Cycling Around Vancouver

I have to admit I’m not as an a ardent cyclist as I used to be,  but I still enjoy the occasional spin around the Sea-wall or along False Creek and Coal Harbour.  There are lots of safe cycling paths in Vancouver, if you aren’t (like me) inclined to enjoy riding in traffic.

During the 2010 Olympics people were asked to consider taking their bikes, walking or using public transit instead of bringing their cars into the city.  The suggestion was well received, and many people discovered the joys of cycling in Vancouver. So during this coming weekend, when we’re celebrating Earth Day why not take your bike out, or rent one, and go for a refreshing ride to see the sights.

I usually take a Sunday bike ride on  one of my favorite cycle routes,  along Crab Tree Park from the foot of Main St. toward Canada Place (map), then with a little re-routing you can connect with the Coal Harbour seawall path that leads you right into Stanley Park (map). Or sometimes I ride along the foreshore route on McGill St. to New Brighton Park (map) in East Vancouver.

An alternate plan is a ride around False Creek, either toward Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Centre (map) from Science World (map), or the other direction, past the Olympic Housing toward Granville Island (map). There are other routes beyond this too, heading along the seawall to the beaches of Kitsilano, Locarno, Jericho and Spanish Banks and UBC.

I haven’t cycled in Pacific Spirit Regional Park (map), but I’ve been along the eastern bike route that parallels the sky train toward New Westminster.

There are many routes and you can find all the information you need here.

You can also take your bike on public transit in order to get to the most ideal cycling trails and avoid all the busy downtown traffic.

City Bike Rentals: Stanley Park,  English Bay, Vancouver, City by Cycle

Cycling Route Planner

Transit Info for bikers

Cycling Vancouver Information

Outside the city there are plenty of choices as well.

Cycling the River: Touring around Steveston, B.C. (map)

For just $7 an hour you can pick up a cruiser bike at Steveston Seabreeze Adventures and set off on an interesting scene and historical tour of this old fishing village and the paths along the river and dykes.  The paths are well travelled and flat so it’s an easy ride.

You can either pedal west along the dyke or east along the river path to London Farms, one of Steveston’s famous heritage attractions, just fifteen minutes from the town.  The farm house is now a designated heritage site.

Cycle back, and view the eagles nesting in trees across the river. Steveston was once a thriving fishing village and a Japanese settlement.  There is little left of the residences except one small house once the home of the Murakami family who lived at Britannia and operated boatworks from the late 1920’s until their internment in 1942.  Just next door is the historic Britannia Shipyards, all that survives of a mix of canneries, boatyards and residences with some of the oldest heritage buildings found along the river.

Farther west, stop for fish at chips at one of the most notable of Steveston’s chip shops, Pajo’s an award winning outside restaurant at the Government dock.  Next door is the big Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a National Historic site and museum.

Keep on cycling around Garry Point Park and out along the dykes. After your day of roaming the river is over you’ll head back to the City feeling as though you’ve been on a vacation.  What a grand way to spend a day so close to home!

Bike rentals:

Steveston Seabreeze Adventures

12551 #1 Road, Bldg 42

info@seabreezeadventures.ca

London Heritage Farms:

6511 Dyke Rd.

londonhf@telus.net

Britannia Heritage Shipyard

5180 Westwater Dr.

britannia@richmond.ca

Pajos