management," EDF, 1993.