The 15 best neighbourhoods for cycling in Canada

The criteria - The four main qualities considered for each neighbourhood are the cycling mode share (the percentage of commutes made on bike, considering weather and demographics), the proximity to useful things (which encourages biking), the cycling network quality, and backup transportation (in case of bike failures).

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15. Kitsilano (at Tatlow Park), Vancouver - The main thing Kitsilano is missing is the percentage of commutes made on bike. Aside from that, it has many pros, including its proximity to downtown and recreational routes like the one along Jericho Beach.

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15. Kitsilano (at Tatlow Park), Vancouver - A study by UBC determined that Vancouver is the second-best cycling city in the country, and the city is still adding more shared bikes and improving its cycling network.

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14. Roncesvalles Village/Parkdale/Sunnyside, Toronto - These neighbourhoods score high in their “cycling-supportive land-use,” meaning that the proximity of jobs, amenities, shops, recreation, and so forth encourage cycling in the area.

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14. Roncesvalles Village/Parkdale/Sunnyside, Toronto - There is also a good amount of city bikes available, bumping up this Toronto area despite the city’s unfortunate reputation for bicycle accidents.

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13. Fernwood (central), Victoria - Fernwood is a residential area right next to Victoria’s downtown core. It has quiet roads, courteous drivers, and a high number of cyclists.

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13. Fernwood (central), Victoria - The British Columbia neighbourhood is, however, missing separated cycling paths and alternative transportation options, though it is in walking distance of most useful locations.

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12. Dovercourt Park/Christie Pits, Toronto - Though the cycling network has room to improve, the bike lanes on Bloor Street are a stellar example of separated cycling paths, with parked cars on one side as added protection.

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12. Dovercourt Park/Christie Pits, Toronto - There are tons of alternative transportation options in case of emergency, but the benefit that spans across all Toronto neighbourhoods on this list is the proximity to everything you might need.

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11. The Glebe, Ottawa - This vibrant neighbourhood is located just south of Ottawa's downtown core and boasts a low-speed grid, bike lanes, recreation, and the added benefit of government-funded snow-removal.

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11. The Glebe, Ottawa - The Glebe is only missing a bike-share system, more accessible transit alternatives, and a higher cycling mode share percentage.

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10. Fairfield/Gonzales (South), Victoria - Similar to Fernwood, this residential area is close to Victoria’s downtown action, and the tight grid of quiet streets makes cycling very relaxing.

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10. Fairfield/Gonzales (South), Victoria - The neighbourhood needs more protected bike lanes and alternate transit options, but it does have easy access to recreational cycling at the beautiful Beacon Hill Park.

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9. Kensington-Cedar Cottage (at Clark Park), Vancouver - Located southeast of downtown Vancouver, this neighbourhood is close to amenities, and the tight street grid seldom has traffic.

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9. Kensington-Cedar Cottage (at Clark Park), Vancouver - The area has a great transit system and connects to False Creek, but it could work its way up this list with a bike-share system.

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8. Old Ottawa South, Ottawa - This older urban neighbourhood is relatively small, nestled between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River and providing various scenic recreational routes.

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8. Old Ottawa South, Ottawa - Main Street is one of the best shopping streets for cyclists, with separated cycle paths and opportunities to park your bike at the front of almost every building. Though the bike-share system is non-existent, the neighbourhood does offer comfortable routes to and from the downtown core.

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7. Grandview-Woodland, Vancouver - Vancouver is really good at providing alternate transit options, though this eastern neighbourhood is most easily traversed on bike.

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7. Grandview-Woodland, Vancouver - The neighbourhood encompasses a bit of the Commercial Drive area, meaning lots of accessible amenities, as well as many quiet parallel streets for more comfortable cycling.

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6. Trinity-Bellwoods, Toronto - This neighbourhood received a perfect score for its cycling-supportive land use, which explains why there is such a high volume of cyclists despite the lack of comfortable bike routes.

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6. Trinity-Bellwoods, Toronto - While amenities are extremely accessible, with countless front-facing commercial areas where you can park your bike, the high volume of cyclists and big-city pace can make for a less comfortable ride. If you ever get tired of biking, you can hop on a bus, streetcar, or subway!

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5. De Lorimier, Montreal - This older neighbourhood has a trendy and young demographic, yet is still quiet and more relaxed than streets further west. There are so few parking spaces that it’s very common to cycle the area, which has also made the cycling culture more of a fixture as opposed to something that drivers begrudgingly tolerate.

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5. De Lorimier, Montreal - The quiet street grid offers a relaxing and picturesque ride, shaded by overhanging trees and protected by separated bike lanes.

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4. Le Plateau-Mont Royal, Montreal - The cycling culture is very strong in Montreal, and a large part of the reason for this might be the city’s bike-share system. This neighbourhood in particular also encourages transportation by bike with its wealth of amenities and cycling connections to major parks.

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4. Le Plateau-Mont Royal, Montreal - The smaller streets of the charming neighbourhood seem to be a better fit for bikes than cars, and busier roads like Rue Rachel and Rue Boyer are sure to include separated bike paths.

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3. Little Italy/Palmerston/Seaton Village, Toronto - This area has the highest cycling mode share at 20.2% of commutes being made on two wheels. The downtown core is extremely accessible and, like most of the city, there are various alternative forms of transit in case of flat tires.

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3. Little Italy/Palmerston/Seaton Village, Toronto - The area is missing bike lanes, and with such a high volume of cyclists things can get a little hectic, but the narrow streets have a slow speed limit for added safety.

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2. La Petite-Patrie, Montreal - Montreal is reported to have built the continent’s first protected on-street bike lane in the early 1980s, and it possesses approximately 750 km of bike paths. The city is unsurprisingly often referred to as the best cycling city in Canada.

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2. La Petite-Patrie, Montreal - This neighbourhood is similar to Le Plateau but features more convenient metro access, along with a fantastic cycling network that connects comfortably to the rest of the downtown core.

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1. Strathcona, Vancouver - One of British Columbia’s oldest residential neighbourhoods has all the perks of Vancouver’s downtown core while maintaining a quiet and comfortable street grid.

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1. Strathcona, Vancouver - This neighbourhood fulfills all the criteria best, and is another example of Vancouver’s success in making cyclists feel prioritized on the road.

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The 15 best neighbourhoods for cycling in Canada - Being good to your wallet, health, and the environment is easier than ever in these 15 cycling neighbourhoods, ranked by City Clock. Take a look!

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