It’s time to get out and explore your city Calgarians! Learn all about the City’s online pathways map to chart a course for your next local adventure.
Where to find the City of Calgary’s mapping tool
According to the City of Calgary’s website, “The City maintains approximately 1000 km of regional pathways and 96 km of trails”. I’ve had many well-meaning family members and friends show surprise and concern over the fact that I bike all over Calgary. When you spend most of your time getting from point A to point B by car, it can be hard to imagine there are safe spaces for a bicycle to do the same. I have honestly been asked if I bike on Deerfoot trail, which I of course reply “never!”, not only because it is incredibly dangerous for cyclists and motorists, but also because it is in fact illegal.
So how do you know which areas of the city are safe to take your two-wheeler? By using the City of Calgary’s handy dandy maps!
The City of Calgary’s pathway maps can be accessed here: https://www.calgary.ca/bike-walk-roll/maps.html#
How to read the online mapping tool
Don’t be intimidated by the many colours displayed on the map, each colour represents a different type of path or trail. That’s right, there are five different path types which the City has rated as Most Comfortable to Least Comfortable (a nicer way of saying least risk / easiest to use to most risk / best to avoid). The map also points out important features like staircases (speaking from experience, it’s not fun to haul your bike up 50 stairs along a ridge to continue your ride), elevation (important to note for those who do not own an e-bike), washroom facilities, bike repair shops, and more! Be aware that to view the most detailed path information you should download the City’s Bike Map PDF. Let’s take a deep dive into the different paths and how to identify them.
Regional Pathway / Off-Street Pathways
Indicated by a red line on the map, these are the most abundant and generally the most well-maintained paths. They are often wide enough to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians and most have a yellow divider line down the centre. For those seeking a leisurely bike ride with nice views, these are most often your best option. Included among these are a couple of major connected pathway systems including the Rotary-Mattamy Greenway, a 145-km route maintained by the Parks Foundation Calgary, and the Trans-Canada Trail, famous for being the longest recreational trail in the world and connecting across all of Canada. You can almost bike the entire length of the Bow River via regional pathway in the City of Calgary boundaries. These paths also encircle Glenmore Reservoir, the Elbow River, and run through both Fish Creek Provincial Park and Nosehill Park.
Protected Lane
Indicated by a dark blue line with a dark border along the edge, these are paths on a roadway that have a protective barrier to prevent vehicles from entering. These are solely dedicated to bicycles and scooters so they can provide a speedy means to travel in busy areas. Since these are located on relatively busy roads, it’s important to follow all rules of the road including obeying all posted signs, traffic lights, and watching for turning vehicles at intersections when crossing.
Community Street
Indicated by a dark blue line, by taking these routes, you will be sharing a roadway with motor vehicles. Some of these roads are very quiet side streets or even service roads that tend to have lighter traffic or wider lanes. Most if not all of these streets will have some sort of signage to indicate that bikes are welcome to ride on the road and that cars should follow behind in single file. Use caution on these roads and follow all rules of the road including obeying all posted signs, traffic lights, and watching for turning vehicles at intersections.
Do you want to learn more about reading bike maps? Check out Amanda's full guide here.
