‘All Ages and Abilities’: exploring the language of municipal cycling policies

Figures & data

Table 1. Full list of Canadian municipal and regional plans used in the scan for ‘All Ages and Abilities’ language.

Jurisdiction		Publication			Mentioned in the document
Municipality	Population (2021)	Source Title	Year	Pages	All Ages and Abilities^a	Specific infrastructure as All Ages and Abilities^b	Network^c	Priority Populations^d	Equity^e
Vancouver, BC	662,248 (CSD)	Transportation 2040	2012	99	X	X	X, A	X	X
		Active Transportation Promotion & Enabling Plan: Background Report	2016	36	X	0	0	X	0
		Transportation Design Guidelines: All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes	2017	6	X	X	X	X	0
Victoria, BC	91,867 (CSD)	Biketoria: a network that moves you (Cycling Plan)	2016	150	X	X	X, A	X	X, S
		Go Victoria (Transportation Plan)	2020	73	X	X	X, A	X	X, E
Kelowna, BC	144,576 (CSD)	Kelowna on the Move: Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan	2016	132	X	X	X	X	0
		2040 Transportation Master Plan	2022	126	X	0	X, A	X	X
Edmonton, AB	1,010,899 (CSD)	The Bike Plan	2020	44	X	X	X, A	X	X
Calgary, AB	1,306,784 (CSD)	Cycling Strategy	2011	82	0	0	X, A	X	0
		Transportation Plan	2020	102	X	0	X, A	X	X
		5A Network Guiding Principles (Always Available for All Ages and Abilities) Pathway and Bikeway Plan	2021	18	X	X	X, A	X	0
Saskatoon, SK	266,141 (CSD)	Active Transportation Plan	2016	152	X	X	X, A	X	X, S, E
Winnipeg, MB	749,607 (CSD)	Winnipeg Transportation Master Plan	2011	120	X	0	X, A	X	X
		Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies	2014	344	X	X	X, A	X	X, S
Ottawa, ON	1,017,449 (CSD)	Ottawa Cycling Plan	2013	152	0	0	X, A	X	0
Toronto, ON	2,794,356 (CSD)	Toronto Ten Year Cycling Network Implementation Plan	2016	28	X	0	X	0	0
		Transportation Master Plan Final Report	2017	175	0	0	X, A	X	0
Hamilton, ON	569,353 (CD)	Cycling Master Plan Review and Update	2018	53	0	0	X, A	0	X
Kitchener, ON	256,885 (CSD)	Cycling and Trails Master Plan	2020	62	X	X	X, A	X	X, S
London, ON	422,324 (CSD)	City of London Cycling Master Plan	2016	113	X	0	X, A	X	0
Durham Regional Municipality (includes Oshawa, ON)	696,992 (CD)	Regional Cycling Plan (Durham Region)	2021	99	X	X	X	X	X, E
Oshawa, ON	175,383 (CSD)	Active Transportation Master Plan	2015	45	X	0	X, A	X	0
Windsor, ON	229,660 (CSD)	Walk Wheel Windsor Active Transportation Master Plan	2019	161	X	X	X, A	X	X, S, E
Montréal, QC	1,762,949 (CSD)	Montréal, City of Cyclists	2017	36	0	0	X, A	0	0
Québec, QC	549,459 (CSD)	Vision de la mobilité active 2023–2027	2022	40	X	0	X, A	X	X
Sherbrooke, QC	172,950 (CSD)	Plan de mobilité durable intégrée	2021	44	0	0	X	0	0
Moncton, NB	79,470 (CSD) 157,717 (CMA)	Destination 2040: Regional Sustainable Transportation Master Plan	2015	16	0	0	X	0	X
		City of Moncton Active Transportation Plan – Phase Two	2022	27	X	0	X, A	X	X
Charlottetown, PEI	Greater Charlottetown Area 78,858 (CA)	Regional Active Transportation Plan – Greater Charlottetown Area	2012	47	0	0	X, A	X	0
Halifax, NS	Halifax Regional Municipality: 439,819 (CSD)	Making Connections: 2014–2019 Halifax Active Transportation Priorities Plan	2014	91	X	0	X, A	X	0
		Halifax Integrated Mobility Plan	2017	182	X	X	X, A	X	X
St. John’s, NL	110,525 (CSD)	Bike St. John’s Master Plan	2019	125	X	0	X, A	X	X, S
Whitehorse, YK	28,201 (CSD)	City of Whitehorse Bicycle Master Plan	2018	55	X	X	X, A	X	X
Yellowknife, NT	20,340 (CSD)	Smartgrowth Development Plan Transportation Study	2010	75	0	0	0	0	0
Iqualuit, NU	7,429 (CSD)	City of Iqaluit General Plan	2010	90	0	0	0	0	0

^aList of words or phrases the plan uses to define or describe the All Ages and Abilities (AAA) design standard, AAA cycle routes, or AAA cycling networks.

