Cycling in Edmonton

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Cyclist crossing a street near downtown Edmonton

Smiling family having lunch in front of City Hall

Cyclists enjoying sunset in the river valley

City Cycling Opportunities

Educational Opportunities

The City’s educational opportunities aim to increase comfort and confidence while cycling in Edmonton, and to raise awareness of available bike routes, rules and infrastructure.

Join a City-guided Ride-Along - Join the City’s Bike Education Street Team on rides hosted across Edmonton. Visit the City’s Bike Education Team on EventBrite for an up-to-date listing of all rides and to register in advance.
City Joy Rides - The City has created cycling routes and loops from 7 to 40 km long. Download offline maps with the mobile app, or access PDF maps. Find the right ride for you on at Ride with GPS.

Community Resource Hub

Event Calendar

YEG Bike has pulled together a calendar of cycling events in Edmonton.

Edmonton Federation of Community League Bike Month Challenge
Leagues across the city have adopted the challenge as a fun way to compete with other Leagues and promote active transportation and recreation in their neighbourhoods.

Bicycle Auctions, Swaps, and Repairs

In addition to the initiatives below, there are several local bicycle shops with helpful and qualified people to help connect you to a bicycle that meets your needs.

Alberta Bike Swap
Delivers community-based bicycle buy, sell, and donate events and resources in the form of software, bike racks, and processes to empower and enable Albertans and Canadians to embrace a cycling lifestyle.

Bicycle Auctions
When the Edmonton Police Service cannot identify a bike's owner, they go to the Property Exhibit Unit, and if they go unclaimed, they go to auction. Bicycle auctions are hosted by Michener Allen Auctions. If you are interested in attending a bicycle auction, please call 780-470-5584 for auction details.

Bike Edmonton
Refurbishes and sells donated bicycles. You can also sign up for a workshop to learn how to do repairs on your own.

Sport Central
Dedicated to empowering kids, one piece of sports equipment at a time. If you are a family experiencing financial hardship, you may be referred to Sport Central for sports equipment by a social service agency, school or community leader.

Educational Opportunities for Families or Children

Let’s Bike There YEG
Started by a group of Edmonton moms using cargo bikes to carry kids/groceries/whatever. We are a group for people wanting to bike for the everyday!

Ever Active Schools
Supporting the implementation of a variety of cycling initiatives, including safe cycling education, cycling clinics, guided rides, and bicycle rodeos as part of a school's action plan.

Pedalheads
Offers a bike camp with eight instructional levels which take kids from training wheels to trails.

Argyll Velodrome Association
Offers all age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities.

Bike Edmonton
Maintenance classes, cycling courses, youth and adaptive programs and operates two workshops with all the tools needed to get the job done.

You Can Ride 2
A charitable program of Goodwill Industries of Alberta that offers children with disabilities the opportunity to find joy and freedom through movement by reducing barriers to riding a bike.

Mountain and Dirt Clubs

BMX Racing Club
Allows riders to race as fast as they can over dirt jumps, around banked corners, and across the finish line.

Cranky's Bike Shop
Offers all age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities.

Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance
Offers riding opportunities for and improving mountain biking in the Greater Edmonton area.

HardCore Cycle, Mud Sweat and Gears and Pedalhead Bicycle Works
Offering all age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities.

Revolution Cycle
Offers a variety of riding opportunities including Women on Wheels, and road and mountain biking.

SheShreds
Offers groups for beginner and intermediate riders.

Women on Wheels YEG
A mountain bike club for women of all experience levels.

Road and Track Clubs

Edmonton Bicycle and Touring Club
A recreational not-for-profit volunteer-run group that runs bicycling trips year round.

Edmonton Road and Track Club
All age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities.

Juventus Cycling Club
All age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities. Check out the club programs for Sprockids introduction to cycling for kids ages 8-11.

Masters Cycling Club
Road racing opportunities and training for cycling strength for riders 30+ years of age.

Red Bike
All age groups and genders riding and racing opportunities.

Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club
Weekly group cycling in Edmonton and the surrounding areas. Most groups ride twice a week for 2-3 hours with a coffee stop.

Semi Social Cycling Club
A low-pressure way to get outside and make friends.

Peace Ave Cycling Club
A way to meet friends and explore Edmonton. Rides weekly on Wednesdays from spring to fall.

Edmonton's bike lanes are enjoyed by many cyclists

Bike Maps and Routes

Bike route maps and information on how to navigate bike routes across Edmonton.

Edmonton Bike Plan

The Edmonton Bike Plan and the Bike Plan Implementation Guide provide direction for how biking fits into our city and support the City's vision of a connected, accessible city.

Active Transportation Network Expansion

Edmonton’s active transportation network is being expanded with routes that are safe, accessible and predictable for people of all ages and abilities.

