102nd Ave, from 135 to 109 st
Submitted by: Paula E. Kirman
One of my favourite bike routes in 102 Avenue, especially between 135
Street to 109 Street. First of all, I often use this route to get
downtown - it's the easiest way to bypass busy Stony Plain Road and
Jasper Avenue. It also has a lot to do along the way - the Royal
Alberta Museum and grounds, the High Street area with coffee shops,
cafes, and some of my favourite shops, and the Railtown area also with
shops and restaurants. It's flat, paved, has few lights, and is a
generally lovely area.
One of my favourite bike routes in 102 Avenue, especially between 135
Street to 109 Street. First of all, I often use this route to get
downtown - it's the easiest way to bypass busy Stony Plain Road and
Jasper Avenue. It also has a lot to do along the way - the Royal
Alberta Museum and grounds, the High Street area with coffee shops,
cafes, and some of my favourite shops, and the Railtown area also with
shops and restaurants. It's flat, paved, has few lights, and is a
generally lovely area.
High Level Bridge to Little Italy
Submitted by: Leila Sidi
I cross the High Level bridge and follow the bike path along to 104 ave and 110 st.
From there, I cross 104 ave and turn right immediately after the GMC building on the corner of 104 ave and 109 st. There is a neat little driveway behind the building that takes you to 109 st.
I ride on the sidewalk usually to 105 ave or 106 ave and go east on 106 ave until 96 st. I go north on 96 st until 109 ave and go east for a block to end up at the Italian Centre.
I like that the route is not heavy with traffic and in some parts feels lonely and industrial. It is not obviously pretty but I find it really beautiful. 96 st is also one of my favorite streets in the city and makes the ride even more awesome.
To view map see link below:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=53.529576,-113.50909&spn=0.00368,0.01119&z=17&msid=107944199245052213182.00048e5b246c207aabcf0
I cross the High Level bridge and follow the bike path along to 104 ave and 110 st.
From there, I cross 104 ave and turn right immediately after the GMC building on the corner of 104 ave and 109 st. There is a neat little driveway behind the building that takes you to 109 st.
I ride on the sidewalk usually to 105 ave or 106 ave and go east on 106 ave until 96 st. I go north on 96 st until 109 ave and go east for a block to end up at the Italian Centre.
I like that the route is not heavy with traffic and in some parts feels lonely and industrial. It is not obviously pretty but I find it really beautiful. 96 st is also one of my favorite streets in the city and makes the ride even more awesome.
To view map see link below:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=53.529576,-113.50909&spn=0.00368,0.01119&z=17&msid=107944199245052213182.00048e5b246c207aabcf0
118th ave to Oliver Square
Submitted by: Lauren Heppell
I've got one route in particular that's my most popular, only because it takes me to work. It's the stretch of bike path between 118th avenue (starting just east of 121 st.) that goes all the way to Oliver Square. The crosswalks are all marked with lights, which is also great. One side is industrial and the other side is an offleash dog park. It's pretty great to ride to work in the morning and watch the dogs play. Most of them are pretty well trained and won't chase the bikes. There's also a pretty big magpie population there and one in particular is a mutant GIANT grey magpie. He keeps coming back every once in a while, so I assume it lives around there. One summer, a giant sunflower grew out of some gravel. This path is full of some tiny surprises.
I am thinking about going to some of the warehouse owners on the other side of the path and seeing if they would consider letting a few artists do some murals on the backs of their buildings. I think it would be a really great addition and serve to brighten up some otherwise grimey looking buildings.
I've got one route in particular that's my most popular, only because it takes me to work. It's the stretch of bike path between 118th avenue (starting just east of 121 st.) that goes all the way to Oliver Square. The crosswalks are all marked with lights, which is also great. One side is industrial and the other side is an offleash dog park. It's pretty great to ride to work in the morning and watch the dogs play. Most of them are pretty well trained and won't chase the bikes. There's also a pretty big magpie population there and one in particular is a mutant GIANT grey magpie. He keeps coming back every once in a while, so I assume it lives around there. One summer, a giant sunflower grew out of some gravel. This path is full of some tiny surprises.
I am thinking about going to some of the warehouse owners on the other side of the path and seeing if they would consider letting a few artists do some murals on the backs of their buildings. I think it would be a really great addition and serve to brighten up some otherwise grimey looking buildings.
