Ottawa awarded top marks in province for supporting cycling community
Posted Sep 29, 2026 11:03:19 AM.
The City of Ottawa has reached the highest designation when it comes to supporting cyclists and active transportation.
The Share the Road Cycling Coalition has handed out the province’s first ever platinum level bicycle friendly community status to both the nation’s capital and the City of Waterloo.
The program launched in 2010 looks into how well a municipality supports cycling as a safe and accessible means of getting around.
“Our new polling tells us that Ontarians trust local governments to make decisions about cycling infrastructure, support investment in cycling, and want safe, connected networks that give them the confidence to ride,” Eleanor McMahon, Founder and Board Chair of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, said. “These awards recognize municipalities that are responding to that demand and creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities for everyone.”
The award was handed out at the 2026 Ontario Bike Summit.
Eight years ago, Waterloo was recognized as a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community, the first mid-sized city in the province to reach that status.
The city touts hundreds of trails, bike lanes and signed routes throughout the community, including those maintained by the National Capital Commission.
The number of residents travelling by bicycle has more than double between 2011 and 2022.
“Cycling trips now account for approximately 4 per cent of the total daily trips starting or ending in Ottawa, equating to around 99,000 trips per day,” the Transportation Trends Report shows.
