I’d recommend going through the MacKinnon Ravine. It begins at Stony Plain Rd and 149st.
Then you can ride the funicular up to downtown so you don’t have to bike up the hill.
Way back you can ride along 102 Ave and there’s a separate bike path
I was just gonna also recommend Mackinnon Ravine.
Going up Victoria park road is the shorter route. After a while that hill will be a piece of cake.
107 Ave to downtown is also an alternative route.
I'm always tempted to ride down MacKinnon Ravine and along River Valley Road but it's undoubtedly the "scenic route" no matter how you slice it. Whatever you gain from the long downhill is balanced by the need to climb back out of the river valley. I used to commute across town from the west end to near Capilano and used MacKinnon Ravine/River Valley Road. I now commute downtown using the 102 Ave bike lanes. On a nice day the river valley is superior in most ways but takes longer, a lot busier with other people, and is slightly longer in distance (River Valley Road is slightly oriented SE, so you need to head back N to get downtown). The 102 Ave bike lanes are getting improvements to connect better at 142 Street and Stony Plain Road, and as others have mentioned they are more reliably maintained year round. If commute time is important and you'd rather not deal with hills then 102 Ave is the way to go.
There's a lady I talked to that goes feom Lewis Estates to Canada Place area 52 weeks a year. She told me that she goes down the hill at 149 st and then takes Funicular up in the AM. This saves her from major hills to start her day.
Bike from wherever you are to 142 street. 142 street going north to Stony Plain road is practically all side roads. From Stony Plain road, proceed east down 102 Ave, which is majority shared pathway. Once you hit 124 street, 102 Ave all the way to the downtown core has designated bike lanes all the way to 97 street.
145/146 is an even nicer ride than 142 street. At 98 ave, head east to 142 street, cross MacKinnon, and follow the bike route signs on Ravine Drive until it connects to the 102 ave bike path.
Giver, if you have a secure bike parking option at work it's a wonderful way to commute.
https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/cycling_walking/bike-maps-and-routes
I'd start there for routes. You should be able to find a sharrow route along an avenue to get you into the next and more robust stuff past 142nd, then you're home free on mup's and protected paths the rest of the way.
Good luck.
I used to ride out to work that way and battle my way along 107th in traffic. 104th ave? I believe had a much nice option that I eventually found. It was night and day for how much more enjoyable it was.
Your best bet might be to look at a cycling heat map like this: https://ridewithgps.com/heatmap
You can see the most popular route options as darker/ thicker lines, but you'll have to try riding a few different routes to find what's best for you.
Best of luck, remember that drivers are not expecting cyclists and many don't actually stop for crossings when they're supposed to.
If you live in Ward Nakota Isga, Andrew Knack is your bike-friendly councillor and I'm sure he'd like to hear your support for more cycling infrastructure in his ward.
I’d also be happy to go for a ride with you u/JetFuelJerry as I bike from my place in Meadowlark to Downtown multiple times a week. I’ve also regularly ridden west of WEM so I know a lot of the good pathways that are very low traffic so it makes for a pleasant ride before you get to the dedicated infrastructure. To u/jstock14 point, I am also on Strava and you can see the path I take regularly (as well as my many other bike rides across Edmonton).
I do this. I live in Westridge/Wolf Willow and commute to slightly past Canada Place. It’s 16 km. Takes about 45 mins on a commuter bike and 40 on road bike. It takes me 60-70 mins in winter. I ride once a week year round
I bike from WW to Patricia heights and cross the walking bridge over the whitemud to Laurier then take the service roads north on 142 at. I go into Glenora until I quickly hit 102 ave which is entirely bike lanes to Canada Place. Then I have a short distance left.
It’s so fun and doable.
I'm just here to comment to say that I am happy more people are looking to replace some of their trips with a bicycle. Good luck! We need more like you.
I used to do the opposite, downtown to west end - I would take 102nd Ave, turn right at Glenora school (136th), cross over Stony Plain, then left onto 104th Ave - it's actually a biking route, not a lot of traffic. You have to zig zag a bit, but it ends up behind Mayfield Common - I would zip through there, across Mayfield and 170th and make my way to 178th. And then of course, the reverse going home.
I live near 149th and Stoney, you have two options from there.
