Cyclists fear for their safety

Lack of Safety Number One Reason Ontarians Won’t “Go By Bike”
Poll Finds Majority of Ontarians (60%) Would Cycle More, But Fear for Their Safety

Burlington, Ontario -- September 20th, 2009 – A poll commissioned by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, an Ontario cycling advocacy organization, reveals that the majority of Ontarians (over 60%) say they would like to ride a bike more often, but the main reason they don’t is they are concerned for their safety.

The results come from the Ontario Monitor Online, a survey of 1000 Ontarians conducted from August 14th to 20th by opinion research firm Strategic Communications, Inc. (Stratcom).

The poll results were released on the eve of the Ontario Bike Summit in Waterloo September 21-22nd. The Summit will bring international experts, policy makers, politicians, transportation specialists and cycling advocates together for a two day dialogue that organizers hope will help build provincial standards for cycling including a more defined role for the provincial government.

“This research provides us with a snapshot of who is riding a bike, and who is not – and why. One of the Summit’s objectives is finding ways to get more Ontarians on their bikes, more safely, more often. Having data which points to the barriers to cycling helps us to establish priorities for action. If we can address the issues this data highlights, it should help us to encourage more people to cycle -- thus contributing to the health and well being of Ontarians,” said Eleanor McMahon, Founder, Share the Road Cycling Coalition.

“This data quantifies what many people who don’t bicycle now tell us -- they don’t ride their bike because they are too frightened to do so. If people don’t feel safe, how can we expect them to cycle? Addressing this issue is critical to making Ontario’s roads more bicycle friendly,” McMahon noted.

The Coalition surveyed Ontarians on issues ranging from attitudes towards cycling to cycling habits and frequency.
The poll sample included Ontarians who cycle now, as well as those who do not. For those who cycle now, their motivation and cycling habits were explored.

Highlights include:

  • 60% of Ontarians say they would prefer to cycle more often; they indicate that the primary reason they do not ride more often is they are “worried about safety on the road”. (55%)
  • Another main reason cited is: “not enough bike routes to where I want to go” (39%)
  • Although 94% of respondents rode bikes as children, only 6% are frequent users today (i.e. riding every day or almost every day)
  • 24% of Ontarians ride their bikes occasionally (either weekly or monthly) while 70% say they never or rarely cycle – which includes both those with (38%) and without (32%) bikes.
  • When asked why they ride, 33% say they ride for a variety of reasons, both utilitarian (shopping, commuting, errands) and for pleasure; while the majority (63%) say they ride for pleasure and recreation.
  • Looking at who rides a bike, Ontarians in the 34-49 age range are the most likely to have a bike, but also are most likely to say they rarely or never ride it.
  • Men are more likely than women to ride bikes frequently or even occasionally.
  • Nearly 3 out of 4 Ontarians say that their motivation for cycling was to get exercise; half say their motivation is to reduce pollution from cars and buses; 57% say they do so for the feeling and experience cycling provides; and 41% say that they do not drive or own a car.
  • A greater percentage of people ride for pleasure and recreation outside the city of Toronto than within it. Ontarians living in urban and suburban areas are much more likely to ride their bike for shopping/going to work and for pleasure.

McMahon noted that the survey data points to possible areas for focus and attention: “ We now know that Ontarians in the 34-49 age range are the most likely to have a bike, but also are most likely to say they rarely or never ride it. Given that many of these Ontarians have families, the likelihood that their children do not ride regularly nor are they encouraged to ride (given the fear factor) is very high. We know that obesity rates in our children are growing. Cycling is a potential solution to this growing public health concern and designing safe routes to school programs which include cycling and or enhancing cycling education for our children must, as a consequence, be on all or our radar screens.”

“We have raised a generation of children who did not grow up enjoying the benefits of cycling. This is further evidenced by the number of Ontarians who used to ride a bike as children – 94% -- but rarely ride today – 6%. Over time the tools to encourage cycling – education, awareness, enough bike paths, parking for bicycles, cycling safety legislation – have not kept pace with the corresponding accommodations for motorists and we must begin to address these gaps if we hope to build a bicycle friendly Ontario,” McMahon added.

About the Share the Road Cycling Coalition:

The Share the Road Cycling Coalition is a provincial cycling advocacy organization. Our mission is to make Ontario bicycle friendly for everyone by enhancing access for bicyclists on roads and trails, improving safety for all bicyclists and educating citizens on the value and importance of safe bicycling for healthy lifestyles and communities. In doing so the Coalition represents all cyclists - children, tourists, commuters, recreational riders, mountain bikers and racers.

About Stratcom

Strategic Communications, Inc. is a full-service opinion research firm with offices in Vancouver and Toronto. The company conducts customized quantitative and qualitative research including stakeholder evaluations, membership and public opinion surveys, and focus groups to serve the needs of the non-profit and charitable sector.