Cycling Facilities

The Transportation Master Plan recommends a variety of cycling facility types to provide staff options to suit the different contexts throughout the community. Learn more about the different types of cycling facilities or paths in our community:

Paved Shoulder 

A paved shoulder is next to the road and is used by pedestrians and cyclists, stopped vehicles, and during emergencies. A paved shoulder on a designated bike route separates motorists and cyclists travelling in the same direction on roads without curbs and/or sidewalks. Paved shoulders are defined by a white line and may also include a rumble strip.

Signed Bike Route with Edgelines

An edgeline is a white painted line near the edge of the road. Signed-only bike routes in urban areas may use edgelines to create space that functions like paved shoulders. Edgelines give cyclists space outside the part of the roadway where vehicles travel, without restricting on-street parking. The perceived reduction in road width for vehicles may also have a traffic calming effect.

Bike Lane

A bike lane is part of a roadway that is only for cyclists. It features painted bicycle and diamond symbols, and is always accompanied by signage indicating that this space is for bicycles only. A bike lane is typically located on roads that have higher traffic volumes, speeds and proportion of commercial vehicles. Bike lanes are typically on both sides of two-way streets.Parking a motorized vehicle within a bike lane is strictly prohibited.

Cycle Track

A cycle track is next to the road but separated by a curb. It is only for cyclists and is separate from the sidewalk. Cycle tracks are typically installed on high volume urban arterial or collector roadways. They can be for one-way or two-way travel.

In July 2017, the City’s Traffic and Parking By-law 2010-1 was amended to allow certain appropriately retrofitted boulevards (the asphalt strip between the curb and sidewalk) to be designated as cycle tracks.

Multi-Use Path 

Multi-use paths are shared facilities that may be installed when it is not possible to provide separate space for people to walk and bike. Some multi-use paths have pedestrian and cyclist lanes marked with symbols on the pavement, while others do not. Multi-use paths may be placed in areas where there is enough room to situate the path behind drainage ditches, creating greater separation from the road.