^bList of cycling facilities the municipality considers to be All Ages and Abilities (AAA) (if specified).

^cX=List of words or phrases the plan uses to describe or define municipal cycling network(s). A= A flag if the source document also includes language on access to opportunities, including: work/employment, school/education, grocery stores, child care, commerce, green and blue spaces, healthcare, entertainment, civic amenities, sport and recreation.

^dThe list of the equity-deserving groups the plan identifies as requiring thoughtful design consideration to make cycling accessible. Includes segmentation of the population by age, gender, economic status, race, physical or cognitive ability.

^eEquity discussed in relation to cycling infrastructure or active transportation planning. (Sometimes as universal design or access*). ‘S’ indicates those plans that also included a socio-spatial analysis in their planning. ‘E’ indicates where equity was mentioned in relation to the engagement process.

CSD - refers to Census subdivision; CD - refers to Census division.

Table 2. Plans that explicitly defined All Ages and Abilities.

City	Type of plan	Year	Example definitions of All Ages and Abilities
Victoria, BC	Bicycle Network Plan	2016	‘The aim of the city’s planned AAA network is to provide an interconnecting system of bicycle facilities that is comfortable and attractive for a broad range of users, including women, children, and seniors…comfortable for users regardless of their ability as they provide comfort and safety through the use of high quality facilities such as protected bike lanes, off-street pathways, and neighbourhood bikeways (Victoria Bicycle Network Plan (2016), pg. 17)’.
Edmonton, AB	Bike Plan	2020
Calgary, AB	Transportation Plan	2020
Calgary, AB	5A Network Guiding Principles	2021
Saskatoon, SK	Active Transportation Plan	2018	‘Planning, design and programming that enables use by people of all ages and with a variety of physical abilities (pg. 171) … Bicycling should be comfortable and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities – from children to seniors to new bicyclists … Mobility options should provide people of all ages and abilities with the independence to pursue these activities, including those with physical, visual, auditory and mental disabilities (Halifax Integrated Mobility Plan (2017), pg. 7)’.
Kitchener, ON	Cycling and Trails Master Plan	2020
Windsor, ON	Active Transportation Master plan	2019
Halifax, NS	Integrated Mobility Plan	2017
Whitehorse, YK	Bicycle Network Plan	2018

Table 3. Specific cycling infrastructure indicated to be All Ages and Abilities.

Jurisdiction		Publication		Infrastructure indicated to be All Ages and Abilities
Municipality	Population (2021)	Source Title	Year	Neighbourhood Greenway/Local Street Bikeway	Cycle tracks/Protected Bike Lane	(Separated) Bicycle Path	Multi-use Path	Additional terms or facilities mentioned
Vancouver, BC	662,248	Transportation 2040	2012	X	X	0	0
		Transportation Design Guidelines: All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes	2017	X	X	X	0
Victoria, BC	91,867	Biketoria: a network that moves you (Cycling Plan)	2016	X	X	X	0
Kelowna, BC	144,576	Kelowna on the Move: Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan	2016	X	X	0	X	Buffered bike lanes on minor collector streets
		2040 Transportation Master Plan	2020	X	0	0	0	Specific facilities (e.g. Okanagan Rail Trail) named as being ‘an important all ages and abilities walking and bicycling connection’.
Edmonton, AB	1,010,899	The Bike Plan	2020	X	X	0	X	Local street bikeway referred to as a ‘Shared roadway’ (speed and volume of motor vehicles limited).
Calgary, AB	1,306,784	5A Network Guiding Principles (Always Available for All Ages and Abilities) Pathway and Bikeway Plan	2021	X	X	X	X	‘Twinned pathways’ instead of bicycle path; Shared spaces
Saskatoon, SK	266,141	Active Transportation Plan	2016	X	X	0	X	Local street bikeways referred to as ‘bicycle boulevards’.
Winnipeg, MB	749,607	Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy	2014	X	X	X	0	Bike paths referred to as ‘Off-street pathways’ with ‘separated bicycle and pedestrian pathways’ noted as having a higher benefit for safety.
Kitchener, ON	256,885	Cycling and Trails Master Plan	2020	X	X	X	X	Multi-use trails and Boulevard Multi-Use trails both mentioned. Bike paths referred to as ‘separated bicycle lanes’.
Durham Region, ON	696,992	Regional Cycling Plan (Durham Region)	2021	0	X	0	X	Paved/buffered shoulders in rural settings; buffered bike lanes; signed routes
Windsor, ON	229,660	Walk Wheel Windsor Active Transportation Master Plan	2019	X	X	0	X
Halifax, NS	HRM: 439,819	Halifax Integrated Mobility Plan	2017	X	X	0	X
Whitehorse, YK	28,201	City of Whitehorse Bicycle Master Plan	2018	X	X	X	X	Separated bicycle path used as an umbrella term for both bicycle paths and protected bike lanes.

