Cycling as a catalyst: expanding transit reach through active access

Cycling is gaining wide interest in cities aiming to reduce dependency on private vehicles and mitigate the environmental, economic, and social externalities of car-based mobility. In Quebec’s metropolitan regions, Origin–Destination survey data suggest that 18–25% of typical daily motorized trips could be shifted to active modes, including walking and cycling (État du Vélo au Québec, 2020: https://www.velo.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/vq-edv2020-fr.pdf). While cycling is an efficient mode for direct origin–destination travel, it also plays a key role in expanding access to public transport services, especially high-capacity or structuring networks.

This research first proposes an evaluation of the catchment areas surrounding key transit nodes in Québec City and Montréal. Using demographic data and points of interest (POIs), we estimate the coverage currently provided by active transportation networks—specifically, how many residents and destinations are accessible from selected transit nodes. Multiple catchment scales will be analyzed using a range of cost functions that reflect the perceived value of available paths, allowing us to assess the sensitivity of coverage to infrastructure quality, travel conditions, and individual characteristics.

Building on this spatial analysis, we estimate the potential for cycling–transit intermodality using data from the most recent Origin–Destination travel surveys conducted in both regions. By comparing unimodal and intermodal travel options, we aim to quantify the modal shift potential associated with improved integration between cycling and public transit.

Finally, we examine how transit and feeder bus services could be better planned to enhance access to high-capacity or structuring networks, particularly in light of seasonal variation in cycling rates. Given that winter conditions reduce the number of cyclists, a dynamic reallocation of service—enhancing bus frequency in colder months and leveraging cycling in warmer seasons—could improve overall network efficiency. This adaptive approach is especially relevant in the context of economic constraints and the urgent need to reduce transport-related emissions.