Study finds 10% of all bike trips in Toronto for food delivery

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The City of Toronto has published new transportation data that highlights travel trends in the city.

Most recently in the fall of 2022, the city conducted one-day studies to count the number of cyclists as they entered and exited the downtown core in order to better understand the different purposes of their travel (commute, food delivery and exercise) and where they ride (bike lane, sidewalk and roadways).

Among the key insights from the 2022 studies was the illegal and unsafe use of sidewalks by people cycling was significantly lower on streets with bike lanes.

Also, most people rode standard bicycles (69%), followed by Bike Share Toronto bicycles (12%), electric bicycles (10%) and kick-style e-scooters, which are illegal on Toronto’s streets (4%).

Close to 10% of all trips were for food delivery and 43% of those trips were made using an electric bicycle.

This data includes the number of people cycling who pass by one of the 15 permanent bicycle counters operating 24/7 in dedicated bicycle lanes and multi-use trails, including sites on Sherbourne, Bloor and Yonge Sts., and multiple sites within the York University and Downsview neighbourhoods.

This release is a major update to already-published data, which includes counts of motor vehicles, pedestrians and people cycling as they move through an intersection during an eight or 14-hour period.

“As Mayor I am committed to getting Toronto moving again, including with 100 traffic agents and coordination of different constructions,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement.“Open Transportation Data is an invaluable tool for managing congestion, keeping pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers safe through evidence-based transportation planning.”

This data is updated regularly, and this most recent release reflects updated and improved summary data for all counts from 1984 to present.

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A new count was conducted late last year and a will be released this year after the data undergoes processing, data verification and analysis.

“As we work to manage congestion, it is more important than ever that we share and use data to create and strengthen initiatives that will help residents get around the city quickly and safely,” Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, Scarborough – Rouge Park, said in a statement.

“I’m proud to see the City share the data driving their decision-making process and continue to make data-driven decisions to help improve our city.”