Table 4. Plans that mentioned a minimum grid.

City	Type of plan	Year	Specified distance	Description
Victoria, BC	Bicycle Network Plan	2016	200–400 m	‘This network will establish a city-wide minimum grid of AAA bicycle facilities that connects residents to destinations across the city’.
Kelowna, BC	Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan	2016	400–800 m	Grid mentioned but not ‘minimum grid’.
Saskatoon, SK	Active Transportation Plan	2018	400–800 m	‘Developing a minimum grid network ensures that all residents are within 400 metres of a designated bicycle route’. Note: network includes infrastructure not considered All Ages and Abilities.
Kitchener, ON	Cycling and Trails Master Plan	2020	400 m	‘ … is intended to provide a city-wide grid network of AAA on-street cycling routes and off street trails that connects all major destinations within the city … ’
Windsor, ON	Active Transportation Master plan	2019	200–400 m	‘In the downtown core, AAA routes will be within 200–400 m’.
Whitehorse, YK	Bicycle Network Plan	2018	No distance	‘ … connected minimum grid … ’

Table 5. Priority populations included in plans that mentioned ‘All Ages and Abilities’ (n = 25).

Jurisdiction	Plan	Year	Children or youth	Seniors	People with disabilities	New riders	People who use different types of cycles	People who use other wheeled devices	Women	Immigrants or newcomers	Different cultural backgrounds	Racialised people	Indigenous people	Low-income individuals	Vulnerable populations
Vancouver, BC	Transportation 2040	2012	X	X	X	X
	Active Transportation Promotion & Enabling Plan: Background Report	2016		X					X		X
	Transportation Design Guidelines: All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes	2017	X	X	X	X	X	X
Victoria, BC	Biketoria: A network that moves you	2016	X	X					X
	Go Victoria	2020			X									X
Kelowna, BC	Kelowna on the Move: Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan	2016	X	X		X
	2040 Transportation Master Plan	2022	X	X	X									X
Edmonton, AB	The Bike Plan	2020	X	X	X		X	X	X			X		X
Calgary, AB	Transportation Plan	2020	X	X	X									X	X
	5A Network Guiding Principles (Always Available for All Ages and Abilities) Pathway and Bikeway Plan	2021	X	X	X		X	X	X					X	X
Saskatoon, SK	Active Transportation Plan	2016	X	X						X			X	X
Winnipeg, MB	Winnipeg Transportation Master Plan	2011	X	X	X
	Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies	2014	X	X	X					X			X	X
Toronto, ON	Toronto Ten Year Cycling Network Implementation Plan	2016	X						X			X		X
Kitchener, ON	Cycling and Trails Master Plan	2020	X	X						X			X	X
London, ON	City of London Cycling Master Plan	2016	X	X
Durham Regional Municipality, ON	Regional Cycling Plan (Durham Region)	2021	X	X	X				X	X		X		X
Oshawa, ON	Active Transportation Master Plan	2015	X	X							X			X
Windsor, ON	Walk Wheel Windsor Active Transportation Master Plan	2019	X	X						X			X	X
Quebec, QC	Vision de la mobilité active 2023–2027	2022	X	X	X
Moncton, NB	City of Moncton Active Transportation Plan – Phase Two	2022	X	X	X					X
Halifax, NS	Making Connections: 2014–2019 Halifax Active Transportation Priorities Plan	2014	X	X		X
	Halifax Integrated Mobility Plan	2017	X	X	X	X
St. John’s, NL	Bike St. John’s Master Plan	2019	X	X	X	X	X		X					X
Whitehorse, YK	City of Whitehorse Bicycle Master Plan	2018	X	X			X