More Canadians are cycling today than twenty years ago. According to Statistics Canada, from 1996 to 2016 the number of commuters in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver choosing to cycle to work increased by 87.9%. This trend continues to grow in a post-pandemic world where concerns about physical distancing have made many Canadians view cycling as a safer alternative to being stuck in small spaces and potentially increasing their risk of contracting the virus. With a refocus on issues of climate change (thank you, Leo) a sustainable-minded approach to the daily commute has become a popular alternative for urbanites.

Concord Sky

With cycle culture exploding in urban areas Canada-wide, how bike-friendly are condo buildings? Up until recently, not very — but that’s changing. Young, urban commuters are the target demographic for Canadian developers and this group is the type of potential buyer to embrace cycling. As such, the future of Canadian condo-living is looking very cycle-friendly.

“Cycling is one of the fastest-growing forms of sustainable transportation in Canada,” said Isaac Chan, VP Sales and Marketing at Concord Adex. “Older, existing condominiums only provided bike racks within common areas and these weren’t well designed and secured.”

Last month, Concord Adex announced its newest build “Concord Sky” will be outfitted with cycle-focused amenities unlike any we’ve seen in condos in Canada to-date. The new build features a gear room where residents can tune their bikes via shared tools, a bike washing station, a dedicated bike elevator for direct access to the ground level and lockers devoted to bicycle storage. And the trend for cycle-friendly condos isn’t limited to Toronto — out west, “Metrotown” in Burnaby, B.C. has an indoor bike loop so cyclists can pedal when the weather is bad, plus a spin studio and two bike lounges. Both buildings are expected to be completed in 2026.