Little Italy to "the bald prairie"
Submitted by: Ernie Klassen
I like to start at 109a av NW and head east to 92 st NW and go towards the stadium and ride through the parking lot. Then turn east on 112 Av and go until it ends at 50 st NW. Turn north and follow the road until it turns into Hwy 15 or Manning Dr. NW. Keep on going and going until you get to a railway crossing and you are on the bald prairie
I like to start at 109a av NW and head east to 92 st NW and go towards the stadium and ride through the parking lot. Then turn east on 112 Av and go until it ends at 50 st NW. Turn north and follow the road until it turns into Hwy 15 or Manning Dr. NW. Keep on going and going until you get to a railway crossing and you are on the bald prairie
108 ave between 92 st and 124 and beyond
Submitted by: Kim Smith
This route isn't a designated bike route, but it's a quick and varied way to get East-West without having to deal with the downtown, many cars, or many major intersections. Let's say you're at your counsellors on 124st and you really need to meet your aunt at the Eskimo's game. Hop onto 108th and head East. Really, there's nothing much else to say. But if one were to say more, one could say that you'd soon hit a dog area with a fence that looks like it's there to stop you from going East. Well, you'd probably be right, but there's a nice little path through the grass (super easy to see) that takes you around the fence. Then maybe you'd say, "Hey, there's a row of industrial buildings on the East, and a super yummy bike path going N-S, maybe I should take the path North instead and just navigate 111 ave." WRONG. Just keeping heading east. That building in front of you (a school board building, I believe) has a parking lot that isn't fully blocked off from the path. So after enjoying the art on the side of the building, ride on the grass a few metres just north of the building and see what I'm talking about. See that? Yup. now ride your little bicyclette through that loading area. Then of course you'll see the cemetery. Oh the cemetery, one of my favourite parts. On other routes you can bike through and hang with the many magpies and crows, but for our purposes, just go East. Yeah, it's a crappy back alley with lots of potholes, but you'll also perhaps notice amazing old cemetery buildings, say hey to the folks at the paper packing place, notice a bunch of palettes that maybe will come in useful someday, and just generally find interesting characters. Soon you'll be spit out at converging one ways, going all the wrong directions. Navigate as you will. It's just a block of weirdness and all you have to remember is Eastward bound, Eastward bound! Cross 116 st in whatevertheheck way you wanna, then you're back on a two way. Never any traffic on this road, so maybe take the stop signs with a grain of salt, but never for granted. [Say hey to the raven 'anting' on the anthill in that one yard to help it deal with mites and lice. So cool.] Eventually you'll have to cross 109 st at a pedestrian set of lights. not the flashy yellow ones, but the redyellowgreen ones. There are often breaks in traffic when I'm there, but I can't guarantee that for you. Then... keep East. Pass the Price of Whales Armoury (or pop in there to visit the city archives if you're early to meet your aunt), Victoria school, and then pop into Freecloud Records on the corner when you reach 101 st. The 101 st intersection is another great one at which you often don't need to wait for the lights to change, but just cross when there's a break. You have a stop sign but N-S it's ryg lights (and a push-button if you're desperate), so you're totally legal. After you cross, when it looks like the road turns into a back alley, it doesn't. Just keep East. You'll hit 97 st. This is the toughest of them all -- there's often a lot of traffic and not good breaks, but I've found just the wait of one light cycle of the 107/108A lights can get me across just fine, and often cars stop for you. Then keep East. Cross 95 with ease, then keep on keepin' on. To meet your aunt at the game, go North on 92 st, the East again at... hmmm... 110 Ave? 110A Ave? The one before 111 Ave, and voila, there's that stadium of green and gold where you and your aunt can have some good ol'fashund Albertan bonding time. And no parking or overcrowded LRTs to deal with. Until next time, cyclovers, Gearhead
This route isn't a designated bike route, but it's a quick and varied way to get East-West without having to deal with the downtown, many cars, or many major intersections. Let's say you're at your counsellors on 124st and you really need to meet your aunt at the Eskimo's game. Hop onto 108th and head East. Really, there's nothing much else to say. But if one were to say more, one could say that you'd soon hit a dog area with a fence that looks like it's there to stop you from going East. Well, you'd probably be right, but there's a nice little path through the grass (super easy to see) that takes you around the fence. Then maybe you'd say, "Hey, there's a row of industrial buildings on the East, and a super yummy bike path going N-S, maybe I should take the path North instead and just navigate 111 ave." WRONG. Just keeping heading east. That building in front of you (a school board building, I believe) has a parking lot that isn't fully blocked off from the path. So after enjoying the art on the side of the building, ride on the grass a few metres just north of the building and see what I'm talking about. See that? Yup. now ride your little bicyclette through that loading area. Then of course you'll see the cemetery. Oh the cemetery, one of my favourite parts. On other routes you can bike through and hang with the many magpies and crows, but for our purposes, just go East. Yeah, it's a crappy back alley with lots of potholes, but you'll also perhaps notice amazing old cemetery buildings, say hey to the folks at the paper packing place, notice a bunch of palettes that maybe will come in useful someday, and just generally find interesting characters. Soon you'll be spit out at converging one ways, going all the wrong directions. Navigate as you will. It's just a block of weirdness and all you have to remember is Eastward bound, Eastward bound! Cross 116 st in whatevertheheck way you wanna, then you're back on a two way. Never any traffic on this road, so maybe take the stop signs with a grain of salt, but