Would it surprise you to learn that the best city to live in if you’re an avid cyclist in Canada isn’t Vancouver or Victoria in the western province of British Columbia? Turns out our nation’s capital is the best city to live in if you love bicycling.
According to Statistics Canada’s household and environment survey, Ottawa has the largest active cycling population in Canada. The data shows that 33% of the city’s population chooses two-wheeled transportation making it the best city for cyclists in Canada.
Ottawa Ontario
Ottawa is Canada’s capital, in the east of southern Ontario, near the city of Montréal and the U.S. border. Sitting on the Ottawa River, it has at its centre Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums such as the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in summer and ice-skaters in winter.
Halifax Nova Scotia
Halifax, an Atlantic Ocean port in eastern Canada, is the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. A major business centre, it’s also known for its maritime history.
The city’s dominated by the hilltop Citadel, a star-shaped fort completed in the 1850s. Waterfront warehouses known as the Historic Properties recall Halifax’s days as a trading hub for privateers, notably during the War of 1812.
Vancouver British Columbia
Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport in British Columbia, is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities. A popular filming location, it’s surrounded by mountains, and also has thriving art, theatre and music scenes. Vancouver Art Gallery is known for its works by regional artists, while the Museum of Anthropology houses preeminent First Nations collections.
Montréal Québec
Among the most scenic bike paths is the Lachine Canal multipurpose path – beginning in the Old Port of Montréal, it runs for almost 15 kilometres along a still-functioning boat canal, past the Atwater Market, and all the way to the Musée plein air de Lachine in the west, a beautiful sculpture garden right on the river.
A city with over 435 miles of bikeways and known as North America’s cycling capital, Montréal is a vibrant and captivating city of diverse cycles and stunning views offering an abundance of new and historic sights.
