Ajax has once again been named a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community, keeping a designation the town has now earned three times since it first reached the level in 2017.
The recognition comes from the Share the Road Cycling Coalition as part of its 2026 Bicycle Friendly Community Awards, presented each year at the Ontario Bike Summit. The program honours municipalities that show leadership in building safe, accessible and connected communities through cycling infrastructure, education, planning and public engagement.
Daily Durham reported that Ajax is one of seven Ontario municipalities currently holding Silver status, alongside Whitby, Burlington, Caledon, Hamilton, Mississauga and Oakville.
What earned Ajax the designation
Communities applying for the awards are assessed on several fronts: infrastructure, education, encouragement, enforcement, equity, planning and evaluation. Ajax scored particularly well for a cycling network that now stretches more than 180 kilometres, as well as an e-scooter and e-bike pilot program that has recorded more than 70,000 trips since it launched in 2023.
Mayor Shaun Collier said the recognition reflects "our ongoing commitment to making Ajax a better-connected and accessible community," noting that continued investment in cycling creates more opportunities for both residents and visitors.
"our ongoing commitment to making Ajax a better-connected and accessible community"— Mayor Shaun Collier, quoted by Daily Durham
Active Transportation Coordinator Armi De Francia said maintaining Silver status acknowledges the ongoing work to improve cycling conditions across the town. De Francia was also honoured at this year's Ontario Bike Summit with the Norma Moores Award.
Where Ajax stands in the province
While Ajax held its Silver position, other Ontario municipalities moved up in the 2026 awards. Toronto and Kitchener earned Gold status, while Ottawa and Waterloo achieved Platinum, the program's top tier.
For local cyclists, the designation is a signal that Ajax's growing web of paths, lanes and trails continues to meet a provincial benchmark for safety and accessibility — and that town staff intend to keep building on it.
