Vancouver and Lower Mainland Weekly Rides

 

Every Sunday, rain or shine, the weekly ride in the Vancouver
area leaves Starbucks Coffee shop on Ontario St., south of Ma‐
rine Dr. at the Canadian Tire entrance at 10:00AM. (Oakridge
Centre, the old starting point, is undergoing major redevelopment
and is not accessible for the foreseeable future.) The route, using
designated bike routes, usually heads south on Ontario St. to
Kent Ave. and east, through South Burnaby and to the Queens‐
borough Bridge. We meet others at the south end of the bridge at
11:00AM. It’s then on to Richmond, usually via Westminster Hwy.
or River Rd. and south along Sidaway and west along the Fraser
River to the south end of No. 2 Rd. for lunch — picnic tables
along the River’s edge. There are a couple of spots to pick up
baked goods and a beverage. (The ride may change, once leav‐
ing Queensborough, if the riders decide on another location in
Richmond.)
We return to Vancouver via Railway Ave. and the Canada Line
Bridge. The ride is approx. 60km with speeds varying with the rid‐
ers.
If you’re parking your car at Starbucks be cautious as the parking
lot has a time limit. “On street” parking is ok but check the sig‐
nage.
This ride is certainly varied as it passes through a rapidly chang‐
ing residential area — a growing number of condos and higher
structures. Near the Fraser River you cycle through an industrial
area interspersed with some farmland. Once over the Queensbor‐
ough Bridge the ride goes along the Fraser River and through
both industrial and agricultural areas. A similar environment con‐
tinues into Steveston and then through suburban residential areas
to the North Arm of the Fraser before crossing into Vancouver. If

the ride becomes onerous or you’d like to take it easy you can al‐
ways use public transit. The Canada Line stations are on No. 3
Rd. in Richmond and at Cambie & Marine and stops at 49th, 41st,
King Edward, Broadway before going downtown.
For more details please contact Allan Buium at 604-875-6335.