Bike Parking

Find parking locations and request a bike rack.

E-bikes and E-scooters

E-bikes and e-scooters are a great way to enjoy the outdoors, be active and move around the city.

Vision Zero

Edmonton's goal is Vision Zero: zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2032.

Cycling Infrastructure

Bicycle Signals

Bicycle Signals illustration

Bicycle signals are located throughout the city’s bike network. When present, refer to these signals when crossing intersections.

Bike Triggered Crossing - Signal with Sensors

Bike-triggered crossings help people cycling to cross at intersections.

On Your Bike:

Watch for a blue light and a "Bike Detected" sign
If you have been detected, the light will turn blue
Cross when the pedestrian signal turns to a “Walk” light

Bike Box

Green Bike Boxes painted in a driving lane allow people cycling to do two things:

Pull in front of waiting traffic at a signalized intersection, making people cycling more visible and giving them a head start when turning or going straight
Make safe turns by using it as a Bike Turn Box

If the Light is Red

Enter the Bike Box and position yourself in your direction of travel
When the light turns green, proceed as normal

Videos

Get Behind It - The Bike Box 3 Way Intersection

Get Behind It - The Bike Box 4 Way Intersection

Bike Box Video: Turning Left on a Red

Bike Box Video: Turning Right on a Red

Bike Box Video: Turning Left on a Green

Bike Turn Boxes

Green Bike Turn Boxes painted at intersections provide people cycling with a safe way to turn left or right. These boxes can be found in the bike lane or in a driving lane.

On Your Bike:

Move into the green box found either in a bike lane or driving lane
Position yourself in your new direction of travel and wait at the red light
When the light turns green, proceed through the intersection
When stopped at an intersection, do not stop on the "X"

Videos

Note: Crossing two lanes of traffic to make a left or right turn from a protected bike lane is not permitted.

Bike Turn Box Video - Turning Left

Bike Turn Box Video - Turning Right

Green Stripes at Intersections

Green Stripes

Striped green paint indicates that a bike lane is crossing an intersection or accessway such as an alleyway or entrance into a parking lot.

On Your Bike:

Look both directions when crossing

Two Stage Crossings

A two-stage crossing

Two stage crossings allow people to pause between crossing each direction of traffic and narrow the street to calm and slow traffic and shorten crossing distance.

On your bike:

Check for drivers and yield before crossing one lane at a time.

Raised Crossing at Bus Stop

Bike Network - Raised Crossing at Bus Stops

A raised crossing brings the level of the roadway to that of the adjacent bus stop. Transit users will be getting on and off the bus at this location.

On Your Bike:

Slow down and yield to pedestrians getting on or off the bus

White Squares at Crosswalks - Shared Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossings

When a shared pathway crosses an intersection, the crosswalk may be lined with white squares. The Elephant feet markings indicate that you are in a shared space.

On Your Bike:

Yield the right-of-way to vehicles unless otherwise indicated by a traffic control device such as a sign or signal
Be aware of others
Enter the cross when it’s safe to do so
At a crosswalk with a pedestrian light, cross when the walk light is on

Bike Lanes and Paths

Contraflow Lanes

ContraFlow Lane

These lanes are installed on some one way streets to give bikes a dedicated lane to ride against the flow of traffic.

When you bike with traffic:

Share the lane with vehicles

When you bike against traffic:

Travel in the contraflow bike lane. A single or double solid yellow line on the road separates the bikes in the contraflow bike lane from the cars.

Painted Bike Lanes

Dedicated bike lanes photo
Painted bike lanes reserve space on the road exclusively for bikes

In Your Car:

When you are driving beside a painted bike lane, you need to pay special attention when turning right at an intersection or accessway such as an entrance into a parking lot or driveway
Wait for the solid line to become dashed, shoulder check to look for a cyclist and then, when safe, enter the lane

On Your Bike or In Your Car:

Bike lanes are dashed before an intersection to indicate to cyclists where a left turn bay starts

Protected Bike Lanes

A protected bike lane

Protected bike lanes are on-street bike lanes protected from moving and parked vehicles by a physical barrier. Protected bike lanes may allow for travel in one or both directions.

On Your Bike:

Watch for signs and paint symbols indicating the direction of travel

In Your Car:

Look both directions and yield to bikes when crossing and turning

Summer Streets

A seasonal program to support active modes of travel and provide more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors during the warm season.

