Cycling Into Fall

Late summer and early fall is my favourite time of year to cycle in Vancouver the weather is cool and crisp and the sun is still shining and the leaves are beautiful.

If you’ve just moved to town for school or need a break, a weekend ride is a great celebration of the last afternoons of summer.  Before you set out to ride though, a couple of notes - bike helmets and lights are required by law in BC.  Helmets - make sure you’ve got one and it fits well. Lights are required for anyone cycling from sunset to sunrise so if you’re going late get your lights charged up and don’t forget to turn them on.

Our two recommended rides for a leisurely afternoon are Stanely Park in Vancouver, a picturesque ride along the seawall with views of the North Shore Mountains, downtown Vancouver and English Bay, or Steveston a smaller fishing community at the south end of Richmond where you can ride the dykes with views over the salt marshes and Strait of Georgia. Picking which one to do first might be the biggest challenge.  Both routes are accessible by transit which means you can get there using your UPass.

Stanley Park Seawall with Lions Gate Bridge | Active KSA

STANLEY PARK

The seawall around Stanley Park making a loop from West Georgia St and Denman St is about 10km around and there are some small hills and the route is fully paved. Bike rentals are available at Denman and Georgia and a two hour rental will get you around the park with time to stop for lots of photos. There are a few spots where you’ll have to get off your bike and walk where there are significant pedestrian volumes crossing the cycle path.  For a detailed route map: http://www.letsgobiking.net/intermediate/stanley-park-circle-vancouver-bc/?_sf_s=stanley+park

Richmond West Dyke  | Kevin Eng

STEVESTON

Riding along the dykes in Steveston you can go north, towards the Vancouver International Airport and watch the planes fly in and out against a backdrop of the North Shore Mountains and the strait, or ride east along the south arm of the Fraser River past the historic fishing villages of Steveston. Both directions warrant beautiful views and gravel or paved flat cycling routes suitable for all levels.  Bike rentals are available in Steveston and depending how far you want to go two hours is a good start.  

For routes try: http://www.letsgobiking.net/beginner/8-steveston/?_sft_location=richmond http://www.letsgobiking.net/beginner/9-west-dyke-trail-richmond/?_sft_location=richmond

When summer slips away, Vancouver quickly enters rainy season - a significant change in weather that warrants a change in cycling style too.  

Here are our top 5 tips for getting ready to cycle in the fall:

• Watch for leaves and early season rains - the roads get really slippery and you’ll need more distance to stop and turn.
• Get visible - Make sure your have your bike lights charged and ready to go, you need them from dusk until dawn and on a rainy day, any time of day really. If possible get a light coloured pannier cover and bike jacket to improve visibility.
• Dress in layers and carry a toque and gloves
• Get a rain cover for your pack or bag so your spare clothes arrive dry
• Maintain your chain and make sure to wipe the gunk off your bike

Even if you think you’re visible you could probably be more visible | change.org

Looking to cycle to campus? Here are the on-campus cycling resources:

• Bike Lockers are available for rent on all four KPU Campuses - http://www.kusa.ca/multipass/BikeLockers.html
• Lockers to stow your gear are available for free from Member Services on each campus.
• Bike repair stations are available on all four KPU campuses. They have an air pump, rack for supporting your bike and basic tools to do repairs or maintenance.
  
  

Bike Repair Stations | KSA Multipass

• Showers: Surrey Campus in the Gym in Cedar Building, Langley in the Nursing Building, Cloverdale in the Gym and will be coming to Richmond when the new Chip & Shannon Wilson School of Design building is completed in 2018.
• Reflectors and bike lights: MultiPass has a variety of bike lights and reflectors if you find us at events or send us an email.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bike the Night Sept 16 - Join HUB Cycling and more than 5,000 other riders for Vancouver’s only official night ride on city streets! Experience the beauty and energy of nocturnal Vancouver at its best - by bike. Take in the city skyline as we cruise through car-free Vancouver streets and over the iconic Burrard Bridge.  KPU Students can register with us here: https://bikethenight.eventbrite.ca we’ll buy your ticket for you.  You do need to have your own bike or arrange your own rental. Non-students can purchase a ticket online at: https://bikehub.ca/bike-events/bike-the-night-presented-by-mec

 --Mairi (KSA Sustainability Coordinator)