October 25, 2023 - The City of Hamilton’s bullish Cycling Master Plan (CMP) outlines a network of approximately 970km of bike lanes, cycle tracks, multi-use paths and other facilities such as paved shoulders and bike boulevards to be completed by 2031.

The city’s current cycling network boasts 793km, which includes 32.4km of separated cycling facilities. In 2022 an additional 14.4km of infrastructure was added, and plans for 2023 include 35km to be installed. An additional seven projects are planned for 2024, and the City is hoping to accelerate the completion of the total network by 25-50%.

Dating back to 1999, its ten-year action plan called Shifting Gears: A New Cycling Plan for Hamilton-Wentworth was reviewed in 2009 and again in 2018. The most recent review in January 2023 includes the consideration and integration of an All Ages and Abilities (AAA) design approach to develop a robust cycling network and minimum grid across the city.

The current city-wide cycling modal share is 1.3%, while in the inner urban area it’s 2.8%. Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan has a goal of 15% of city-wide trips being made by walking and cycling by 2031.

Over the past five years, approximately $19 million has been invested. The 2023 budget is $5.4 million, with an additional $12.2 million for on-street cycling projects from 2024 to 2031.

Launched in 2015, the Hamilton Bike Share system has 900 bikes at 144 hubs and is exploring opportunities to introduce e-bikes. The system is unique as it allows the flexibility for users to park their bike at any hub, or at any bike parking facility within the service area.

The City also provides funding to the non-profit Everyone Rides Initiative, which offers subsidized bike share passes, bike-riding training and multilingual services. Hamilton also operates an Adaptive Bike Share Hub.

Bisected by the Niagara Escarpment, Hamilton’s transit system operates the Mountain Climber Program, which allows cyclists to ride a bus up/down the mountain from designated stops at no cost.

In addition, the City has “opted-in” to Ontario’s Electric Cargo Bike Pilot program and Electric Kick Scooter Program (e-scooters) for personal and shared commercial use.

The Hamilton Vision Zero Action Plan 2019-2025 policy has a clear goal: no more fatalities or serious injuries on local roadways.

A number of national and regional trails pass through the city including the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, TransCanada Trail, HamBur Loop and the Greenbelt Route.

Hamilton hosted the Ontario Bike Summit in early May and is hosting the North American Bike and Scooter Share Association (NABSA) Annual Conference in September 2023.