City of Waterloo receives Ontario's first ever 'platinum' level bicycle friendly community status

The Share the Road Cycling Coalition has awarded the City of Waterloo Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community status, the highest designation awarded through the program. 

The Cities of Waterloo and Ottawa both received this milestone award at the 2026 Ontario Bike Summit, the first time since the program was launched in 2010 that any municipality in Ontario has achieved platinum status. 

The Bicycle Friendly program, administered in Ontario by the Share the Road Coalition, evaluates, ranks and awards communities on how well they support cycling as a safe, accessible and attractive mode of transportation for people of all ages and abilities.

"We’re proud to be the first mid-size city, and one of two cities in Ontario, recognized for supporting safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all,” said City of Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “People cycle, walk and roll across our community every day, in all weather. Our active transportation and cycling network has increased connectivity, availability and the affordability of travel options for everyone. Affordability and climate implications have many people looking for travel alternatives and we are proud to be recognized as a leader."

The Bicycle Friendly Community program ranks communities using criteria known as the five Es: engineering; education; encouragement; evaluation and planning; and equity and accessibility.

In 2018, Waterloo was the first mid-sized city in Ontario recognized as a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community. Studies show that a community that prioritizes and invests in convenient and safe access for cyclists is one that is healthier, safer, more equitable and more livable, which is consistent with the many goals and objectives of the City’s current Strategic Plan.

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