never for granted. [Say hey to the raven 'anting' on the anthill in that one yard to help it deal with mites and lice. So cool.] Eventually you'll have to cross 109 st at a pedestrian set of lights. not the flashy yellow ones, but the redyellowgreen ones. There are often breaks in traffic when I'm there, but I can't guarantee that for you. Then... keep East. Pass the Price of Whales Armoury (or pop in there to visit the city archives if you're early to meet your aunt), Victoria school, and then pop into Freecloud Records on the corner when you reach 101 st. The 101 st intersection is another great one at which you often don't need to wait for the lights to change, but just cross when there's a break. You have a stop sign but N-S it's ryg lights (and a push-button if you're desperate), so you're totally legal. After you cross, when it looks like the road turns into a back alley, it doesn't. Just keep East. You'll hit 97 st. This is the toughest of them all -- there's often a lot of traffic and not good breaks, but I've found just the wait of one light cycle of the 107/108A lights can get me across just fine, and often cars stop for you. Then keep East. Cross 95 with ease, then keep on keepin' on. To meet your aunt at the game, go North on 92 st, the East again at... hmmm... 110 Ave? 110A Ave? The one before 111 Ave, and voila, there's that stadium of green and gold where you and your aunt can have some good ol'fashund Albertan bonding time. And no parking or overcrowded LRTs to deal with. Until next time, cyclovers, Gearhead
Various Routes
Submitted by: Chris Chan
I have a whole bunch of maps posted on bikely: http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/cwc
I have a whole bunch of maps posted on bikely: http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/cwc
Westmount to McCauley
Submitted by: Josh Klassen
This is the stretch of road I take home from work if i want a leisurely ride avoiding the pesky cars. i start at 114th ave and grout rd. from there i head east. following 114th. you come to a section that says buses only. but i am pretty certain that they meant to say buses and bikes(watch out for buses). continue along 114 crossing 124st at the crosswalk. at 122 st head north until the next alley heading east and take that. this alley becomes 114th ave again after crossing the bike path. follow 114th s'more until you reach tower rd(if you are hungry go left and find the yummy Pho place in the strip mall on Kingsway, otherwise continue on your way) head straight across tower road down the alley. the alley spit you out onto a street. turn left. follow this street until you come to 111th ave. cross at the pedestrian controlled lights and make left down the alley(not to be confused with the road running parallel to 111) while turning the corner make sure to turn wide and enjoy the small banked cement turn...and yell weee. follow this alley until you cant follow it anymore. you will be at 110 st. turn right and then left right away onto 110 ave. cross 109 ave at the pedestrian controlled lights. follow 110 until it ends in a parking lot. cut through the parking lot and in front of the building(watch for people coming out of the building) until you reach Kingsway in front of the Royal Alex. follow Kingsway all the way to 97(probably the worst stretch of the ride) head strait across in the right lane and do a little sneaky maneuver and you are now in McCauley...congratulations!
This is the stretch of road I take home from work if i want a leisurely ride avoiding the pesky cars. i start at 114th ave and grout rd. from there i head east. following 114th. you come to a section that says buses only. but i am pretty certain that they meant to say buses and bikes(watch out for buses). continue along 114 crossing 124st at the crosswalk. at 122 st head north until the next alley heading east and take that. this alley becomes 114th ave again after crossing the bike path. follow 114th s'more until you reach tower rd(if you are hungry go left and find the yummy Pho place in the strip mall on Kingsway, otherwise continue on your way) head straight across tower road down the alley. the alley spit you out onto a street. turn left. follow this street until you come to 111th ave. cross at the pedestrian controlled lights and make left down the alley(not to be confused with the road running parallel to 111) while turning the corner make sure to turn wide and enjoy the small banked cement turn...and yell weee. follow this alley until you cant follow it anymore. you will be at 110 st. turn right and then left right away onto 110 ave. cross 109 ave at the pedestrian controlled lights. follow 110 until it ends in a parking lot. cut through the parking lot and in front of the building(watch for people coming out of the building) until you reach Kingsway in front of the Royal Alex. follow Kingsway all the way to 97(probably the worst stretch of the ride) head strait across in the right lane and do a little sneaky maneuver and you are now in McCauley...congratulations!
Queen Mary Park
Submitted by: Kristin Westersund
I live in Queen Mary Park, and work on 178th street, so I have quite the ride. On the way to work I take my least favorite route http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/2873355 West along 107, til the bike lane on 127 south til SPR which I take all the way west to the Mayfield Common, where I cut through the parking lot, then finish my trip west on 103 Ave, it's not a scenic route, but it's fast!
I live in Queen Mary Park, and work on 178th street, so I have quite the ride. On the way to work I take my least favorite route http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/2873355 West along 107, til the bike lane on 127 south til SPR which I take all the way west to the Mayfield Common, where I cut through the parking lot, then finish my trip west on 103 Ave, it's not a scenic route, but it's fast!
97th St Bike Route
Submitted by: Sarah Janzen
My favorite route is the 97street bike route to 54 ave then over to work!
For the most part, motorists are accepting and somewhat acclimatized to cyclists, going around me in a respectful manner and the route is pretty vehicle quite!
My favorite route is the 97street bike route to 54 ave then over to work!
For the most part, motorists are accepting and somewhat acclimatized to cyclists, going around me in a respectful manner and the route is pretty vehicle quite!