Is Canada’s commuter bicycling population becoming more representative of the general population over time? A national portrait of bicycle commute mode share 1996–2016.

Abstract

Despite equity gaining increasing attention in Canadian bicycling practice and research, the demographics of who is bicycling have not been documented nationally in Canada. This study uses Canadian census data to provide a nationwide portrait of: 1) how bicycle commute mode share varies by gender, race, income, and age in Canada; 2) how the sociodemographic characteristics of bicycle commuters in Canada have shifted between 1996 and 2016; and 3) how bicycle commuting and the demographics of bicycle commuters vary across metropolitan regions in Canada. We find that men, people who are not visible minorities and low-income populations commute by bicycle at double the rates of women, visible minorities, and other income groups, respectively. Women comprise an increasing share of bicycling commuters over the 20 years, whereas bicycling is increasing at similar rates across race and income groups. Cycling distinctly decreases with age. Cycling rates vary by region and there is some evidence that low-income and visible minority groups bicycle more in smaller, more car-centric metropolitan areas. These findings identify differences in bicycling across socio-demographic groups and geographic regions, which sets a foundation for research to uncover why these differences are occurring, in order to point policymakers toward targeted solutions that specifically address inequities in bicycle commuting between population groups.