December 30, 2023 - A growing number of Torontonians are parking their cars in favour of bicycles as the widespread availability of e-bikes and the proliferation of bike lanes in the city have made two wheels a viable alternative to four wheels reports the Toronto Star.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the city added more than 60 kilometres of multi-use trails, cycle tracks and bicycle lanes — more than double what it added in the three years prior. Studies have shown adding better infrastructure — particularly protected bike lanes — leads to more cyclists.
Cycling in Toronto has boomed in recent years, catalyzed in part by the pandemic when people were eager to exercise and get outside without risk of catching COVID-19. The Canada e-bike market was estimated at USD $733.4 million in 2022 and is expected to rise to USD $2.14 billion in 2030, according to market research company Grand View Research.
As research shows that e-bike adoption can replace car trips and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite some of the obstacles car-free parents say commuting by bike is not just fun and more sustainable, but makes their lives easier, as the rising costs of car ownership and stifling congestion make driving less and less appealing.
Read the full article by Lex Harvey here.