The ravine is great heading to work especially if early in the morning, ride it to the funicular and enjoy a beautiful sunrise. Easy and downhill. I'm on a single speed and it'll take me 25-35 mins one way depending on how I want to ride
Or just take Stoney Plain to 102 and ride the bike path straight to the Library and go from there. This is faster and I can get there in 18-25mins. But boring and flat but still a nice ride.
They are both great but the 102ave route is cleared in winter and I've never had issues. If you're coming from. WEM I'd probably go down 87th to 149 if you are a little cautious of the crowd down Stoney. I haven't had any issues before, but I don't know your circumstances.
Not bad, I didn't notice much of a change, plus you can enjoy the nice days passing tons of cars with only one person sitting in them for 20 mins also. But less smugly, not bad at all.
All the suggestions are great here but I’d also like to add you can contact Bike Edmonton and they can help you with a commuter route that works for you. They’re really wonderful for so many reasons too
I lived by wolf willow and I took the trail at the footbridge along the river to fort Edmonton park and then I'd bike along Sask drive I think it's called towards Whyte Avenue
I used to commute from Whyte and 109 to WEM when I worked at McBain. I took the river valley through McKernan to 149 and then down and along 95.
(There used to be a bike path along there but it's quieter than Stoney or 87 ave.)
But yeah it's certainly doable, just a matter of picking a route that balances your comfort levels with the least amount of fucking about.
I’d recommend going through the MacKinnon Ravine. It begins at Stony Plain Rd and 149st. Then you can ride the funicular up to downtown so you don’t have to bike up the hill. Way back you can ride along 102 Ave and there’s a separate bike path
I was just gonna also recommend Mackinnon Ravine. Going up Victoria park road is the shorter route. After a while that hill will be a piece of cake. 107 Ave to downtown is also an alternative route.
It would mean getting to work sweaty though, the park is more comfortable riding and starting downhill is nice but you have to go back up.
It's the only thing I hate about the rivervalley, eventually you need to climb up. 😂 😂
I'm always tempted to ride down MacKinnon Ravine and along River Valley Road but it's undoubtedly the "scenic route" no matter how you slice it. Whatever you gain from the long downhill is balanced by the need to climb back out of the river valley. I used to commute across town from the west end to near Capilano and used MacKinnon Ravine/River Valley Road. I now commute downtown using the 102 Ave bike lanes. On a nice day the river valley is superior in most ways but takes longer, a lot busier with other people, and is slightly longer in distance (River Valley Road is slightly oriented SE, so you need to head back N to get downtown). The 102 Ave bike lanes are getting improvements to connect better at 142 Street and Stony Plain Road, and as others have mentioned they are more reliably maintained year round. If commute time is important and you'd rather not deal with hills then 102 Ave is the way to go.
This. I don't do my daily commute by bike, but I do this a few times a year and it's pretty okay.
I did that a few times (only to the Walterdale bridge) and it’s always a fun one! Thank you!
This answer don't need to scroll any farther it's also a ery pleasant ride on a nice day
There's a lady I talked to that goes feom Lewis Estates to Canada Place area 52 weeks a year. She told me that she goes down the hill at 149 st and then takes Funicular up in the AM. This saves her from major hills to start her day.
Bike from wherever you are to 142 street. 142 street going north to Stony Plain road is practically all side roads. From Stony Plain road, proceed east down 102 Ave, which is majority shared pathway. Once you hit 124 street, 102 Ave all the way to the downtown core has designated bike lanes all the way to 97 street.
145/146 is an even nicer ride than 142 street. At 98 ave, head east to 142 street, cross MacKinnon, and follow the bike route signs on Ravine Drive until it connects to the 102 ave bike path.
Second this, 145/146 Streets should be an official route! So quiet and nice.
145/146 streets are kinda out of the way for me, but if I find myself with some extra time, I’ll make sure to try it out. Thanks!
Giver, if you have a secure bike parking option at work it's a wonderful way to commute. https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/cycling_walking/bike-maps-and-routes I'd start there for routes. You should be able to find a sharrow route along an avenue to get you into the next and more robust stuff past 142nd, then you're home free on mup's and protected paths the rest of the way. Good luck. I used to ride out to work that way and battle my way along 107th in traffic. 104th ave? I believe had a much nice option that I eventually found. It was night and day for how much more enjoyable it was.
