The easiest way to get more exercise in Toronto without finding extra time is to make part of your commute active: walk the last stop or two of your TTC or GO trip, bike on days when the weather allows, and use the PATH downtown when it doesn’t. A brisk 20-minute walk each way, five days a week, adds up to more than 150 minutes, the weekly amount Canada’s guidelines recommend. Pick the option that matches your commute distance and add it two days a week to start.
Does commuting count as exercise?
Yes. Canada’s 24-hour movement guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous activity and explicitly include activity in different contexts, including transportation. Brisk walking and cycling both count when they raise your breathing and heart rate.
What a commute won’t do is replace strength training. The guidelines also call for muscle-strengthening at least twice a week. Active commuting covers the cardio side, so your gym time can go to lifting.
Choose by commute distance
| One-way distance | Best active option | Time each way, roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 km | Walk the whole way | 25–35 min |
| 3–8 km | Bike or Bike Share, or walk one way and transit the other | 15–30 min by bike |
| 8–20 km | Transit plus walking the first or last 1–2 km; bike on good days if routes allow | Adds 10–20 min to your usual trip |
| GO commuter from the 905 | GO train to Union, then walk or Bike Share to the office | 10–20 min of walking or riding |
| Driving | Park 10–15 minutes from the office, or at a TTC station a stop or two out | Adds 10–15 min |
You don’t have to do it every day. Two or three active commutes a week is a real change.
Walking: the last stop and the PATH
The simplest version: get off the subway or streetcar one or two stops early and walk the rest. On many downtown and midtown routes, the distance between subway stations is short enough to walk in 10 to 15 minutes.
In winter, the PATH is the downtown commuter’s advantage. The City describes it as a mostly underground pedestrian network spanning more than 30 kilometres of walkways (City of Toronto, PATH). Coming in to Union on the GO, you can walk to many of the office towers in the core without going outside. Taking the long route through the PATH turns a 3-minute transfer into a 15-minute walk.
Good shoes matter more than anything else here. Keep your office shoes at work and walk in comfortable ones.
Biking: your own bike or Bike Share
The City builds and maintains bike lanes and multi-use trails and publishes cycling network maps (City of Toronto, Cycling in Toronto). Check the map for a route that uses separated lanes or trails, even if it’s slightly longer than the direct one; you’ll ride more often if it feels safe.
If you don’t own a bike, Bike Share Toronto says it has over 10,000 bikes and more than 1,000 stations across the city (Bike Share Toronto). Prices on its pricing page as of October 2026:
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go, classic bike | $1 to unlock + $0.12/minute | Trying it a few times |
| Pay-as-you-go, e-bike | $1 to unlock + $0.20/minute | Hills, hot days, arriving dry |
| Day pass | $15 for unlimited 90-minute classic rides | A one-off day |
| Annual 30 | $105/year, unlimited 30-minute classic trips | Short regular commutes |
| Annual 45 | $120/year, unlimited 45-minute classic trips | Longer commutes |
For a GO commuter, docking a Bike Share bike near Union and riding the last stretch to the office can be quicker than the subway transfer at rush hour, and it adds a ride to your day.
For longer weekend rides that build fitness, see Toronto cycling for fitness.
A sample active-commute week
For someone who takes the subway 6 km to a downtown office and works from home on Fridays:
| Day | Commute |
|---|---|
| Monday | Subway in, get off two stops early and walk (about 15 min). Subway home |
| Tuesday | Bike Share both ways on a separated route if the weather is good; otherwise walk the last two stops both ways |
| Wednesday | Subway in, walk the PATH the long way to the office. Walk home part way |
| Thursday | Same as Tuesday |
| Friday (home) | A 20-minute “commute” walk before starting work |
Pair that with two or three strength sessions a week and you’ve met the guidelines without a single extra gym trip for cardio.
Making it work in a Toronto winter
- Layers, not a heavy coat. You warm up within 10 minutes of walking.
- Winter boots with good grip, or ice cleats that slip over shoes on icy mornings.
- A backpack so your hands are free on ice.
- Switch modes, don’t stop. If biking stops in December, walk the last stop instead. Keep the habit.
If you run in winter too, winter running in Toronto covers routes and gear.
Start with two days
Pick two days next week and make one leg of your commute active. You may find the walk or ride becomes the part of the day you look forward to. If you’d like a coach to fit your commute, training and eating into one plan built around your work schedule, coaching for busy professionals is available in person in Toronto or online across the GTA. For more on walking as a fat-loss tool, read walking for weight loss over 40.
Questions people also ask
Is biking to work in Toronto realistic for someone over 40?
For many people, yes, especially on routes with separated bike lanes or trails. An e-bike, including Bike Share Toronto's e-bikes, removes most of the sweat and hill problems. Start with one or two days a week in good weather and build from there.
Can I walk to work in winter in Toronto?
Yes, with the right boots and layers, and downtown the PATH lets you cover a lot of distance indoors. On icy days, walk part of the way on transit routes and use the PATH for the rest.
Does active commuting count as exercise?
Yes. Canada's movement guidelines count activity across contexts, including transportation. A brisk 20-minute walk each way adds up to more than 150 minutes over a five-day week. It doesn't replace strength training, though.
How much does Bike Share Toronto cost?
As of October 2026, pay-as-you-go is $1 to unlock plus $0.12 a minute on a classic bike, a day pass is $15, and annual memberships are $105 or $120 a year depending on ride length. Check the Bike Share Toronto site for current prices.