Treker

According to the latest census data released by StatsCanada, Canadians are still embracing their vehicles as the preferred method of commuting. Public transit grew only slightly. In the short bit I read, there was no mention of other methods of commuting like, say....a bicycle!!!

Seems we're a generation or two away from really improving our commuting habits.

Personally speaking, I cycle 7 months plus whatever the end of March and beginning of November offer in the way of bonuses. I bus it for the other 5. March is really beginning to test me with another 20cm today on top of the load we already have and more on the way! I've always begun in the last days of March but it's going to be close this year...

chephy

Handsome doggie on the avator.

It's still interesting that Canada has more bike commuters than U.S., percentage-wise, even though the average riding conditions here are harsher here.

Flimflam

I do my thing by bike, I'm under no illusions that some people seem to grasp their steering wheels with death grips they're that attached to their precious automobiles.

Truth is people don't want to make the effort. I love riding my bike and promote it here and there, that's all I can do.

AEO

I think we're just a little bit more open minded, poorer (taxed to death) and don't like paying for outrageous insurance rates.
That and public transportation sucks here

jyossarian

From what I've seen, urban sprawl + lack of bike lanes + fast moving traffic (60 kph +) = cars over bikes. In downtown areas the conditions may be better suited to riding, but if you have to ride in the 'burbs, most people would think riding isn't a safe or convenient option.

thdave

I bet Alaska has more percentage-wise than mainland US, too. This country has stigmas that are hard to overcome. Too many do the same thing, particularly our youth. People in more remote or rugged areas tend to be more independent though and do their thing.

Bottom line is cars are comfy and fun. People love them. The downside is that they skip daily exersize and think that they need to get to the gym to get that done. The construction of the sprawling suburbs exacerbates the problem.

chephy

Agree with the first sentence, but I think, apart from maybe New York, we in Toronto have one of the best public transportation networks in North America. Public transportation most other places on this continent sucks a lot more, apparently.

habernac

one of my other commuting bretheren here in Cowtown told me that 4000 people in our fair city bike year round. I do know that in spring/summer/fall the locker room at work is positively crazy, tons of people bike to work here.

macteacher

I ride in the burbs, and sometimes I hop on the sidewalk as the cars move to fast and it becomes scary at times

Snow_canuck

++++++++++1

RHoude

The 2006 Canadian Census identified the following methods of transportation to commute to work:
Car, truck, van, as driver
Car, truck, van, as passenger
Public transit
Walked
Bicycle
Motorcycle
Taxicab
Other method

I was happy to see that Montreal was declared the Greenest City in Canada in terms of commuting practices. 21.4% of Montrealers either bus, walk or bike to work. Of those, I'm happy to be in the 1.6% of Montrealers who bike commute.

The results of the census are available on the Stats Canada web site.

Cheers,

AEO

The only other place I can compare our public transportation to is Japan.

Toronto
Cost: not as expensive as you think with fixed rate. (but for short rides, better carry a monthly pass).
Schedule: One thing you can count on is TTC is not on time every time.
Hours: It's not called the vomit comet for nothing. schedules running deep into the night and early into the morning.
Coverage: Could be better, but not much cash to expand.
Capacity: Over capacity. But hey, that doesn't stop the city from advertising you to use it anyways.

Japan
Cost: more expensive the further/faster you go.
Schedule: On time most of the time.
Hours: Doesn't run very late or early, so you can get stuck.
Coverage: goes everywhere except the most remote places
Capacity: overcrowded at cities, not so much in towns.

In all, people in Toronto like to complain about everything

pinkrobe

Calgary [just as a comparison]
Cost: flat rate for travel in any direction within a 90-minute window, but a transit pass will let you ride/sleep indefinitely
Schedule: off-peak it's not bad, during rush-hour they might be late/early or skip your stop because people are basically hanging out the doors
Hours: 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m., although many routes to the middle of nowhere [burbs] only run for a couple of hours at peak times
Coverage: goes everywhere except the most remote places, with the temporal caveats mentioned above
Capacity: off-peak it's used as a mobile apartment and daycare, rush hour - let's just say that people would pay to sit on the roof if it weren't so dang slippery

Transit here is all-or-nothing. It's over capacity for rush hour commuting or getting to sporting events, but seldom used otherwise.

As for all-around cycling action, that 4000 commuters per day sounds accurate, but not as a year-round thing. From November through February, I would say bike commuting trips drop to 1/10 of the usual numbers.

wolfchild

Yep, that's what I do too, some of my commute is on the road and some on the sidewalk. Cars don't bother me too much , I prefer rush hour because then all the traffic moves slower,but I don't like 18 wheelers and other big trucks, luckily I don't have to deal with all the big ones.

ghettocruiser

Hong Kong [also a comparison]
Cost: cheap, based on distance traveled
Schedule: on time all the time
Hours: pretty much the same as the TTC
Coverage: goes everywhere, period
Capacity: Sardines in a can

Paris[another comparison]
Cost: moderate, based on distance traveled
Schedule: on time most of the time
Hours: early till late
Coverage: goes everywhere, pretty much
Capacity: Not too bad.

jyossarian

NYC [as a North American comparison]
Cost: $2 flat rate which is either cheap or expensive depending on who you ask Unlimited options available.
Schedule: Supposedly, there is one
Hours: 24x7
Coverage: Everywhere
Capacity: Fuhgeddaboudit