Victoria to Vancouver

This leg of the trip is quite straightforward. The Lochside Trail is a combination of smooth gravel path and quiet residential roads- all at rail grade. Not much explanation is required, but if you have not cycled this route before, bring a GPS for navigation as there are some twists and turns along the way that might not be intuitive. Take care at the entrance to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal as there is a dedicated bicycle entrance off Dolphin Rd. Budget your time wisely as you don't want to miss the ferry due to a flat tire or taking too many photos of picturesque landscapes! Enjoy the ferry ride, get some coffee, and don't forget to pause Strava.

There are many bridge options for crossing the Fraser River but the closest crossing to get to Richmond is actually the George Massey Tunnel - and cycling through the tunnel is strinctly not permitted (nor sane). Instead, Translink operates a complimentary Shuttle service for cyclists. Check the website for schedule and location details.

Getting from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to the shuttle pick-up location can be a tight schedule. The route is a mix of mellow farm roads and some short urban connector trails. If you don't have enough time to make the next shuttle (and the wait for the following shuttle is too long), head over to the excellent Stir Coffee House in the township of Ladner. Outdoor seating makes this an excellent stop in the summer.

Once you arrive at the shuttle pick-up location, actually catching the shuttle is quite straighforward. You'll be picked up on Highway 17A, near an office/commercial space (this is a temporary location). Bike goes on a flatbed trailer, rider goes in the van.

From the Shuttle drop-off location, it's quick work to get to Garry Point Park and then hope on the beautiful West Dyke Trail. If you've only ever driven through Richmond to visit Ikea (or its fantastic restaurants), the natural beauty that Richmond has to offer will be a shock. Recent improvements to the Middle Arm Trail, with its thoughtfulness towards preserving the shoreline, make cycling through (okay, around) Richmond a real treat.

But all good things come to an end. You'll return to some urban road riding before crossing the North Arm of the Fraser River via the North Arm Bridge Bikeway.

Back to gritty urban streets to weave yourself to the Arbutus Greenway. You won't stay on it for long as you need to hop off at Kerrisdale in order to head west to UBC and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. A wonderfully forested park with large gravel paths that is surprisingly still open to cyclists given how heavily used the park is. Take care to share the trails thoughtfully with pedestrians!

Once you pass through UBC, you'll end up on the Spanish Banks heading toward Kitsalano. On a warm summer day, these beaches come alive with beachgoers basking in th sun, playing volleyball, eating concession snacks, and just having fun. You'll need some patience as you cycle along the bike path and contend with slower moving traffic.

You are almost there! Take the Burrard St Bridge to get to the Beach Avenue Bike Route and you'll be in Stanley Park in no time!