Cycling in Toronto: A Dutch perspective on Urban Growth and Development

The following is an article written by Suzanne Steegman, Senior Consultant at Decisio (DCE Network). 

Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, is experiencing a surge of growth and development. This growth is not only seen in its expanding skyline, but also in its evolving congestion issues. To maintain the city’s liveability and to promote sustainable mobility, significant attention has been given to the development of cycling infrastructure over the past 15 years. Drawing inspiration from the Dutch cycling culture and infrastructure, renowned as one of the world’s finest, this article explores the latest developments in Toronto’s cycling scene. Stay tuned as we pedal through the streets of Toronto, where we examine the city’s cycling infrastructure, its challenges in a car-centric culture, the societal challenges and opportunities posed by urban growth, all from a Dutch perspective.

The reference situation: Cycling in The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, cycling is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a symbol of national culture. The Dutch cycling culture is deeply ingrained in the society, with bicycles being used for commuting, shopping, school runs, and leisure activities. The country’s infrastructure supports this culture with extensive, well-maintained bike paths, ample bike parking, and integration with public transport. Cycling infrastructure for cyclists is as ubiquitous as roads for cars. The flat landscape and short distances between cities make cycling a practical and efficient choice of transport. This integration of cycling into daily life contributes to the Netherlands’ high quality of life, promoting health, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting environmental sustainability.

Rapid economic and demographic growth leads to challenges in transportation
Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth-largest in North America, is renowned for its mix of modern skyscrapers and historic architecture. Consistently ranking among the most liveable cities globally, Toronto serves as the economic capital of Canada, hosting numerous large Canadian and multinational corporations and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by an average of 2.4 percent annually since 2009. The City of Toronto has a population of around 3 million people,representing about half of the population of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This urban area has seen notable demographic growth, partly due to an influx of migrants. The increase in population has stimulated urban development, with many historical buildings in Downtown Toronto being replaced by residential towers, often exceeding 200 metres in height. However, the rapid economic and demographic growth has also presented significant challenges, particularly in transportation and congestion.

Currently, Toronto ranks as the third most congested city in North America. In 2022, Torontonians lost an average of 118 hours per year in traffic, a nearly 60 percent increase from the previous year. Early 2024, TomTom completed a report that ranked Toronto as third city in the world for 10-kilometer travel times. The traffic index study found it took an average of 29 minutes to travel 10 kilometres in Toronto in 2023, an increase of 50 seconds compared to 2022. The
traffic congestion in Toronto is partly due to Canadians’ significant dependence on cars, which is a result of the distribution of land use patterns. However, efforts have been made in recent years to enhance alternatives to car travel, such as investing in public transportation and promoting other modes like cycling. In downtown Toronto, developers are integrating additional bicycle facilities alongside or in place of parking spaces, reflecting a growing preference for public transit and cycling among younger generations. With the city experiencing a surge in construction projects to accommodate its growing population and sustain its status as one of the world’s most liveable cities, these initiatives seem vital to alleviate pressure on its infrastructure.

Toronto’s developing cycling landscape and infrastructure
Geographically, Toronto is well-suited for cycling. The terrain is relatively flat with gentle slopes and numerous river valleys, eliminating the difficulty of steep inclines for cyclists. It’s spacious, grid-like street layout provides a predictable and straightforward path for cyclists, making it easy to navigate through the city. While the city centre is compact enough to make cycling a convenient option, it is also spread out to the extent that cycling frequently becomes a more practical alternative to walking. The City of Toronto has a diverse cycling network of a total of 271 on-street kilometres. The on-street cycling infrastructure includes cycle tracks (79 kilometres), bicycle lanes (which include buffered and contra-flow
lanes, totalling 137 kilometres), and wayfinding and route connector “sharrows” (shared lane pavement markings, totalling 55 kilometres). By comparison, Amsterdam has a total of 890 kilometres of cycling infrastructure (for a population of nearly 900,000 residents). 35 percent of this network comprises entirely segregated cycle paths, while the remainder consists of paths alongside roads, both buffered and marked bicycle lanes.

A significant portion of Toronto’s cycling network consists of routes running from the east to the west side of the city. Along these routes are the safest forms of cycling infrastructure, namely cycle tracks, which are completely separated from other traffic. However, on most important north-south connections, the infrastructure primarily consists of less protected bike lanes or “sharrows”. In areas with a lot of automobile traffic, such as the streets of Yonge and Jarvis, there is little to no dedicated cycling infrastructure.

Cycle track on Gerrard Street East (left) and the absence of cycling infrastructure on Yonge Street (right)

Cycling is one of the fastest growing transportation modes in Toronto. Historically, bicycle infrastructure was confined to parks, river valleys, and the lakefront, primarily catering to recreational purposes. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in cycling among Torontonians, particularly among utilitarian cyclists — those who cycle for commuting, errands, or social visits. While the proportion of residents who identify as recreational cyclists has remained stable (26 percent in 2019 compared to 25 percent in 2009), the number of Torontonians identifying as utilitarian cyclists has surged from 29 percent in 2009 to 44 percentin 2019. Additionally, there’s a growing trend of combining cycling with public transportation: in 2019, 45 percent of utilitarian cyclists reported regularly or occasionally using this combined mode of transportation, up from 35 percent in 2009.

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