I'm going to fly to Seattle in July and leave from Vancouver
about ten days later. I'm thinking of bringing my bike.
Will I run into much trouble bringing it on city or
long-distance transportation? What is it like to cycle to
and from the airport in either city. Are there cycling
groups that do day trips out of either place?
I'm also interested in how Washington state and British
Columbia compare generally in terms of scenery, outdoor
activities, and city life. I've read more about the parks,
etc. on the U.S. side, but there may just be more
information published. Are there Canadian counterparts to
the San Juan Islands or Olympic rainforests, for example?
I'm from the U.S. east coast and have never been to Canada,
so it might be more interesting for me and maybe a little
less expensive.
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The Canadian extension of the San Juans are the Gulf Islands which are truely hilly little suckers ,not rolling but straight and down kind of things. Much harder pull than the San Juans but not nearly as crowded. There are several bike books out there on the Gulf Islands if you are seriously considering them. It's been a while since I've done this trip but we had no trouble just leaving our bikes in the boxes and using whatever was the airport bus to get into town. much easier than trying to do it by bike.Should should go back when you have more time and do the Glacier parkway.Best ride in North America and best alternative to going to ride south island in New Zealand. Fantastic scenery.
Should have made clear we flew in and out of Seattle. No idea what airport situation in Vancouver is.
cycling in and out of vancouver airport is easy; it's a while since i've done it but would estimate 20-30 minutes to or from the centre. you can take granville street almost all the way. bike bags should be available at checkin but you need the tools to take off the pedals and turn the handlebars 90degrees. that done, they wouldn't let my small crescent wrench through security and i had to check it -- is this a more dangerous weapon than that old lady's umbrella or walking stick?!
Canada will definitely be cheaper than the States if you
have US dollars. BC also has lots of rainforest, but it's
not quite as easily accessible by paved road as in
Washington. If you go to Vancouver Island you can go to the
west coast of it where most of the rainforest is (on the
East Coast and around Vancouver the rainshadow effect
lessens the precipitation, as in Puget Sound too). Go to
Port Alberni, then out to Ucluelet and Tofino, both on the
outer coast. It is very beautiful here. Actually, now that
I am thinking about it, there is a passenger ferry called
the Lady Rose which goes between Port Alberni (at the end of
the long Alberni Inlet) and Ucluelet. You could ride to
Port Alberni, which passes through Cathedral Grove by the
highway, then take the ferry to Ucluelet, which has gorgious
scenery, then ride the highway back. This is a long ride
though, on narrow winding highway. I don't know if that's
what you're looking for.
Not to belabour the point - but we do live in a gorgeous
area. However, at least in Vancouver, the bike situation is
not so hot. There are city bike paths, but taking your bike
on public transportation is next to impossible.
That said, there are many spectacular places to bike
to in and around Vancouver. Saltspring Island in the Gulf
Islands is very hilly, but also very popular with
bicyclists. If you're going to that Island chain, or
the San Juans, or Vancouver Island, plan on at least a day
to take the ferry back and forth.
Vancouver is spectacularly set, but in my opinion Seattle is
a "better" city - lots of variety in the arts and nightlife,
friendly, great food and full of things to do. It's more
expensive than Vancouver simply because US currency is
currently costing us $1.50 CDN. Exploring both cities could
easily take up your 10 days, without even venturing out to
places like the San Juans or the Gulf Islands. Especially
if your planning on doing all of this by bike in 10 days,
you might want to do one OR the other.
If you need any specifics, post again and I'll try to track
down the information for you.
I hope you enjoy your trip!
BT
This is very useful! I'll keep checking for the good
advice.
I biked all around this area in 1986. Ten days is a good
start!
To get to Vancouver from Seattle, you could either (1) cross
to the Olympic Peninsula on one of those ferries (I took the
one to Bremerton) and go up the peninsula to Port Angeles,
cross on the ferry to Victoria (a lovely city) and then take
a ferry to Vancouver from Sidney or, further up, from
Nanaimo; or (2) cross to the south end of Whidbey Island,
and bike up that to Anacortes and take in the San Juan
Islands to end up at Sidney.
There are even more options than this, and if I say "It's up
to you" you'll want to pull your hair out from having too
many choices! I found the San Juan Islands slightly
overrated, in that there are soooo many bikers on them, but
everyone should do them once. Other than Hornby Island (see
below) I have not been to the Canada's Gulf Islands but I
suspected they were more pleasant, even before I read the
other responses above.
The ferry in response #4 is pleasant and an excellent
time-saving option on Vancouver Island, especially if you
have only ten days, and I remember the alternative road as
narrow and busy. From Tofino PLEASE take a tiny plane ride
to Hot Springs Cove Park or whatever it's called (ASK; FIND
IT), an idyllic hot springs right on the rocky ocean, sheer
paradise, my God.
Another ferry option is to continue north beyond Nanaimo to
the Comox-Powell River ferry and then go south to Vancouver
from there. This is all lovely riding. But on the way, do
not miss Denman Island and Hornby Island-- especially
Hornby, which in 1986 was the kind of paradise everyone
dreamed of creating in the 1960s but no one else pulled off,
a tender and very special community.
On the whole, Vancouver city is okay, but on a bike trip I
could do without it; Victoria is smaller and much prettier,
and if you could fly out of there instead you might be
better off.
From Port Angeles, if you're feeling manly, you can crank up
to Hurricane Ridge. Nice views!
Finally, as for B.C., I biked all over the province and
found it really captured my heart, in so many ways, as few
places have since. Over and over I kept saying to myself,
Thank God the Americans didn't get this, because it would
look a lot different if they had. As an American, I know
what I'm talking about; sue me! With only ten days, you'll
have to stick to the coast, but you'll still be mighty
satisfied.
I have tried to conceal my envy of your trip and expect I
have only partially succeeded. So have fun, for my sake too!
All transit busses in Seattle have bike racks so you will
have no trouble bringing it on the bus. Don't know about
long distance bus transportation. For more information
you could check out the metrokc.gov web site - look in the
transportation section. This has bus schedules, including
the schedule for the routes to the airport. Also at that
website are bike trail maps for King County, including
Seattle. This might suggest a likely route for riding your
bike from the airport if you choose that. Not too many
people do this and there is lots of car traffic, but it's
an option.