Victoria has earned the crown as Canada’s most cycle-friendly city, spinning ahead thanks to an extensive network built for two wheels.
A recent study by Compare The Market ranked cities based on cycling modal share (the percentage of residents who travel by bike), kilometres of dedicated bike paths per 10,000 people, and online interest in cycling and e-scooters.
Victoria topped the list with a score of 60.71 out of 100, edging out Winnipeg and Quebec City.
About 7 per cent of Victoria’s residents regularly bike, adding up to roughly 27,800 cyclists across the Greater Victoria area.
The city’s bike path network stretches 2,085 kilometres – an impressive 52.5 kilometres per 10,000 residents. That combination of riders and routes helped push Victoria to the top of the cycling rankings. Vancouver was the only other B.C. city to make the top 10, with a score of 52.93.
Popular routes like the Galloping Goose Trail, Lochside Regional Trail, and the E&N Rail Trail help connect riders across the region.
Colleen Sparks, executive director of Capital Bike, says the city’s cycling culture has grown dramatically over the past decade.
"When I first moved to Victoria in 2004, biking from Gordon Head to downtown felt intimidating. Now, it’s a completely different experience,” Sparks said.
She praised the City of Victoria’s work improving infrastructure and highlighted the community’s passion for cycling.
“People are increasingly choosing bikes over vehicles for their daily trips,” Sparks said. “The upgraded lanes on Blanshard will make a significant impact, and we anticipate many more improvements to come.”
Greater Victoria has also been home to major cycling events that boost its reputation.
Langford hosted the 2025 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships and will do so again in 2026.
Saanich welcomed the national cyclo-cross championships in 2022 and 2023, while the Canadian Masters Road Championships took place across Greater Victoria this past weekend.
