Canadian Cycling Network Database (CCND)

Detailed information for 2025

This product provides a harmonized Canada-wide open dataset of cycling infrastructure. The Data Exploration and Integration Lab (DEIL) compiled data from open data sources, validated, and standardized these to the The Canadian Bikeway Comfort and Safety (CAN-BICS) classification system. The dataset can be used for research, planning, policy and official statistics.

Data release - January 30, 2025

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The dataset is a compilation of open cycling infrastructure data from municipal, regional, and provincial governments. Open data is processed, cleaned, validated and classified according to the Can-BICS classification system. The Can-BICS classification system provides a standard nomenclature (such as painted bike lane, cycle track, and multi-use path) and permits classification of infrastructure according to user comfort level (high, medium, or low comfort infrastructure). The database is made available under the Open Government License - Canada and is expected to be updated periodically as new open datasets from municipal government sources become available.

The benefit of open data is that any user can access and make use of it freely. Individuals, formal and informal organizations, or enterprises can use the data and other information to research and innovate on any number of topics.

Reference period: The reference period for these data varies. For more information on the reference period of a specific dataset, please consult the open data portal for that data provider directly.

Data sources and methodology

Target population

Cycling infrastructure encompasses built structures within urban environments designed to support cycling as a mode of transportation. This includes infrastructure built uniquely for cycling use (ex: cycle tracks and bike paths) or infrastructure that serves multiple users (cyclists, pedestrians, cars etc.) but specifically make accommodations for cyclists through painted lanes, signage, roadway pavement markings, or other traffic calming measures aimed specifically at making a road or pathway usable for cyclists.

Examples of cycling infrastructure in scope include painted bike lanes, multi-use bike paths, local street bikeways, or gravel paths where cyclists are permitted.

Instrument design

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Sampling

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: November 01, 2023 to February 01, 2024

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Individual open datasets were downloaded from their respective government open data portals.

The bulk of data integration involved manually interpreting each data provider's individual naming conventions and re-classifying them to fit a standardized nomenclature. Ultimately, 317 different naming conventions were assessed and reclassified to fit eight Can-BICs infrastructure categories. Where possible these classifications were validated using Google Street View and satellite imagery.

Other integration steps involved filtering out any data that didn't refer to cycling infrastructure or infrastructure that was inactive or decommissioned. The data was also de-duplicated.

The data was spatially assigned to census subdivision (CSD) and census metropolitan areas (CMAs).

Error detection

The data were subject to several rounds of validation. First, a Google Street View check was conducted for at least one segment of each route type for each municipality. Street view imagery was used to manually validate that the nomenclature being used by each municipality - ensuring that data was correctly re-classified into the standardized categories.
The data was also geographically validated to ensure that all the data fell within Canada's spatial boundaries.

Finally, the data and classification was reviewed by several external teams including members of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Cities, Health, and Active Transit (CHATR) lab and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC).

Imputation

In general, the data represents what is available from the original sources without modification. The exception to this includes the assignment of infrastructure classification, standardization of surface type and width variables, and the addition of CSD names.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

The data were subject to several rounds of validation. First, a Google Street View check was conducted for at least one segment of each route type for each municipality. Street view imagery was used to manually validate that the nomenclature being used by each municipality - ensuring that data was correctly re-classified into the standardized categories.

Columns were assessed to ensure entries were valid and in the expected format. Missing values in each column were counted and any records with missing geometries were dropped. The latitude and longitude of records were checked to ensure that they fell within a valid range. Any data points that fell outside Canadian boundaries were dropped.

Disclosure control

This methodology does not apply.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data accuracy

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.