Bike Routes in Local Area around UVic

Route Safety

You will decide if these routes are safe for you based on your skills and confidence on your bike, plus your local road knowledge. Your safety will be enhanced if you follow the rules of the road. Paths are not as safe, because other users of paths are less likely to be following these rules. Safety on paths is also affected by the varying surfaces: from pavement through gravel to chip trail and mud. You can improve your skills by taking the cycling skills course offered by the Bike to Work Society.

Route Maps

The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition's Victoria Cycling Map is available at the UVic Bookstore in the Campus Services Building (grid C-2 on the campus map). This 2009 4th edition of the map costs $4.95. The Campus Services Building is located west of the main UVic bus terminal. You can also find the map at many bike shops and bookstores around Victoria.

Click on the thumbnail graphic for a Route Map of the local area around UVic. A 185K PDF version is available for printing on one page. We have tried to identify routes following good secondary or wide two-lane main roads. There are reasons (faster, more direct, more predictable traffic) why you may want to choose a main arterial route, however.

Under Related Links you can find maps of Saanich Trails for more detailed routes in Saanich neighbourhoods and parks. Please use caution when cycling on any narrow trails and be aware that some parks do not allow cycling on their paths.

Route Descriptions

People with text-based web browsers will not be able to see this map. In its place we list some of the routes below. There are notes and route extensions past the edge of the map, so everyone may benefit by reading these route descriptions.

Any suggestions for improving this route guide welcome.

• Oak Bay East
  • Hampshire Rd; Musgrave St; Midland Rd (path in middle of block); roundabout to Upper Terrace Pl; Cedar Hill X Rd; University Drive.
• Oak Bay West/Fairfield
  • Foul Bay Rd; Henderson Rd; University Drive.
• Downtown
  • Vancouver St; Princess Ave; Cook St; Haultain; Dean Ave; Lansdowne; Foul Bay; (or continue along Haultain to reach Foul Bay); Henderson; University Drive. Coming Back from UVic: On Foul Bay continue south through the Lansdowne intersection then turn right one block down the hill at Watson to reach Dean, or continue south along the Foul Bay bike lane to reach Haultain.
  • Vancouver St (continue on Vancouver past Bay St); Kings Rd; Graham St (crosswalk at Hillside crossing); Summit Ave; Jackson St; Tolmie Ave; Wicklow St; Cook St; Camrose Crescent; Maplewood Rd; Derby Rd; gravel path across Cedar Hill Golf Course; Derby Rd; Cedar Hill Rd; Pear St (crosswalk at Shelbourne crossing); Poplar Ave; Cedar Hill X Rd (use proper cycling skills when turning left from this busy road); Iona Dr; Varsity Pl; Kremlin St; Midgard Ave (crosswalk at Gordon Head crossing); paved path through UVic grounds.
• Vic West/Esquimalt
  • Alternative 1: Galloping Goose Trail; Kelvin Rd; Cloverdale Ave (four lanes with busy traffic to Blanshard St; two lane hill with cycle lanes to Quadra St); Cook St; then join route from Downtown at Camrose Crescent.
  • Alternative 2: Continue past Kelvin Rd on Galloping Goose Trail to Switch Bridge, then follow Alternative 1 route for Western Communities.
• Western Communities
  • Cyclists coming from the north Langford area should be aware of the Langford-Thetis connector (2.8 MB PDF). This unpaved hilly trail leads to a parking lot. Follow the paved road over more hills and exit the park to the Galloping Goose trail at Six Mile Bridge.
  • Cyclists from the western communities may be tempted to use McKenzie Ave for their final connection to UVic. It is a busy four lane road but some cyclists ride it to UVic. It does not fit the definition of a route for this guide because it requires experience with heavy traffic. However there are reasons why you may want to choose Mckenzie Ave. It is quicker than the alternatives and does have bike lanes between Borden Road and Cedar Hill Road.
  • Alternative 1: If you do use McKenzie, you can turn right at the eastern end of the bike lanes onto Cedar Hill Rd; then Mortimer St (crosswalk at Shelbourne St. crossing); Ansell Rd; Midgard Ave (crosswalk at Gordon Head crossing); paved paths through UVic grounds.
  • Alternative 2: Galloping Goose (at Switch Bridge junction take Saanich Spur route past Swan lake); Quadra St; Reynolds Rd; Cedar Hill X Rd; Braefoot; Wende; path to Garnet; then join the Western Communities Alternative 1 route at Cedar Hill Road.
  • Alternative 3: At Switch Bridge, go over Switch Bridge to Kelvin Rd, then follow Alternative 1 route for Vic West/Esquimalt Cyclists.
• Broadmead and Cordova Bay
  The starting point for these descriptions is the Lochside Drive/Royal Oak Drive intersection just west of Lochside School.
  • Alternative 1: Ride south along Lochside, which becomes a mixed surface path. Cross over the Blenkinsop bridge and continue south; turn left at the Blenkinsop connector path and cross the Blenkinsop Valley; Mt Douglas Cross Rd; Cedar Hill Rd; Feltham Rd; Larchwood Dr; Laval Ave; Gordon Head Rd (watch for inexperienced drivers in this area); McCoy Rd; path (crosswalk at McKenzie); paved paths through UVic grounds.
  • Alternative 2: Ride east on Royal Oak Drive; Cordova Bay Rd; Ash Rd; Majestic Ave; San Juan Ave; chip trail through Tyndall park; continue on San Juan; San Pedro Ave; Longview Ave; Feltham Rd; Gordon Head Rd; Edgelow St; Dawnview Crescent; path to UVic grounds north of R Hut.