Quebec City, Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - The Colloque «Le vélo : solution et destination» organized by Vélo Québec has just come to a close. Participants⸱es are leaving with heads full of ideas for continuing the development of cycling culture in Quebec. The event was inaugurated by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, and continued today with an inspiring talk by the Mayor of Quebec City, Bruno Marchand, who unveiled the new identity of the Vélo Cité Corridors, now renamed VivaCité Corridors. This not-to-be-missed event explored three major themes: sustainable mobility, leisure and tourism, while highlighting the central role of bicycles in social issues. Vélo Québec would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank Quebec City for hosting the symposium.
Cycling: a solution
Bicycles are an effective response to complex challenges. Whether it's reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health, promoting economic mobility or fostering regional development, it offers concrete solutions to many challenges. This is clearly demonstrated by the following data:
- Mobility 36 % of Quebecers live within 5 km of their workplace, and between 18 % and 25 % of these trips could be made by bike.
- Environment The growth of cargo bikes and cyclologistics (freight transport) is helping to reduce emissions from the transport sector, which accounts for 43 % of GHGs in Quebec.
- Health Regular cycling prevents 724 deaths every year, generating an estimated economic value of $2 billion a year.
- Economy 1.44 $, each dollar spent on cycling represents a gain of 0.19 $ for society.
Cycling: a destination
At the same time, cycling is increasingly becoming a destination for thousands of Quebecers and foreign visitors alike, to the point of becoming a thriving industry in Quebec's wider tourism ecosystem. Cycling tourism in Montérégie generated $132 million in economic spin-offs in 2023.
The colloquium also marked the 10th anniversary of the Québec mountain bike association, which, with its 5 centers, has carved out a place for itself as one of the most recognized destinations in North America. Enlightening data on the growth of mountain biking in Quebec were also shared. According to a recent study by the Institut Léger, 5 % of adult Quebecers were mountain bikers in 2022. This upward trend reflects the growing popularity of this outdoor activity, which combines adventure and physical exercise. View a complete portrait of mountain bikers in Quebec.
Redefining the electrically-assisted bicycle (EAB)
Vélo Québec also presented its official position on the regulation of electrically-assisted bicycles, calling on the government to legislate without delay to ensure their harmonious development. In addition to its recommendations on the characteristics of EABs as such, Vélo Québec reiterated its two requests for regulatory relief, namely :
- Lower the minimum age for VAEs to 14
- Create a category for self-service bicycles, limited to 25 km/h and exempt from the helmet requirement.
To read all the recommendations, read the full brief.
Thanks to our partners
The «Le vélo : solution et destination» symposium receives financial assistance from the Quebec government under the Action-Climat Québec program, and is in line with the objectives of the Plan pour une économie verte 2030. The symposium is also made possible by the support of its Platinum partner Hydro-Québec, its Gold partners Destination Québec Cité and àVélo, and its Silver partner Éco-compteur.
