STUDY HIGHLIGHTS
PROFILE
- Two-thirds of cycle tourists are between 46 and 65 years of age. There are slightly more
men (54%) than women (46%) in this group.
- Cycle tourists in Quebec are highly educated: more than two-thirds have a university
degree. Cycle tourists from outside Quebec have a higher annual income than those who
live in the province. 52% of respondents from outside Quebec earn $100,000 or more a
year, compared with 35% of local cycle tourists.
- Cycle tourists from outside Quebec hail primarily from Ontario (44%), the northeastern
U.S. (19%), other U.S. states (17%), other Canadian provinces (9%) and Europe (9%).
TRIP
- The average trip length is 4 nights for cycle tourists from Quebec, compared with
7 nights for their counterparts from outside Quebec.
- Nearly half of cycle tourists said they biked 200 km or more during their trip. This
percentage is higher among tourists from outside Quebec (56%) and Route verte users
(54%).
- Most cycle tourists use road bikes (48%) touring bikes (24%) and hybrid and city bikes
(19%).
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
- The Route verte enjoys strong brand recognition: 95% of cycle tourists were familiar
with the network and 65% indicated that they made the Route verte part of their most
recent trip.
- Cycle tourists opt for a variety of accommodations options. Campgrounds are popular,
especially among younger cyclists (43%).
- B&Bs and hostels enjoy widespread use especially by tourists from outside Quebec
(41%) and those travelling primarily by bike (29%).
- 38% of tourists who stay at Bienvenue cyclistes!–certified accommodations do so as
part of a bike trip lasting 5 days or longer.
SPENDING
- Average spending per trip for bicycle tourists and their families in Quebec is $675, or an
average of $214 per day.
- Cycle tourists in Quebec spend a little more (6%) on average than other leisure
travellers, all markets combined. Accommodations (43%) and restaurants (23%) make up
the bulk of their expenses.
- Tourists from outside the province and those in the 56–65 age bracket are the biggest
spenders, with $240 in daily spending on average.
DESTINATIONS AND SEASONS
- Nearly two out of three cycle tourists said they planned to return to the regions they
visited in the next two years.
- Quebecers tend to make trips involving one or more overnight stays during the summer
months (June–August). Tourists from outside Quebec also enjoy these months, but show
a preference for September.
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
- Satisfaction with the cycling experience in Quebec is excellent, with an overall rating of
9/10. The four aspects that are the most satisfying to tourists are the natural scenery, the
accommodations, the safety and the quality of the cycling facilities.
- Overall, travellers from outside Quebec are more satisfied with the various aspects of
their cycling experience than tourists who call the province home.
- Suggestions for improving the cycling experience in Quebec tend to focus on the quality
of the roads, the width of the road shoulders for cyclists, motorist courtesy and signage.
“More bicycle trails that are paved and physically separated from the roadway” is
something many users hope to see.