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Every year, when the warm weather returns the entire landscape is transformed. In our streets and in our neighbourhoods, the bikes come out again and the trails come alive. And it's no longer just for Sunday outings: cycling is increasingly establishing itself as a real mode of transportation--everyday, reliable and cheap.
In recent years, there has been an explosion in bicycle use in both urban and rural areas. In 2020, there were already 4.5 million people riding bicycles in Quebec. In 2020, more than 2.7 million people rode their bikes every week, travelling an average of 44 km. Behind these figures lies a very real cultural change. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of cycling as a practical alternative to the single-occupant automobile, whether for the daily commute, work or recreation. And the trend continues.
And the infrastructure has been following suit. Quebec’s cycling network currently totals 10,600 km, representing an increase of 360% since 1995. La Route Verte, which is the crown jewel of this expansion, links entire regions and offers a total distance of 5,100 km.1
The Electrically Assisted Bike: a real catalyst
One of the most striking changes over the last decade has been the emergence of the Electrically Assisted Bicycle (EAB). EABs make longer, more demanding or more frequent journeys accessible to a greater number of people.
Through our Vélovolt initiative, hundreds of people have been able to try out an electric bike free of charge for their home-to-work commute. For many, it has been a revelation. 42% of the participants actually changed their travel habits as a result. Some even left their cars in the garage for good, while others decided to walk more or combine cycling and public transit.
A solution offering multiple benefits
For your health: Cycling is a natural way of incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. Just a few trips a week are all it takes to feel the benefits: more energy, higher spirits, a stronger heart. And that rewarding sensation that comes with taking care of yourself... and taking care of the planet at the same time.
For the environment: A bike, and even an EAB, consumes just a tiny fraction of what a car, even an electric one, requires in terms of energy and resources—less CO₂, less noise, and less space taken up.
For your pocketbook. Replacing a car with a bike or an EV, even partially, can save you thousands of dollars a year. Less gas, less maintenance, no parking costs: over seven years, that can add up to savings of over $50,000. Not insignificant, given the rising cost of living.
And for the community? Each kilometre pedalled generates a net gain of $0.18, whereas each kilometre traveled by car represents a cost to society of $0.162. Yes, you read that correctly: instead of being a cost to society, cyclists generate net gains. In Quebec, for example, the public health benefits of cycling are estimated at over $2 billion a year.
These benefits are all the more obvious when the bicycle is part of an intermodal mobility approach: combining cycling with public transit (train, bus, metro) means you can cover long distances efficiently, without having to rely on a car.
Increased commitment on the part of businesses and municipalities
It's not just individuals who are committed to cycling. More and more companies are actively supporting the adoption of cycling through the lending of EABs, BIXI subscriptions, secure parking facilities, etc. These gestures are not just environmentally friendly—they also improve the quality of work life, reduce absenteeism and enhance a company's image.
The development of cycling as a mode of transportation also relies on greater mobilization on the part of municipalities. Some municipalities are expanding their initiatives. Montréal is leading the way, with a BIXI service, now available even in winter; almost a million winter trips have been recorded.
In Quebec City, 23% of users3 chose àVélo over their car—proof that the service is making it easier to change travel habits.
And in other parts of the province, bike-sharing initiatives are taking root in the regions. On a regional scale, MRCs such as Yamaska are offering bike-sharing solutions in a number of towns, making travel easier in the more rural areas.
To try is to adopt
In Montréal, only 3.3% of all trips were made by bicycle in 2018. However, according to our recent study, 25% of car trips could have been done by EAB, and this figure could be even higher if we include other modes of travel, such as public transit.
What's often missing? A spark. A first experience that changes everything. Like for Émilie, a participant in the Vélovolt project:
“These 4 weeks of trying out an electrically assisted bike have been a real joy! Not only are my home-to-work commutes faster, more environmentally friendly and better for my health, they're also more fun!”
What if that was the real secret of biking? Apart from the economic or environmental logic, perhaps it's the simple pleasure, the sense of freedom, the ability to reconnect with the world around us.
Quebec has everything it takes to become a leader in active mobility. What we need to do now is to continue investing in infrastructure, accessibility and awareness raising.
Cycling is not just a fad. It's a structural response to the challenges of our time—climate, health, quality of life, equity. And perhaps to begin the shift towards sustainable mobility, we don't need to reinvent the wheel... just restore it to its rightful place.
