Vancouver is a beautiful city to discover on bike with it's stunning sightlines and geography. As the city has leaned into cycling, electric bikes have become much more popular for both residents and tourists as a way to move around the city in a fun and efficient way.
Vancouver's Best Electric Bike Trails
Here are some of the top trails and routes to explore in Vancouver:
Stanley Park Seawall
This is a must-visit for any cyclist in Vancouver. The 9-kilometre seawall loop around Stanley Park offers stunning views of the city, mountains, and ocean. It's entirely paved and flat, making it a perfect route for e-bikes.
False Creek
The route around False Creek offers stunning views of the city's skyline and includes a ride past Granville Island. This trail is mostly flat and is perfect for a relaxing ride.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Offering over 54 kilometers of trails in a lush, forested setting, Pacific Spirit Park is an excellent place to escape the city. While some trails might be challenging, many are suitable for e-bikes.
BC Parkway
This 18-kilometre trail runs along the SkyTrain from Vancouver to New Westminster, passing through beautiful parks and neighbourhoods.
Central Valley Greenway
This 24-kilometer trail runs from Vancouver to New Westminster, passing through various parks, including the Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
Burrard-Lougheed Bikeway
This is a well-marked route stretching from Vancouver through Burnaby to Port Moody.
UBC Loop
This 20-kilometer loop around the University of British Columbia is a great way to explore the campus and the surrounding area.
Electric Bike Infrastructure in Vancouver
Vancouver has been working to improve its infrastructure for e-bikes in recent years. The city has been building new bike lanes and paths, as well as upgrading existing infrastructure to make it more accessible and safe for e-bike riders.
One of the most significant infrastructure projects has been the expansion of the city's bike lane network, which now includes over 400 km of on-street bike lanes and paths. This includes the installation of dedicated bike lanes on busy streets, as well as the creation of greenways.
Additionally, the city has been working to improve the charging infrastructure for e-bikes. Vancouver has installed over 100 publicly accessible e-bike charging stations throughout the city, providing a convenient way for riders to charge their e-bikes while out and about. Some bike-share companies have also started to install e-bike charging stations at their docking stations.
Vancouver and British Columbia have also been trying to encourage e-bike use through several consumer incentives that provide discounts and/or rebates on e-bike purchases to speed up the adoption curve.
Vancouver's Electric Bike Tours
Vancouver's Best Electric Bike Shops
Vancouver is home to many great local bike shops that offer a wide range of products and services. Here are a few examples of well-regarded shops in the city.
Simon's Bike Shop
Located downtown on Robson Street, Simon's Bike Shop offers a wide range of electric bikes that you can see if you call ahead. If you are looking for top-of-the-line electric mountain or road bikes this is a great place to start your search.
West Point Cycles
West Point Cycles has multiple locations in the city and another shop in Langley. They offer Trek and Electra e-bikes and the accessories that you will be looking for. They are also good shops to take your electric bike for service or any repairs.
Dunbar Cycles
Dunbar Cycles is one of the oldest and one of the best bike shops in Vancouver, located on Broadway. They offer one of the best selections in the city including electric bikes for different specializations, an extensive selection of apparel and cycling accessories, and a full-service centre. They also have options for those who want to finance a purchase or rent.
Norco North Shore
Norco North Shore is one of the best bike shops in North Vancouver. They offer e-bikes for both mountain and urban environments. You can also go here for convenient rental options or any of your service needs.
Steed Cycles
Steed Cycles is a North Vancouver cycling shop that has been in business for over 25 years. They have a comprehensive selection of electric bikes across all price points, brands, and rider niches. You can also find replacement parts, accessories, and apparel at this shop.
Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, Vancouver has many more electric bike shops, each with their own specialties, and friendly environment. I recommend you to visit a few of them, and get a feel for the atmosphere and the type of products that they carry.
Renting an Electric Bike in Vancouver
There are a variety of places to rent electric bikes in Vancouver. Some of the options include:
Independent E-Bike Rental Options
Vancouver has a plethora of independent e-bike rental companies and tour operators. Some of the options include: Coastal Cogs, Bee's Knees, Cycle City, Yes Cycle, Jo-e Cycles. Zygg offers longer term rental options for delivery sector workers looking to use an e-bike.
Local Bike Rental Shops
Many Vancouver bike shops, like Norco North Shore and Dunbar Cycles, offer e-bikes for rent. You can find these shops all throughout the city, but they are especially prevalent in tourist areas, such as Stanley Park or Granville Island.
Bike-Sharing Companies
Bike-sharing companies like Mobi and Lime provide electric bike rentals in Vancouver. There are locations where you can grab and go throughout the city. Both are extremely easy to use once you get familiar with either app.
Hotels and Tour Operators
Some hotels and tour operators in Vancouver offer e-bike rentals to guests. If you're staying at a hotel or planning a tour, be sure to ask if they have e-bikes available.
Vancouver's E-Bike Rules and Regulations
In Vancouver, e-bikes are subject to the same regulations as traditional bicycles. This means that they can be ridden on bike lanes and paths, and require riders to wear a helmet. E-bike riders do not need a driver's license or registration. However, they are restricted to a maximum speed of 32 km/h. To ride an electric bike in Vancouver you must be over 16 years old.
British Columbia has taken a lot of steps to help electric bike buyers. Electric bikes, like most other bicycles in the province, are now exempt from PST. The province has also rolled out a generous rebate program for electric bikes. Individuals can receive anywhere from $350-$1400 in rebates when they buy a new electric bike over $2000. Similarly, businesses can get up to a $1700 rebate when they buy a cargo e-bike.
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