Bringing your bike with you to Nanaimo? Or maybe you're looking for a more affordable option than renting a car. Either way, we have you covered!
Find the best bike paths and how you can navigate the city by bike below in our blog below!
Rentals
Didn’t pack a bike? Let's fix that. Head on over to Hub City Cycles for a daily bike rental, with a choice of an e-bike or a standard bike.
Not located in the downtown area or looking for a “grab and go” set-up? Evo Bike Rentals offers e-bikes and cargo bikes throughout the city. Just check out their map of stations and pick up a bike!
Now that you have your bike, it's important to make sure that it is kept safe. If you are staying at the Best Western Dorchester Hotel, they offer complimentary bike storage.
Plenty of shopping centres and parks also have bike racks; we suggest getting a U-lock to best prevent bike theft.
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Urban Biking
Nanaimo has plenty of dedicated bike trails throughout the city. These trails are usually painted green or have a bike lane symbol on the pavement.
These trails are not only great for a morning ride but also connect different places of interest. This makes it easy to see the city without having to go by car.
The Parkway Trail runs along the Parkway Highway in the shade of the woods surrounding it. Mostly flat, this trail provides easy access to Colliery Dam, Morrell Sanctuary, Westwood Lake, Vancouver Island University, Buttertubs Marsh, Bowen Park, Millstone, and the Harbourfront
The E&N Trail runs along the Island Highway and the old railway. Covered by trees and lined with bushes, this path hardly feels like it is in a city. Connecting to shopping centres, like Country Club Centre, Brooks Landing, and a connector to Woodgrove Mall
The Trans Canada Trail joins together the Parkway Trail and the Bowen Park Trail, making it easy to travel into the heart of Nanaimo. This trail is forested, goes by Extension Ridge, Haslam Creek, and the Abyss, a large earth fissure in the bedrock
Bowen Park Trail winds through the leafy Bowen Park with an outdoor pool, disc golf, and volleyball. This trail connects neighbourhoods and shops to the downtown area
The Harbourfront Trail follows the edge of Nanaimo’s Harbourfront with stunning ocean views, wildlife, and access to parks and shops; this is the main trail in downtown Nanaimo
Beban Park Trail stays within the beautiful park with waterfalls, trees, and local wildlife. This trail has access to soccer fields, indoor pools, community gardens, and a BMX track. There is a connector to the E&N Trail as well
Westwood Lake Trail goes through the forest with stunning views of Westwood Lake. This trail has access to washroom facilities at Westwood Lake and a connector to the Parkway Trail for easy access
Beyond these trails, there are also protected bike lanes which you’ll find on Albert Street, Front Street, Metral Drive, and Rutherford Road.
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Stay Safe!
Make sure you wear a helmet, know your hand signals, stick to the right, and follow trail and road speed limits.
