Share the Road Cycling Coalition Names Ontario’s First-Ever Platinum Bicycle Friendly Communities
Historic awards announced as 62% of Ontarians say municipalities are best positioned to make decisions about cycling infrastructure
TORONTO, ON., September 24, 2026 – The Share the Road Cycling Coalition (The Coalition), Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Awards, including a historic milestone for cycling in Ontario.
For the first time since the program was launched in 2010, two municipalities, Ottawa and Waterloo, have achieved Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community status, the highest designation awarded through the program. Their achievement marks a significant milestone in the program’s 16-year history in Ontario.
The announcement comes as new province-wide polling commissioned by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and the Ontario Traffic Council reveals strong public support for local leadership in transportation planning and continued investment in cycling infrastructure.
The survey found that 62 per cent of Ontarians believe municipalities are best positioned to make decisions about bike lanes and cycling infrastructure in their communities, while 62 per cent agree that investing in cycling is good for their municipality. The polling also found that 60 per cent of Ontarians would feel more confident riding a bicycle if their community provided safe and connected cycling infrastructure.
In addition, 20 per cent of Ontarians, representing approximately 3.2 million people, ride a bicycle at least once a week, demonstrating the important role cycling already plays in communities across the province.
Presented annually at the Ontario Bike Summit, the Bicycle Friendly Community Awards recognize municipalities that demonstrate leadership in creating safe, accessible, and connected communities through investments in cycling infrastructure, education, policy, planning, and community engagement.
The Bicycle Friendly Communities program was launched in Canada by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in 2010 and has become the leading benchmark for measuring municipal progress in supporting cycling. Participating municipalities are evaluated on engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, equity, and evaluation, and receive expert feedback to support continuous improvement.
The achievement of Platinum status by Ottawa and Waterloo reflects years of sustained leadership and investment in active transportation and demonstrates what can be achieved through long-term commitment to safe, connected cycling networks.
Current Bicycle Friendly Community designations include Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Prior to this year’s announcement, Ontario had no Platinum-designated communities.
2026 Bicycle Friendly Community Award Recipients
Platinum: Ottawa, Waterloo
Silver: Whitby, Oakville, Burlington, Ajax, London
Bronze: Ingersoll
“The announcement of Ontario’s first two Platinum Bicycle Friendly Communities is a historic moment for cycling and active transportation in our province,” said Eleanor McMahon, Founder and Board Chair of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. “When we launched this program in 2010, our vision was to help municipalities build a roadmap for continuous improvement. Ottawa and Waterloo demonstrate what is possible through sustained leadership, innovation, collaboration, and investment,” McMahon noted.
“Our new polling tells us that Ontarians trust local governments to make decisions about cycling infrastructure, support investment in cycling, and want safe, connected networks that give them the confidence to ride. These awards recognize municipalities that are responding to that demand and creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities for everyone,” McMahon added.
Recipients were recognized during the Ontario Bike Summit, Ontario’s premier cycling and active transportation conference, hosted annually by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition since 2009.
“We congratulate every municipality that participated in this year’s program,” McMahon added. “Each application represents a commitment to building safer, healthier, and more livable communities, and we look forward to supporting municipalities as they continue to advance cycling across Ontario.”
About the Share the Road Cycling Coalition
The Share the Road Cycling Coalition is Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization. Through advocacy, education, research, and partnership, the Coalition works with municipalities, communities, stakeholders, and governments to improve cycling safety, increase access to active transportation, and support the development of bicycle-friendly communities across Ontario.
For information or interviews:
Samantha Clark
Share the Road Cycling Coalition
519-221-3466