A vehicle lane is converted for people to use for physical activity; similar to a shared pathway, they can be used to cycle, run, walk and more
Temporary flex posts are installed to separate mobility lanes from vehicle traffic so people can bike, scoot, roll and walk comfortably and safely in a separate lane
The speed limit on the adjacent roadway is reduced to 40 km/h where the lane is not separated by a median
Temporary ramps are set up at the access points allowing pedestrians, bikes, strollers, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices to move from the curb to the street pavement or vice versa

Shared Roadways

Shared use lane how to photo

People cycle and drive along the roadway. These routes are marked with blue or green bike route signs or painted markings on the roadway.

The Safe Passing Distance Bylaw provides clear guidance for how much room people driving need to leave to safely pass people biking on the street.

Watch Pass Safe, Leave Space

In your vehicle:

Pass safe, leave space; leave 1 metre between you and the person biking where the speed limit is 60 km/h or less, and 1.5 metres where the speed limit is greater than 60 km/h
You may cross the solid yellow line, when safe, to give the required space
People biking or scooting on the street may be riding in the middle of the lane to avoid obstacles and debris close to the curb
Wait until it’s safe to pass, it won’t add much time to your trip

On your bike:

The road marking guides where its best to travel on your bike
Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid obstacles and to help people driving see you
Ride in a straight line, rather than weaving in and out of parked vehicles

Road Markings and Street Signs

Bike Sign Single File Sharrow

Shared Pathways and Trails

A paved shared pathway

Shared pathways, which are paved, and trails, that are hard packed with gravel, wood chips or dirt, are for many activities. You can bike, walk, run and more.

On Your Bike:

Use the path to travel in both directions
Ring your bell to pass
Slow down and pass on the left
Yield to slower users

On Your Feet:

Be aware that others may choose to pass you on your left

In Your Car:

Check both directions and check for bikes when crossing a shared pathway

Shared-Use Sidewalks

Some sidewalks may be designated as Shared Pathways or Shared Use Sidewalks. Watch for signs. Shared-use sidewalks are typically 2.5 m or wider and are marked with signs that indicate that they are shared. Watch for signs.

A complete list of shared-use sidewalks is available under Bicycle Highways in the Traffic Listing Document.

On your bike:

Yield to pedestrians on shared-use sidewalks and ring your bell before passing
Bicycles with wheels less than 50 cm in diameter, such as children's bicycles, are permitted on any sidewalk

Rules and Regulations

The Province of Alberta Traffic Safety Act, the City of Edmonton Traffic Bylaw #5590 and the City of Edmonton Parkland Bylaw #2202 contain formal regulations regarding bicycle traffic and use of transportation and parkland facilities.

All bicycles:
- 1 to 2 headlamps
- 1 red tail lamp
- Must have 1 red reflector mounted on the rear
- Be equipped with 1 bell or horn
- Working brakes, steering and brakes that will lock wheels on dry, clean, level pavement
Wearing a helmet if under the age of 18 or when operating a power bike* or e-bike*
*Rules & Regulations Applying to Small Vehicles
Alerting people ahead of them before passing

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. They're allowed on all roads as well as shared pathways, bike lanes, and bike routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to ride my bicycle on a sidewalk?

Shared-Use Path Sign Cycling on the sidewalk is not permitted except for bikes with a 50 cm wheel diameter or less, such as kids’ bikes.

Here are a few risks of riding on the sidewalk:

Drivers are not expecting cyclists to be on the sidewalk, increasing chances of collisions when drivers are entering or exiting alleys and parking lots
Sidewalks are narrow and full of obstacles, which creates potential conflicts between people walking, biking, driving, wheeling, getting on and off buses, or emerging from building entrances

Some sidewalks may be designated as shared sidewalks and shared pathways. Watch for signs.

Are people using mobility scooters permitted to use bike lanes?

Based on the Traffic Safety Act, all rules that apply to pedestrians also apply to individuals operating mobility aids, therefore people using mobility aids are not permitted in bike lanes and should use the sidewalk instead.

May I take my bike on the LRT or on the bus?

If you are travelling on transit with your bike, more information can be found at Bikes and E-scooters on ETS.

Benefits of Cycling in Edmonton

City Plan envisions a city that is more equitable and affordable, where people aren't paying more than 35% of their income on housing and transportation, and 50% of all trips are made by transit or active transportation. Learn how Edmonton is supporting transportation for everyone, no matter how they move.

Cycling in Edmonton

Educational Opportunities

Community Resource Hub

Cycling Infrastructure

​On Your Bike:

If the Light is Red

Videos

On Your Bike:

Videos

On Your Bike:

On Your Bike:

On Your Bike:

Bike Lanes and Paths

When you bike with traffic:

When you bike against traffic:

In Your Car:

On Your Bike or In Your Car:

On Your Bike:

In Your Car:

Road Markings and Street Signs

On Your Bike:

On Your Feet:

In Your Car:

On your bike:

Frequently Asked Questions

Benefits of Cycling in Edmonton

Related Links

On Your Bike: