Biking on the St. George campus
Biking is one of the fastest-growing transportation modes in Toronto and an important one for many students, faculty and staff on the St. George campus.
Stay safe while biking
Obey all traffic signs, signals and laws. Learn about bike laws in Toronto.
Stay alert, communicative and predictable when sharing the road with drivers and pedestrians.
Yield to pedestrians and walk your bike when necessary. You cannot ride your bike within a pedestrian crossover to cross the street, within a crosswalk at any intersection or location with traffic signals or on sidewalks. Learn how to keep yourself safe while biking.
Never ride a bike on campus sidewalks unless they’re designated as bike lanes with pavement markings.
If biking in the evening, wear light-coloured clothing or reflective fabric that glows in the dark.
Bike safety accessories
It is highly recommended that adults wear a helmet that fits correctly while biking. Children aged 17 and under are required to wear a helmet while biking.
Per Ontario Ministry of Transportation guidelines, a bike must be equipped with a white front light and red rear light or reflector. These lights must be in use half an hour before sunset or half an hour after sunrise.
A bell or horn and white reflective tape on the bike’s front forks and red reflective tape on the rear forks are also required by Ontario law.
Parking your bike
The St. George campus has designated bike parking locations. Don’t park your bike on a stairway, foyer or corridor.
The City of Toronto has public bike parking facilities. Learn more about the city’s bike parking programs.
Bike theft
You can reduce the chance of your bicycle being stolen by taking preventative measures, such as using a good lock and locking techniques and registering your bicycle with the Toronto Police.
If your bike is stolen on campus, call Campus Safety at 416-978-2222.
Use Bikechain's services
Bikechain is an on-campus educational bicycle repair space and shop that offers a variety of services, including:
- Free bicycle rentals for students
- A do-it-yourself shop where you can learn to fix your bicycle with the aid of experienced mechanics
- Monthly workshops on bicycle safety and maintenance
- Leadership, employment and volunteer opportunities for students
Book an appointment online and visit them at 230 College St. (Huron Street entrance).
No bike? Rent from Bike Share Toronto
If you don’t have a bike, Bike Share Toronto is a great option. Bike Share Toronto embraces a cost-effective, convenient, healthy and green way to travel the city on a bike.
There are over 50 bike share stations on the St. George campus. Discounted annual memberships are available to anyone with a U of T email address — that’s all U of T students, staff and faculty. Enjoy a 20% discount for their Annual 30 and Annual 45 memberships, as well as 50% off e-bike per-minute rental rates.
Navigating the city
The Toronto cycling map shows on- and off-street bikeways, suggested routes, and connections to work, school, shopping or exploring the city.
The city also maintains a network of winter cycling routes that receive snow plowing, salting and snow removal.
Biking for sustainability
Cycling is the most sustainable means of travel. With the right planning, it can be safe, practical and convenient for all.
Cycling promotes physical, social and mental health. It helps reduce car use, enhances mobility and independence and is economical for both public and personal budgets.
Biking is a form of self-care that can simultaneously help our planet be more sustainable.