Despite our country’s reputation for cold winters and harsh climate, Canada is actually a great country to cycle around with electrical bicycles. Canada has a great cycling culture which is evident by the many bike lanes and bike sharing programs available, especially in the major urban centres.
Cycling is a popular sport and pastime in Canada, especially when you compare it to many cities in the United States. However, cycling rates in Canada are still low compared to many European cities which weren’t built for cars. Luckily more cycling and electric bicycling infrastructure are being put into Canadian cities which will only increase their popularity.
What Are The Best Canadian Cities To Use Electrical Bikes?
A recent study was done by the University of British Columbia into which Canadian cities have the best biking programs and how safe the streets are for cyclists. Their research recently ranked 10 Canadian cities in order of their "bikeability."
The top electrical bike-friendly Canadian cities are*:
1. Victoria, British Columbia
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. Montreal, Quebec
4. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
5. Calgary, Alberta
6. Halifax, Nova Scotia
7. Toronto, Ontario
8. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
9. Moncton, New Brunswick
10. St. John’s Newfoundland
These cities ranked high mainly because of how their urban planning departments expanded their biking and electrical biking pathways and roadways. For example, some of these cities have initiatives such as:
Victoria’s Biketoria
Vancouver’s Transportation 2040
Montreal’s Cycling Action Plan
These cities promote cycling safety, bike paths, and accessibility. Connecting neighbourhoods with bike paths to one another is an important aspect of encouraging cycling commuters. Montreal is currently the only Canadian City to make the Top 20 Annual Copenhagenize Index, which recognizes the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
In addition, there are some great cycling events which you can use either an electric bike for which include:
The Ride to Conquer Cancer happens across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. You can ride as an individual or as a team to raise money to support cancer research.
More than 20,000 cyclists pedal in the annual Tour de l'Île de Montréal. Riders have a choice of distance options of 25, 30, 50, 65, or 100 km.
The 24 Hours of Adrenaline race in Canada’s Rocky Mountains is a difficult challenge of climbs for experienced riders.
Where Do Canadian Cities Rank Internationally?
When it comes to an international reputation, Canada still lags behind many European cities in part because of how compact they are and their old roadways. North American cities, on the other hand, were largely built after the invention and the integration of the motor vehicle.
Conclusion
Electric bikes are becoming more popular in Canada. If you're thinking about buying an electric bike, you can fill out our inquiry form on our website HERE. Provide as many details as possible regarding your bicycle or electric bicycle. We also have conversion kits designed to be street legal for all Canadian and US territories.
*note: the study ranking cities above studied one city per province and did not include every Canadian city.
