May 3, 2025 - Touted as Canada’s most bike-friendly city (UBC study and Redfin ranking), Victoria boasts almost 40km of “All Ages and Abilities” (AAA) cycling infrastructure and a cycling modal share that’s on the rise — 2022 (13%) vs 2017 (9%).

The AAA separated bikeway initiative began in 2017 following research the City undertook with Simon Fraser University that indicated that 60% of residents would bike if they felt safe. The city aims to have 95% of Victorians living within 500 metres of an AAA cycling route.

As the popularity of e-bikes has boomed, the ability for people of all ages and abilities to access safe infrastructure has blossomed. This supports Victoria’s Climate Action Strategy along with its “Build Back Victoria” initiative following the pandemic to reduce traffic and congestion, and it provides physical and mental health benefits as well.

While bike ownership and usage are trending up in Victoria, data shows that bike thefts are declining — 28% lower than 2022 when the City allocated $500,000 in funding to improve secure bike parking.

That summer a Downtown Victoria Bike Valet pilot was launched, seeing an average of 83 bikes per day in its first season. By 2024, the average had skyrocketed to 202 bikes per day — a 240% increase — and the valet service was open year-round for the first time.

In 2023, the City launched Borrow a Bike Lock, making high-quality locks available to borrow for free at over 30 partner locations including businesses, schools and community centres.

The City manufactures and regularly installs standard U-bike racks in well-lit, high-traffic areas, and covered bike shelters have been installed at eight schools across Victoria. City staff review every new development application to ensure that enough high-quality, covered and secure bike parking is being built. Plus, anyone can request a bike rack here.

In 2021, Victoria implemented a dedicated traffic calming program that is currently focused on local streets, as well as school and park zones. The program includes speed humps, curb extensions, pedestrian medians, diverters and closures. In addition, all local streets in the City will be classified and posted at 30kph by the end of 2025, with most major roads to become 40kph.

The City is also exploring options for a future bikeshare system, and a new Bicycle Plan is soon going to Council as part of Victoria’s updated Official Community Plan.