The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[ainvan]

Vancouver and Montreal named among world’s most bike-friendly cities; Toronto ‘not close’

Two Canadian cities rank among the top 20 most bicycle-friendly in the world, according to a new study.

Vancouver made it onto the list for the first time while Montreal moves up two places since 2017. both are tied for the 18th spot in the 2019 Copenhagenize Index. They are the only North American cities that made the cut.

“Toronto is not close to being in the top 20 in any way,” says Morten Kabell, chief executive officer of Copenhagenize Design Co., the urban-planning consultancy that has authored the biannual ranking since 2011.

As Copenhagen’s former mayor of technical and environmental affairs, Kabell says he didn’t feel safe cycling in Toronto the few times he visited. This is the same city where, in 2007, then-councillor Rob Ford says, “What I compare bike lanes to is swimming with the sharks. Sooner or later, you’re going to get bitten.”

For the 2019 Index, researchers considered over 600 cities with populations of more than 600,000 people, ranking 115 of them for their efforts toward “reestablishing the bicycle as a feasible, accepted and practical form of transport.” Researchers awarded points to cities across 14 categories, including infrastructure, bicycle modal share, gender split, image and indicators of safety

The Index found that Vancouver has done a good job of steadily adding to its network of protected bike lanes.

Vancouver had the highest bicycle modal share of any city in Canada. That, combined with increasing use of cargo bikes by local businesses, infrastructure designed for cyclists of all-ages and all-abilities, and new protected bicycle parking stations near public transit, all helped land the city a spot in the top 20.

“[In Vancouver] you see a bicycle culture that was more associated with sport now becoming more for the 99 per cent, people who just want to get to work fast,” Kabell says.

The Globe and Mail

Congrats Vancouver & Montreal!

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Little late to come to that realization. Ottawa figured that out well before tenders went out and we modified the tunnel (and line) to fit the budget.

Calgary still has a long way to go before starting on the tunnel:

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by milomilo

It's an impressive map, but much of what is on there is just regular buses and the Green Line is on shaky ground right now.

This seems typical with all government contracts. It is as though people who make up the price don't think it will rise. When will they learn.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by accord1999

Calgary still has a long way to go before starting on the tunnel:

Didn't realize it was two different contracts. Hope they can find a solution that still includes a tunnel downtown. They still have a solid year to do so.

[Reecemartin]

We made a new video on Islington station (TTC): Old and nostalgic with little quirks like the old bus terminal and the train signal exposed on the platform. Love seeing the history behind it but it would be nicer if it was upgraded!

https://youtu.be/hrtKKwDGN4M

[Ontario1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQmPgZjd_Bw&feature=share

Conestoga Station to Fairview Station. Full Cab Route. Waterloo Region.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by milomilo

It's an impressive map, but much of what is on there is just regular buses and the Green Line is on shaky ground right now.

Mostly just "regular busses"? Which line(s) on their are regular busses? All of the bus lines are BRT with express service, 3 out of the 4 of which have most of their lengths being dedicated rights of way. The existing CTrain system is enormous for a North American city under 3 million, with 60 km of track already, the only other NA city under 3 million with more track is Vancouver with 80 km. Also, the Green Line itself isn't on shaky ground, the centre city portion is just up in the air. By the time phase one is done, the Ctrain will be at 80 km, and phase 2 will bring it to 106 of track. With all current approved rights of way, the Ctrain will be about 130 km, probably sometime around 2040.

[milomilo]

They are not BRT. 17 Ave and the SW line have some BRT sections, but only for relatively small pieces. Otherwise they are just bus lines with slightly nicer shelters, really the bare minimum we should expect of a bus line. Quality matters as much as quantity, I don't give a shit if Calgary beats other cities by some arbitrary metric that you have deemed important.

[Chadillaccc]

lmao, whatever dude. The entire Crowchild Trail portion of the SW and South Crosstown Lines are dedicated lanes, and the 14th Street portion of the SW Line is entirely transitway, as is 17 Ave SE. All the stops are an average of around 700 meters apart, that's not "a regular bus", and the stops are nicer than any regular bus stops in literally any city in this entire country. The only line that's for sure just a glorified bus line is the North Crosstown, and at least it got queue jump lanes and the very nice station like the rest of them. Relax a second and loosen your damn belt or something, christ.


