By Michelle Kearns, Planning Associate
Post Update: The Four-year Growth Plan was approved by the Toronto Parking Authority Board of Directors on September 29th. The full plan is now available online here.
On August 8th, the Toronto Parking Authority’s Bike Share Toronto program, with support from Access Planning and partners Alta Planning + Design, held a public information session on the upcoming Toronto Bike Share Four-Year Growth Plan – an ambitious plan that will see the system expand with 60% more docking stations and bikes over the next four years. Expansion is targeted outside of the existing service area, expanding access to bike share to all of Toronto’s 25 wards.
A map showing the expansion areas under consideration as part of the Four-Year Growth Plan in orange. Map Source: Alta Planning + Design.
This expansion comes at an exciting time. The Bike Share Toronto system is a significant component of Toronto’s suite of mobility options with almost 700,000 trips taken in July 2022. In 2021, ridership broke records with over 3.5 million trips by bike share in total - about the same as the number of boardings on the 510 Spadina Streetcar. The program has seen a steady growth in popularity, with an increase of 249% trips taken by bike share from 2016 to 2021.
“In 2021, ridership broke records with over 3.5 million trips by bike share in total - about the same as the number of boardings on the 510 Spadina Streetcar.”
The Four-Year Growth Plan combines data and technical analysis with stakeholder and user input to determine where to best place over 300 new stations across the city. These stations will be distributed in a way to support an effective bike share system (one that has adequate coverage and station density to become a reliable part of people’s everyday commutes, errands, and recreational rides), while supporting equitable access, new and existing demand for bikes, and access to transit.
A bike share docking station outside Finch West subway station. Photo Credit: Michelle Kearns.
Access Planning led the stakeholder and public engagement component of the Four-Year Growth Plan. With such an ambitious expansion on a short timeline, a multi-faceted approach was needed to build relationships to support implementation. A user survey, user workshops, and stakeholder workshops with transit agencies TTC and Metrolinx, City of Toronto staff, public agencies, and private partners helped us validate our methods for planning for growth and identify opportunities for bike share stations in the coming years.
For further information:
Watch the recording of the public information session on the Four-year Growth Plan. August 8th, 2022.
We’re changing the way we move around town. Justin Hanna, Director, Bike Share Toronto. Toronto Star, July 24th, 2022.
Bike Share Toronto has an electric future – more people (and corporations) should be taking notice. Matt Elliott. Toronto Star, August 1st, 2022.