Friday June 21st is the annual Bike to Work Day with numerous activities offered this week.
The secret to a successful commute is finding a route you are comfortable with. Google will happily produce the shortest path for you but you may find yourself playing chicken with semi-trailers on major thoroughfares like Portage, Pembina or Kenaston.
If you design your own route, you will probably feel safer and actually enjoy the ride. We’ve attached a sample itinerary.
Sorry, Provincial employees-we know that given some of your distances, Moped to Work might be more appropriate.
–Courtesy Bike Unlimited
Bike Commuting: Southwest Quadrant-Charleswood to Downtown
Mile Zero: 7:25 am. Darkest East Charleswood.
Grant & Chalfont: 1.25 km. wheel onto the paved bike path on the south side of Grant to the Mennonite University and north beside the Tuxedo Golf Course. Occasional golf balls found beside the path are a fringe benefit.
Assiniboine Park, South Gate: 3.69 km. Blissfully empty in the early morning with the dew shining on the grass. Roll north to the pavilion and hang a right. At this hour there are no boom-boxes to bother the animals in the zoo.
TransCanada Trail: 4.95 km. From the East Gate of Assiniboine Park on Wellington Crescent you access the beautiful winding riverbank path that is part of the Trans-Canada Trail. It can get slippery after rains push out forest floor detritus onto the pathway-watch those curves in the woods. Squirrels make occasional attempts to throw themselves under your wheels. A few pelicans are on the river in season.
CPR Assiniboine River Bridge, between Renfrew and Lindsay: 7.22 km. You can ride right across to Omand’s Creek Park on the attached pedestrian bridge. Watch for oncoming bike traffic-it’s a bit narrow. Nice view of the river and no shortage of “artwork” on the bridge’s ironwork.
Option: take the road more travelled and keep going on Wellington past Mansion Row before crossing the river at the Maryland Bridge.
Omand’s Creek Footbridge: 7.92 km. The little bridge crossing the creek is low so if the river is at flood stage you make a detour loop north to Portage and back down Raglan Road.
The Granola Belt: cruise the length of Wolseley past Misericordia Hospital to Furby. Hardly any traffic and you’ll appreciate that wonderful canopy of elms to shade you on hot days on the way home. You finally see some street life, more bikes and dog walkers are out.
Option: jog one block north to Westminster after Dominion Street. You run into a bit more vehicle traffic but get to make a great pit stop.
Tall Grass Prairie Bakery: 9.83 km. You can smell it two blocks away. The bakery opens at 7 am. Do yourself a favour and pick up something to take to work-you deserve it.
Maryland: 10.50 km. This is only your first traffic light since Roblin and Shaftesbury. Keep going east via Balmoral and Mostyn to the Granite Curling Club.
Granite Curling Club: 11.25 km. Actually you turn off at the small park on the west side of the Granite. The paved trail curves along the riverbottom forest under the Osborne Bridge to the start of the River Trail.
The River Trail: 11.87 km. The only gravel on the trip but you’re still cruising if it is at all dry. The rising sun shimmers on the water. Family troops of ducks do sail pasts. And you see a few of the same old faces fishing day after day.
Flood option: if the River Trail is underwater, take the Assiniboine bike lane to the Main Street crosswalk and the Forks.
The Forks: 12.98 km. If you’re going to Portage and Main or the Exchange keep right on rolling. Follow the River Trail north and loop under the Provencher Bridge. The view of St Boniface on this stretch is one of the few vistas in Flat City. If you’re still hungry, the Tall Grass Prairie outlet in the Forks opens at 7 a.m.
Waterfront Drive, Baseball Stadium: 14.05 km. You arrive at the House That Sam Built. If you want to lord it over the motor vehicles take a few laps on the Bannatyne/Waterfront traffic circle . Hog an entire lane guilt free because they can’t do 360s any faster than you.
Main Street, The Exchange: 8:10 am. 14.86 km. The finish line.
Main Street-you made it!
