Markham, Ont. cyclists are about to get a lot more room to breathe. A new round of federal–municipal funding—just over $2.2 million—will bring nearly nine km of protected bike lanes to seven corridors across the city, reshaping some of Markham’s busiest east–west and north–south routes. This is good news for the city–especially as other parts in the province are seeing cycling infrastructure under threat.
The upgrades stretch across multiple neighbourhoods. On each of these streets, the city plans to reorganize traffic lanes. That also means adding new pavement markings, and installing signage to carve out dedicated space for cyclists.
For a city known for growth (and congestion) this marks a notable shift. Protected lanes have been central to Markham’s Active Transportation Master Plan, but progress has been..inconsistent. This latest project gives the network a meaningful push forward.
Federal officials framed the investment as both climate action and quality-of-life improvement. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson called cycling “an important way of getting around for many Markham residents.” He added that safer lanes “encourage more people to get out and ride.”
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That, he said, in turn cuts emissions and reduces traffic. Fellow MP Helena Jaczek described low-carbon mobility as “essential to Markham’s future” and said the new corridors offer “more choice in how people travel” while supporting healthier daily routines.
At City Hall, Mayor Frank Scarpitti pointed to the broader goal of giving residents practical alternatives to driving. The expanded bike network, he said, strengthens connections between neighbourhoods and “makes it easier for people of all ages to be active using low-carbon options.”
More than half of the funding—$1.335 million—comes from the federal Active Transportation Fund, with the City of Markham contributing $890,000. The ATF has become Ottawa’s main vehicle for supporting bike infrastructure, walking routes, and other human-powered mobility projects across the country.
Construction timelines haven’t been announced yet, but once the paint dries and barriers are in place, Markham riders will finally gain something they’ve long been asking for: a safer, more coherent grid of bike-friendly streets.
Meanwhile, the city of Toronto has found a workaround to add 20 km of bike lanes, given Premier Doug Ford’s continued fight to control or kibosh them. Montreal, however, has a new administration that seems determined to reduce or remove lanes from the previous one. Thankfully, locals aren’t letting that happen without a fight.