We recently moved from Victoria to the Lower Mainland, and with that came a sense of losing the bike-friendly accessibility we had gotten used to. The vastness of Vancouver, its busy streets, and the fact that we now live on top of Burnaby Mountain made the idea of biking anywhere a bit daunting. However, we also knew that the Vancouver area has an expansive bike network and a high-quality transit system, so we wanted to see what was possible.
With the summer coming to a close, and our fridge empty of fresh produce, we set our sights on the Trout Lake Farmers’ Market. We had heard that it was a popular market with a beautiful lakeside setting, but didn’t expect the incredible vibrancy and community energy that we discovered. And we learned that getting around by a combination of biking and transit is not only easily achievable, but enjoyable and gratifying.
We began our trip at the top of the mountain, the morning light illuminating the quiet streets and inviting us to explore. The mountain has a network of paved pathways, providing a choice of connections to the bottom. We chose one of the pathways, and followed it down the mountain to connect with a designated bike route, consisting of several low-traffic neighbourhood streets with speed humps to slow down vehicles.
From there, we connected to a freshly-constructed multi-use pathway on Sperling Avenue, a welcome sight as we approached the busy road. Most people don’t feel comfortable cycling on the road in busy traffic, and separated infrastructure provides a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
Our goal was to get to the Central Valley Greenway, a regional connection that runs from New Westminster, through Burnaby, all the way to downtown Vancouver. It was a short climb over a walking and cycling bridge that led us to a beautiful pathway, adjacent to the rail tracks and lined with trees.
Rail corridors are common places to construct multi-use trails, as it’s otherwise unlikely to find long stretches of uninterrupted space in an urban setting. In the case of the Central Valley Greenway, you have a recipe for a prime active transportation corridor, with the alignment generally following the Skytrain network, and linking a multitude of important regional destinations, as well as Skytrain stations and bus stops.
For the most part, the greenway was completely separated from vehicle traffic, which made it feel incredibly safe. We saw a mix of kids biking along, their parents a healthy distance behind them – a strong indicator of a comfortable bike route. Not only did it feel like an escape from the loudness of the city, but we got the sense that the greenway is well-loved and functional. From friends out for a jog to families running errands, this corridor serves a purpose for everyone.
Once we got off the Central Valley Greenway, it was a short ride through traffic-calmed neighbourhood streets, bustling with the activity of families biking to and from the market, going about their daily errands, or just generally getting out on one of the last sunny Saturdays of the year.
As we arrived at the farmers’ market, it was clear how much the city had embraced the bicycle as a mode of transportation. Temporary bike racks had been put out in the park next to the farmers’ market and were filled with bikes of all shapes and sizes. We saw families unloading their kids from their cargo bikes, and others loading fresh produce into their bags – a general sense of calm and community that you don’t feel when parking your car in a busy parking lot.
The market itself did not disappoint. Busy, but not overwhelming. Mountains of fresh farm goods lined the stalls, the flowers and produce as vibrant as the atmosphere, and the scents of food trucks filling the air.
We grabbed a pair of iced coffees and a sandwich from a food truck (Jack & the Bean Coffee and Shameless Buns), and found a quiet spot on the grass to fuel up for the journey home.
To get home, we decided to put the city’s transit network to the test, both to shorten the trip time and avoid the massive climb up Burnaby Mountain. We navigated to the nearest Skytrain station, a short bike ride away along the same traffic-calmed neighbourhood streets we’d arrived on. When we got to the station, we noticed we weren’t the only ones who had this idea. There were several others bringing their bikes onto the Skytrain. We heard that this isn’t normally allowed during peak commuting times, but it was fine on a Saturday afternoon. The atmosphere in the Commercial-Broadway station was surprisingly inviting, with live music playing and the sun glimmering in through the glass.
When we got to our stop, we hopped off the train and it was a short walk to the bus stop where we only waited a minute or two for the RapidBus. The best transit systems work when you don’t have to check the schedule – you can just show up and know a bus or train will be there shortly. Once the bus arrived, it was as simple as putting our bikes on the front (which is easier than it looks), and riding all the way up to our doorstep at the top of Burnaby Mountain.
This trip inspired us to do more trips across the region using a combination of our bikes and the transit system. Not only did we avoid the traffic congestion the region is infamous for, we got the sun on our faces and our bodies moving. What could have been a chore turned into a day of exploration and movement. None of this would have been possible without the bike infrastructure to take us to the market, and a reliable transit system to take us home.
This story was written by Khal and Talia. You can find more of Khal’s work at www.kjoy.ca