What do all these numbers actually mean?
The total number of bike passages per year is an interesting metric, but it should not be interpreted as the total number of cyclists in Montreal. Bike counters simply register when a bicycle passes a sensor. The same cyclist may be counted multiple times during a single trip if they pass several counters.
Yearly totals should also be interpreted with caution when comparing trends over longer periods. As shown in the last chart, the number of bike counters changes over time. Some counters are temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, some are removed, and new counters are regularly added to the network.
The dataset also does not account for changes to the cycling network itself. For example, a counter may record fewer cyclists after a new bike path opens nearby, as riders shift to a safer or more direct route. Weather also plays a major role in cycling activity, and conditions can vary significantly from one year to the next.
What can this dataset tell us?
Despite these limitations, the data provides valuable insights into cycling patterns in Montreal:
- Which days of the week and hours of the day see the highest cycling activity.
- How cycling activity changes throughout the seasons.
- The growing presence of winter cycling, even during Montreal’s coldest months.
- The intensity of bicycle traffic during commuting hours.
- Which corridors and neighbourhoods experience the highest cycling volumes.
- How cycling activity evolves over time at individual counter locations.
This report is updated weekly. Feel free to visit again to see how cycling activity evolves throughout the year.