COVID-19
London is now in Step 3 of the Provincial Roadmap to Reopen. In alignment with Step 3, the City of London has expanded additional in-person City services in accordance with the new regulations.
Biking in London
Bikes are fun, are more affordable than a vehicle, improve our health, and are good for our community.
The City provides over 350 km of pathways, bike lanes and cycle tracks. Our Cycling Master Plan and Transportation Master Plan outline the City’s plans toward a fully connected, accessible network that is safe for all users.
If you have questions about London's bike map, please contact cycling@london.ca for assistance.
Bike paths and cycling tracks
There are a number of local areas to explore on your bike.
Thames Valley Parkway
Situated on scenic park lands across the Thames River, the Thames Valley Parkway is the City’s primary multi-use pathway system. The current path is 40 kilometres in length, offers scenic river crossings and is linked to over 150 kilometres of additional pathways connecting all corners of London.
Learn more about a new section of the Thames Valley Parkway's north branch that has opened.
Boler Mountain
Boler Mountain has 120 acres of property, offering a beginner loop and an advanced loop for cyclists.
Fanshawe Conservation Area
Fanshawe Conservation Area offers 20 km of biking and hiking trails along three stretches of roadway where cyclists can enjoy the forests and open meadows.
Forest City Velodrome
The Forest City Velodrome is the world's smallest permanent indoor cycling track in the world at 138m.
Future cycling infrastructure projects
As our cycling network continues to grow and more people choose to ride bikes to move through London, we are working to connect more neighbourhoods, business districts, and destinations with cycling infrastructure improvements.
Current and upcoming Road and Cycling Construction Projects
E-bikes
E-bikes offer energy efficient transportation with many physical and health benefits much like a conventional bicycle.
What is an e-bike?
An e-bike is a power-assisted or motor-assisted bicycle.
They can look like a conventional bicycle and can also be used just by pedaling.
You do not need a driver's licence, vehicle permit, or licence plate to ride an e-bike, but you do need to:
- be 16 or older
- wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet
- follow the posted speed limit (Along the Thames Valley Parkway the speed is 20km/h unless otherwise posted)
Riding e-bikes
E-bikes are different than kick-style e-scooters, large cargo e-bikes, or mopeds. In London, you can ride your e-bike on most roads, multi-use pathways, and highways where conventional bikes are permitted.
Where you can ride bikes, e-bikes, and scooters
|
|
Roadway (vehicle lanes) |
Bike lanes and cycle tracks |
Multi-use pathways (including the Thames Valley Parkway) |
Sidewalks |
|
Bicycle |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No* |
|
E-bike with working pedals |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, but only when pedaling |
No |
|
Power assisted scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Kick style e-scooters |
No |
No |
No |
No |
*Children under the age of 14 can ride on sidewalks in London.
You can review the City’s Streets By-law or the City’s Parks and Recreation Bylaw online.
Bike parking
You can find bike racks at City facilities, such as community centres and arenas. Bike racks and bike rings are also installed along many streets for short-term parking.
The City continuously installs more bike racks throughout London as resources permit.
For more information or to request bike parking be installed near you, please contact Allison Miller at amiller@london.ca or call 519-661-2489 x 5389
Frequently asked questions
Learn more about biking in London
What are those green boxes I see painted on the road at intersections?
These are bike boxes. Their purpose is to assist cyclists to turn left at intersections. These vivid green painted areas located at signalized intersections are part of the City's Mind the Green safety campaign.
This designated green area significantly increases the visibility of cyclists, making drivers more aware of their presence.
Bike boxes also help to prevent drivers from making right turns in front of cyclists approaching from behind, alleviating the “right hook” effect.
What kinds of bike lanes are available and where?
Bike lanes are marked with solid white pavement markings, diamond symbols and designated with regulatory signs designating the lanes for cyclist's use only.
The City is currently building new bike lanes that will improve connections into and throughout the city’s core
Why won’t the traffic signal change for me on my bike?
The traffic signals in London include different forms of detection to know when to change phases. The technology available to detect bicycles continues to improve and the City is actively upgrading individual signals to include cyclist detection. If you are at a signal that you don’t think is detecting you, you may need to dismount and push the pedestrian button.
Large black outlined squares on the pavement are sometimes a form of vehicle detection; a cyclist has the best chance of being detected when located near the corners of these squares.
What are the white chevrons and cyclists I see painted on roads?
These are share-the-lane pavement markings (or “sharrows” for short), reminding drivers and cyclists to share the road. They are often located at pinch points where a bike lane is not possible. Sharrow markings are designed to help motorists look out for cyclists and highlight the best position for cyclists on the road.
Where is new cycling infrastructure being built?
In 2020, there are a number of new cycling projects. They include:
Where can I bike if I’m interested in a longer trip just outside the city?
Want to take a longer trip? Explore surrounding communities on two wheels.
Where can I rent a bike?
For bike rental opportunities in London, visit any of the following websites:
Can I bike on the sidewalk?
According to London's Streets by-law, adults should not bike on sidewalks. Only children under the age of 14 can ride on sidewalks.
A bicycle is a vehicle, according to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. This means that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities to obey all traffic laws as other road users. Ontario's Ministry of Transportation also produces a cycling skills handbook and safety guide to explain this information.
For more assistance, please contact cycling@london.ca