Bicycle plan & network
Vancouver's first bike lanes were established along Southwest Marine Drive in 1997.
Vancouver’s Bicycle Program began in 1988 when Council approved the Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan.
The 1997 Transportation Plan identified cycling as a high-priority transportation mode within the city.
In 1999, Council adopted the Bicycle Plan (
PDF 6.37 mb) which identified action items to improve cycling in Vancouver, including a network of commuter and recreational bicycle routes throughout Vancouver. The plan took into account extensive consultation with cyclists and residents, and analyzed what we needed to integrate cyclists into the transportation network.
Council also approved implementation of the Downtown Transportation Plan in 2003 to improve downtown access and livability by creating a balanced transportation system that includes a network of bike lanes.
More than 300 lane-kilometers of bicycle network have now been created throughout Vancouver. The City continues to expand the network, and by the end of 2009, is expected to have more than more than 400 lane-kilometres of bikeways. This growth combined with complementary initiatives, such as improved bike parking and promotional activities, have helped to integrate cyclists into the existing transportation network.
In fitting with the City’s transportation and sustainability goals, the aim is to continue to provide facilities for cyclists that improve safety and efficiency and to encourage more people to ride their bicycles for transportation to work, school and everyday activities in their neighbourhoods and through the city.
We’re currently looking at our next steps in improving and expanding our network to meet the needs of our growing population and many visitors.
Learn more:
- Cycling Fact Sheet ( PDF, 245 kb)
- 1999 Bicycle Plan: Reviewing the Past, Planning the Future ( PDF, 5mb)
- 2008 Progress Report and Next Steps for the Bicycle Plan ( PDF, 873kb)
Other bicycle-related policies are detailed in the following documents:
- "Clouds of Change": Available in most libraries, or may be purchased at the Planning Reception, City Hall, East Wing & 3rd Floor.
- "Comprehensive Bicycle Plan", "Bicycle Network Study" and "Bicycle Parking Study": These documents are available in most libraries and may be viewed at the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch, City Hall, 7th Floor.