The State of Cycling in Metro Vancouver

January 8, 2019

HUB Cycling / TransLink Benchmarking Research on the Regional Cycle Network

HUB Cycling is pleased to be working in collaboration with TransLink and Metro Vancouver municipalities to better assess the quantity, quality and use of cycling facilities across the urban region. Our State of Cycling research draws upon similar reports by the City of Copenhagen, People for Bikes (US), Velo Quebec and the City of Calgary, which consider progress toward key objectives like increased trips by bicycle, number of collisions involving cyclists and people’s perception of cycling. The State of Cycling project will be the first of its kind at the regional scale in Metro Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver includes 21 municipalities, an electoral area and one Treaty First Nation. With this much diversity in the region, it is no surprise that different descriptions and classifications exist for the cycling network. At present, there is a patchwork of labels, maps, trip counts and varying definitions of bike facility types, with no common regional understanding of the extent and quality of the cycling network. This project will provide a more cohesive picture of cycling across the region, allowing stakeholders to better understand and make effective decisions about future network improvements.

The goals of the project are twofold. First, data about the quantity, quality and connectedness of cycling infrastructure in each of the Metro Vancouver member municipalities will be collected and assessed. Using standardized definitions informed by municipal and regional transportation engineers and planners, this assessment will produce an inventory and public map of existing cycling infrastructure.

HUB Cycling and TransLink will then analyze the updated regional cycle network information in light of other related data, including census data, TransLink Trip Diary data, and municipal traffic counts. This will be used to develop a snapshot of cycling trends across the region.

The State of Cycling project will result in a more accurate and nuanced understanding of existing and planned regional cycling facilities, allowing us to measure progress toward the goal of more and safer cycling in Metro Vancouver. Once this new reporting framework is established, a plan will be developed for scheduled benchmarking updates and expansion to continuously inform development, urban and transportation planning and cycle route selection.

The State of Cycling team is currently analyzing data on cycling trends, ridership and safety in the region, and compiling the final report, which is projected to be completed in February 2020.

MEET THE TEAM

Gavin Davidson

Project Manager

Gavin is a professional planner and a nationally recognized leader in transportation policy, planning and facility design. He brings two decades of experience facilitating interdisciplinary teams and developing ambitious, award-winning plans and projects.

Evan Hammer

Project Researcher

Evan is an active transportation and cycling enthusiast. His personal knowledge of local cycling infrastructure and routes complements his research skills. Evan is a graduate of UBC’s Master’s of Community and Regional Planning program. His experience includes cyclist route selection, bike sharing and transportation planning.

Tim Davidson

Project Researcher

Tim brings skills acquired from a Masters of Planning Degree from Dalhousie University to this project. He has experience in the private sector delivering active transportation projects throughout Canada and a wealth of knowledge on GIS and computer mapping.

Acknowledgements: The State of Cycling project is a collaboration between TransLink and HUB Cycling.