Also congrats to Vancouver and Montreal! That's a dope metric to be part of!

[SaskOttaLoo]

Originally Posted by ainvan

Vancouver and Montreal named among world’s most bike-friendly cities; Toronto ‘not close’



Congrats Vancouver & Montreal!

Interesting, I was just reading about their ranking and all the signs were suggesting that Montreal was going to drop off the list. That's great news. Is anyone aware of a site that regularly updates a ranking of Canadian cities by bikeability? There's a couple of old ones that don't seem to be updated, but an annual updating of such a list could go a long way to promote a little friendly competition between cities to improve their conditions for biking.

What do people think are some of the best other Canadian cities for biking? I've read that Calgary has put a lot of effort into installing new bike lanes, whereas Saskatoon just ripped their downtown lanes out .

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by SaskOttaLoo

Interesting, I was just reading about their ranking and all the signs were suggesting that Montreal was going to drop off the list. That's great news. Is anyone aware of a site that regularly updates a ranking of Canadian cities by bikeability? There's a couple of old ones that don't seem to be updated, but an annual updating of such a list could go a long way to promote a little friendly competition between cities to improve their conditions for biking.

What do people think are some of the best other Canadian cities for biking? I've read that Calgary has put a lot of effort into installing new bike lanes, whereas Saskatoon just ripped their downtown lanes out .

Can confirm; the City of Calgary has spent tens of millions on the cycle network in the last few years, with a lot more underway and approved. I'd also like to see an updated list.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by SaskOttaLoo

Interesting, I was just reading about their ranking and all the signs were suggesting that Montreal was going to drop off the list. That's great news. Is anyone aware of a site that regularly updates a ranking of Canadian cities by bikeability? There's a couple of old ones that don't seem to be updated, but an annual updating of such a list could go a long way to promote a little friendly competition between cities to improve their conditions for biking.

What do people think are some of the best other Canadian cities for biking? I've read that Calgary has put a lot of effort into installing new bike lanes, whereas Saskatoon just ripped their downtown lanes out .

Actually, if anything, Montreal will climb up the list in the coming years...

https://dailyhive.com/montreal/montreal-reseau-express-velo-bike-network-details

[mintzilla]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Can confirm; the City of Calgary has spent tens of millions on the cycle network in the last few years, with a lot more underway and approved. I'd also like to see an updated list.

may i ask if installing bike lanes have brought out all the crazies in your city as well?

in Edmonton people are legit losing their (small) minds. anything that isnt a large road and parking for their large trucks, suv's (and bodies) is an affront to god apparently.

i am very pro bike lanes but talking to people i know about them makes me want to punch people in the face. so much ignorance.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by mintzilla

may i ask if installing bike lanes have brought out all the crazies in your city as well?

in Edmonton people are legit losing their (small) minds. anything that isnt a large road and parking for their large trucks, suv's (and bodies) is an affront to god apparently.

i am very pro bike lanes but talking to people i know about them makes me want to punch people in the face. so much ignorance.

That is normal for anywhere that the car is/was king. Even Toronto and Victoria face it.

[Dengler Avenue]

I’m trying out KW’s ION. It’s very nice but right now ridership’s a bit low. Also it’s weird to see bus 16 in Uptown Waterloo.

[SaskOttaLoo]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Actually, if anything, Montreal will climb up the list in the coming years...

https://dailyhive.com/montreal/montreal-reseau-express-velo-bike-network-details

Do you think they'll ever keep Bixi bikes out year-round? When I lived in Montreal I was always out of luck when they would take away the Bixi bikes at the end of the year for winter.

[Innsertnamehere]

I wasn’t aware Montreal removed theirs on the winter. Toronto keeps theirs year round and the winter is actually when I use them the most to avoid destroying my own bike in the salt.

Mind you Toronto’s winters are much milder and more cycle friendly than Montreal’s..

[GreaterMontréal]

There are about 50,000 cyclists in Montréal during the winter.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by SaskOttaLoo

What do people think are some of the best other Canadian cities for biking?

Definitely not Toronto.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Definitely not Toronto.

Which I find interesting given all the paths through the ravines.