Majority Favours Bike Lanes

Majority Favours Bike Lanes

Plurality supports bike lane pilot on Bloor

Toronto, March 16^th – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 966 Toronto voters, the majority (57%) say they are in favour of bike lanes, overall. Just over a quarter (27%) oppose bike lanes and (15%) respond they don’t know.

Those most likely to say they favour bike lanes include cyclists (67%), a small sample (n=87) of bicycle commuters (77%), respondents aged 34 or less (68%), aged 35 to 44 (60%), females (61%), and those with a college or university degree (60%) or post-graduate degree (62%). Those living in the former City of Toronto (74%) and supporting the NDP (74%) or Green Party (73%) also likely favour bike lanes.

Those likely to oppose bike lanes include those aged 45-54 (34%), 55-64 (34%), living in Scarborough (39%), and supporting the Progressive Conservative party (47%).

Bike lanes on Bloor supported

Just under half (47%) of all respondents approve of the new bikes lanes on Bloor Street. A third (32%) disapprove, and 2-in-10 (22%) don’t offer an opinion. Those most likely to support the bike lanes on Bloor between Shaw and Avenue include respondents aged 34 or less (62%), the least wealthy (57%), with a post-graduate degree (56%), and supporting the NDP (66%).

Support is higher amongst those who ride their bikes in the city (60%), and higher still amongst those who commute by bicycle (69%).

Opinion on the Bloor St. bike lanes is mixed amongst those that have driven on Bloor since they were installed with (48%) of those drivers in favour, and (46%) opposed.

Cyclists taking advantage of the pilot project

Of those that ride a bicycle in the city, just under a third (31%) have ridden on the Bloor St. bike lanes. Further, usage is high (55%) amongst the small sample of bicycle commuters (n=87).

 A third ride a bike in the city

One third ride a bicycle in the city (32%) and, of these, 3-in-10 commute to work or school (30%). Biking in the city is common to younger citizens (34 and under - 40%), in the former City of Toronto (48%).

“In general, Toronto residents are supportive of bike lanes, and perhaps in the ‘if you build it, they will come’ philosophy, a majority of cycling commuters are making use of the new lanes on Bloor St,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.