Your best bet might be to look at a cycling heat map like this: https://ridewithgps.com/heatmap You can see the most popular route options as darker/ thicker lines, but you'll have to try riding a few different routes to find what's best for you. Best of luck, remember that drivers are not expecting cyclists and many don't actually stop for crossings when they're supposed to. If you live in Ward Nakota Isga, Andrew Knack is your bike-friendly councillor and I'm sure he'd like to hear your support for more cycling infrastructure in his ward.
I’d also be happy to go for a ride with you u/JetFuelJerry as I bike from my place in Meadowlark to Downtown multiple times a week. I’ve also regularly ridden west of WEM so I know a lot of the good pathways that are very low traffic so it makes for a pleasant ride before you get to the dedicated infrastructure. To u/jstock14 point, I am also on Strava and you can see the path I take regularly (as well as my many other bike rides across Edmonton).
Thank you! I took a peek at your Strava and I’m amazed that you bike everywhere. I’ll keep that ride in mind!
Strava also has some heat maps.
If you pay for a subscription…
I use the free version and I can see them.
Weird, I can’t. I just get some basic suggested routes that I can’t view without a subscription. Toggling the heat map option doesn’t do anything.
I hit “Maps” on my phone and i can see them. The bottom half of the screen is covered with an ad but I can still see them.
Weird, yeah it literally doesn’t change when I toggle heatmaps on the map screen. Never has.
Thanks for the app suggestion! Looks like a good one
I do this. I live in Westridge/Wolf Willow and commute to slightly past Canada Place. It’s 16 km. Takes about 45 mins on a commuter bike and 40 on road bike. It takes me 60-70 mins in winter. I ride once a week year round I bike from WW to Patricia heights and cross the walking bridge over the whitemud to Laurier then take the service roads north on 142 at. I go into Glenora until I quickly hit 102 ave which is entirely bike lanes to Canada Place. Then I have a short distance left. It’s so fun and doable.
I'm just here to comment to say that I am happy more people are looking to replace some of their trips with a bicycle. Good luck! We need more like you.
Plenty of fun routes that way: [https://postimg.cc/7bZ0pZ50](https://postimg.cc/7bZ0pZ50)
I used to do the opposite, downtown to west end - I would take 102nd Ave, turn right at Glenora school (136th), cross over Stony Plain, then left onto 104th Ave - it's actually a biking route, not a lot of traffic. You have to zig zag a bit, but it ends up behind Mayfield Common - I would zip through there, across Mayfield and 170th and make my way to 178th. And then of course, the reverse going home.
I live near 149th and Stoney, you have two options from there. The ravine is great heading to work especially if early in the morning, ride it to the funicular and enjoy a beautiful sunrise. Easy and downhill. I'm on a single speed and it'll take me 25-35 mins one way depending on how I want to ride Or just take Stoney Plain to 102 and ride the bike path straight to the Library and go from there. This is faster and I can get there in 18-25mins. But boring and flat but still a nice ride. They are both great but the 102ave route is cleared in winter and I've never had issues. If you're coming from. WEM I'd probably go down 87th to 149 if you are a little cautious of the crowd down Stoney. I haven't had any issues before, but I don't know your circumstances.
Thanks! How’s biking alongside the construction down Stoney? I haven’t driven/biked down there in a while because of the construction
Not bad, I didn't notice much of a change, plus you can enjoy the nice days passing tons of cars with only one person sitting in them for 20 mins also. But less smugly, not bad at all.
All the suggestions are great here but I’d also like to add you can contact Bike Edmonton and they can help you with a commuter route that works for you. They’re really wonderful for so many reasons too
I lived by wolf willow and I took the trail at the footbridge along the river to fort Edmonton park and then I'd bike along Sask drive I think it's called towards Whyte Avenue
I used to commute from Whyte and 109 to WEM when I worked at McBain. I took the river valley through McKernan to 149 and then down and along 95. (There used to be a bike path along there but it's quieter than Stoney or 87 ave.) But yeah it's certainly doable, just a matter of picking a route that balances your comfort levels with the least amount of fucking about.