Share the Road Cycling Coalition Announces Ten Bicycle Friendly Community Designations

Kingston Receives Silver and Nine Ontario Communities Renew Designations

TORONTO – December 14, 2021 – For the fall 2021 round of the Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) award program, Share the Road Cycling Coalition (STR) is pleased to announce that all ten municipal applicants have received awards. Nine communities across Ontario have renewed at Bronze (Brampton, Caledon, Greater Sudbury, Ingersoll, Mississippi Mills and Thorold), Silver (Ajax, Hamilton) and Gold (Ottawa).

The Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) program, an initiative of the Washington-based League of American Bicyclists, was launched in Canada by STR in 2010. The organization, Ontario’s leading cycling advocacy and policy organization, worked to develop BFC designations for the province of Québec with our colleagues at the Montreal-based cycling policy and advocacy organization Vélo Québec, which administers the program under the name VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE.

At the heart of the BFC program is a rigorous application process through which a community’s cycling progress and investments are measured. The applications are reviewed by a panel of experts and with the input of citizens. Recognition is awarded and in-depth guidance provided. The award categories are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Ontario currently has no Platinum or Diamond communities, and 3 Gold Bicycle Friendly communities (Ottawa, Toronto, and Waterloo). Communities must re-apply at least every 4 years to hold a designation.

Ed McMahon, Board Chair applauded the award-winning municipalities for their ongoing progress and commitment: “The progress of Ontario’s Bicycle Friendly Communities is evidenced by the awards we are launching today. Whether by way of a renewal or a reward of advancement as with the City of Kingston, these awards signify the vital role that cycling plays in the day to day lives of Ontarians and the way in which their communities have recognized both this growing imperative – and the opportunities inherent in creating bikeable cities. We are thrilled to see this ongoing progress – and salute these municipalities for their progress and for intentionally continuing to invest in lifesaving infrastructure and initiatives.”

All BFCs in this round have devoted resources to support and leverage increases in cycling over the course of the pandemic. For instance, Gold-designated Ottawa expanded car-free Sundays in parkways to the entire weekend from May to October this year. Silver-designated Hamilton developed a “Mountain Climber” program and Adaptive Bike Share to increase accessibility of cycling and strengthen integrations with transit. Bronze-designated Brampton implemented “Streets for People,” interim separated bike lanes, and developed its first Active Transportation Master Plan.