Strong support for bike lanes on major city roads

In the seventh wave of the Campaign Research Poll, an online public opinion omnibus survey conducted among a sample of 523 Toronto voters, more than two thirds support bike lanes on major city roads (68%), and 3 in 10 say they “strongly support” them (29%). Strong support for bike lanes overall is characteristic of the youngest (47%), the least wealthy (43%), among provincial Liberals and New Democrats (40% each) and those who use a bicycle to get around the city (68%).

MAJORITY SUPPORTS BLOOR STREET BIKE LANES

More than half of Torontonians support the bike lanes on Bloor Street West from Shaw Street to Avenue Road (57%), and one quarter “strongly support” them (25%). Those who drive in the city have less support (18%) for bike lanes than those who bike (58%).

ONE HALF CLAIM TO TRAVEL BLOOR WEST

One half of Torontonians claim to travel the stretch of Bloor Street West where the bike lanes are located (51%), and this is especially characteristic of those in the old city of Toronto/East York (58%).

ONE THIRD SAY TRAFFIC MOVES LESS SMOOTHLY NOW

One third of those who travel Bloor West at least from time to time find the traffic moves less smoothly since the bike lanes were installed (36%), while half this proportion thinks traffic flow is more smooth now (17%). One third say no difference has occurred (34%) and a tenth don’t know (12%). Interestingly, 4 in 10 supporters of bike lanes say traffic moves neither more nor less smoothly now (41%), and one fifth of those who oppose these lanes say there is no difference now (18%).

CLOSE TO HALF WANT BLOOR STREET BIKE LANES MADE PERMANENT

Just less than half of Torontonians want the pilot Bloor Street bike lanes made permanent (45%), while one third do not (35%). One fifth don’t have an opinion (20%). Wanting the lanes made permanent is common to the youngest (64%), females (51%) rather than males (39%), in the old city of Toronto/East York (53%), provincial Liberals (63%), but not PCs (22%), and supporters of bike lanes (64%).

EVEN SPLIT BETWEEN TRANSIT AND VEHICLE TRAVEL; FEW USE BIKES

About 4 in 10 get around the city by private vehicle (41%) or by transit (45%), while very few do so by bicycle (4%). In fact, twice as many Torontonians walk to get around the city (8%). Among those who support bike lanes, as many as one half use transit (53%), while among those who oppose bike lanes, two thirds get around in private vehicles (64%).

“Although few actually use bicycles as their primary transportation, the majority in this city support bike lanes, and, to a slightly lesser extent, the pilot project on Bloor Street West. It is quite clear, based on the pilot project on Bloor, that more consideration needs to be given to how to create a better, smoother flow of traffic.” said Eli Yufest, CEO of Campaign Research. Eli may be reached at eyufest@campaignresearch.ca or at (647) 931 4025, ext. 109

METHODOLOGY

This online poll was conducted between September 8 and 13, 2017 among a panel of 523 Toronto voters. A probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3%, 19 out of 20 times.