In Victoria, you can pedal the Seaside Touring Route, Galloping Goose or Lochside trail.<\/p>\n
In Kelowna, pick the Mission Creek Greenway, Rail Trail or the Myra Canyon.<\/p>\n
We’re pointing out the two cities’ most famous cycling arteries because there’s a new ‘best cycling cities in Canada’ top 10 list.<\/p>\n
Victoria tops the list and Kelowna is nowhere to be found on the list.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But, lists are lists.<\/p>\n
It all depends on the criteria, rankings and weight of the data collected to determine where — or where not — a city may land on the list.<\/p>\n
This latest list was compiled by Compare the Market — a comparison website for insurance, loans, credit cards, utilities and wifi.<\/p>\n
Not exactly a cycling expert, but the list is interesting for its metrics and results.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Victoria is crowned Canada’s most bike-friendly community with an overall cycling friendliness score of 60.71 out of 100 based on five criteria.<\/p>\n
The five are, 7% of residents cycling regularly, the cycling population coming in at 27,807, a total bike network of 2,085 kilometres, a bike network per 10,000 capita number of 52.5 and monthly internet search interest per 10,000 capita at 331.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg, Quebec City, Halifax, Hamilton, Edmonton, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancovuer and Montreal round out the top 10 list with overall scores ranging from 58.6 to 52.08.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The City of Kelowna pegs its bike score at 56, which would put it No. 4 on the list.<\/p>\n
But, alas, the Compare the Market list doesn’t rank Kelowna.<\/p>\n
The City of Kelowna also boasts that it has the most extensive bicycle network in Canada for a city its size with 400 kilometres of bike lanes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bike lanes come in myriad formats from paved and unpaved multi-use pathways and protected bike lanes to painted bike lanes.<\/p>\n
Examples of multi-use paved pathways that are off-street and physically separated from traffic include Waterfront and City parks, Gordon Drive in the Mission, across the Bennett Bridge and portions of the Rail Trail.<\/p>\n
Examples of unpaved pathways include the Mission Creek Greenway and parts of the Rail Trail.<\/p>\n
Protected bike lanes are on the street, but separated from vehicle traffic by curbs, ballards or parked cars and include stretches of Ethel Street, Sutherland Avenue and Abbott Street.<\/p>\n
Painted bike lanes are separated from traffic by a painted line and are either one side or both sides of the street along Kelowna’s major thoroughfares like Bernard Avenue, sections of Gordon Drive and Glenmore Drive.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Both Kelowna and Victoria have stunning scenery, ideal for viewing from a bike.<\/p>\n
But, Victoria has milder winters, which contributes to more year-round cycling in the capital compared to Kelowna.<\/p>\n
While cycling is touted as environmentally friendly and good for your health, the reality is very few commute primarily by bike in either Victoria (7%) or Kelowna (4%).<\/p>\n
So, there’s more recreational riders and they are usually making trips that are 10 minutes or less each way along mostly flat and urban paths or trails.<\/p>\n
To put this all in perspective, Utrecht, Holland is ranked the No. 1 ‘best cycling city in the world’ with 48% of its population regularly cycling and a cycling friendliness score of 93.56 out of 100.<\/p>\n
Remember, Victoria’s score was 60.71 and Kelowna’s 56.<\/p>\n
Numbers are and aren’t important.<\/p>\n
What’s important is you ride your bike whenever you want for commuting or pleasure and there’s a bike lane or path to take you where you are going safely.<\/p>\n
Happy cycling!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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