TCT in Vancouver

My advice - and I think because it's also against the law to cycle on Route 1 divided highway - is to avoid the Trans-Canada Highway east of Vancouver to Hope. You can do just as well going along the north side of the Fraser River, though for actual routes you might have to go a-googling.

Check out the BC ferries website also for maps, routes and schedules. By bike it's a lot cheaper by car, that's for sure!

If you want to cycle between Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, take the lower route along Marine Drive. Tight in places, but at least it's not on the upper levels highway - lots of traffic and a long hill both ends.

If you are on the Sunshine coast, don't miss the Skookumchuck Rapids - if you catch it at the right time, you will see a waterfall in the ocean - a drop of a good two metres - kicking up sea spray with a tremendous roar as the tide pours through the narrows. I'm sure there are good viewing times posted somewhere online. It's quite spectacular.

North of Victoria to Parksville the road is crowded, though there might be cycling trails. Traffic sort of thins out north of Parksville. The road to Tofino is very narrow and hilly in parts.

Thanks a lot Johnny !

We don`t want to cycle the highway. I red on http://maps.tctrail.ca/ that the Trans Canada Trail goes through Vancouver and it
should be especially for walkers and Cyclists. Am I fatally wrong ?

I will look out for the Skookumchuck Rapids - sounds great !

Cheers
Andreas

Going between vancouver and horseshoe bay is a designated bicycle route thru west van. After the lions gate bridge, head to ambleside park near Future Shop, which is visible from the bridge, and after this the route starts. You follow the signs and it winds all over the quiet residential back streets, although it does have some big climbs. But it is scenic. If given the choice I would choose Highway 1 over Marine Drive because it has very wide shoulders.

Regarding between Hope and Vancouver, all I can say is that there are designated bicycle streets from Burnaby to downtown. The big routes are on 10th avenue I think

September is a good time, kids are back to school and traffic will be a little less at times. The main roads between, Vancouver and Hope will be heavy with traffic, all the time unfortunately. There are roads you can navigate to Chilliwack and Hope that are less travelled, and very scenic, but way more time consuming. All in all, the roads will be busy and after making your way to Chilliwack, you will be biking on hwy #1 or hwy#7. Both these hwys are arterial routes, so expect heavy Truck/Trucking traffic.... how much time are you allowing to get to Hope?

I am pretty sure there is another way to get to Hope, staying off the highways. The enclosd link deals with part of what I was thinking and I sent an email to the biking association asking them for information for the above route. I pass it on when I get it.

http://www.britishcolumbia.com/recreation/

Be sure to hitt Skookumchuk when tides are changing otherwise it can be rather underwhelming, also it's a boring walk in.

This is the response I received to my query from the association.

Does he/she want to ride on pavement or dirt? (ie: Road bike, or XC/MTN bike?)

If dirt, I'd suggest looking into the Trans Canada Trail. Some of it IS on pavement, but there are significant XC-type sections. Will take alot longer, but you're out there in the woods for good sectinos of it.

If he wants to remain fully on pavement, then there's many side-streets that could be used. I've ridden from Surrey to Cultus lake on sidestreets easily.

What he is saying is that there is a route you can take to Hope staying off the main roads. If you have checked out the transCanada Trail, look some more and you might find the routes he is talking about. Good luck with it.

The trans Canada trail through Vancouver and Burnaby follows bike routes (Adanac Bike route). Personally unless you are dead-set to travel from sea to sea, I would pay to box my bike and bus to Hope from Vancouver. From Hope, the trail follows the Kettle Valley Railway. You can wild camp through a lot of the trail and its a really nice ride. grades of mostly 7% - some up to 14 and higher.

See my journal for some info and google Kettle Valley Railway for more info.

bc trails has some info

so does this guy

Many like These folks take hwy 7 when cycling from Vancouver to Hope. Its not that scenic, but it keeps you off the Hwy 1