December 19, 2025 - (Burlington, ON) The Share the Road Cycling Coalition, (The Coalition) Ontario’s cycling policy and advocacy organization, is proud to announce the recipients of its annual Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) awards. The awards recognize municipalities across Ontario that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to creating safe, accessible, and vibrant cycling environments.
The Bicycle Friendly Communities program, an initiative of the Washington-based League of American Bicyclists, was launched in Canada by The Coalition in 2010. The organization, Ontario’s leading cycling advocacy and policy organization, worked to develop BFC designations for the province of Québec with our colleagues at the Montreal-based cycling policy and advocacy organization Velo Quebec, which administers the program under the name VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE.
At the heart of the BFC program is a rigorous application process through which a community’s cycling progress and investments are measured. The applications are reviewed by a panel of experts and with the input of citizens.
Recognition is awarded and in-depth guidance provided. The award categories are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Ontario currently has no Platinum communities, and 4 Gold Bicycle Friendly communities (Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo and Kitchener). Communities must re-apply at least every 4 years to hold a designation.
These latest award winners bring the total number of BFCs in Ontario to 61, representing more than 10.8 million Ontario residents or nearly two thirds of the provincial population. Award highlights include Ontario’s first Regional government designation – Durham Region.
Award Recipients
The following communities have been recognized for their achievements:
• Town of Caledon – Silver
• Town of Collingwood – Silver
• Region of Durham – Bronze
• City of Kitchener – Gold
• City of Mississauga – Silver
• City of Peterborough – Silver
• City of Sarnia – Bronze
• City of Waterloo – Gold
“This award celebrates the municipalities across Ontario that are making significant strides in promoting cycling as a safe, accessible, and sustainable mode of transportation. They exemplify a commitment to innovation and a dedication to cycling through their critical investments in cycling infrastructure, cycling education programs, and community engagement initiatives,” said Eleanor McMahon, Founder and Board Chair Share the Road Cycling Coalition.
“And they join a burgeoning network of Bicycle Friendly Communities across Ontario that are working to improve cycling for their residents who, in growing numbers, are choosing cycling as an affordable and healthy option for daily travel,” McMahon added.
“We know from our province-wide polling research that 68 per cent of Ontarians (9.8 million people) ride their bike at least monthly, with 22 per cent of Ontarians (3.2 million) saying they ride a bike frequently (daily or almost daily). The growing popularity of the program aligns with that of cycling itself, as municipalities look for increasingly innovative and effective ways to accommodate the increasing number of cyclists in their jurisdiction,” noted McMahon.
“We congratulate all of the municipalities who have applied for the Award, and salute them for their commitment to continuous improvement. We look forward to working with our growing BFC network and those municipalities looking to join them, as together we work to enhance the safety and wellbeing of Ontarians in communities across the province,” McMahon added.
About the Share the Road Cycling Coalition
The Share the Road Cycling Coalition is Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization created to unite cycling organizations from across the province, work with and on behalf of municipalities to enhance their ability to make their communities more bicycle- friendly and advocate for investment and engagement by provincial and municipal governments. Core to the organization’s mission and mandate are safety, education and awareness campaigns. Read more here.
