Thanks for the detailed description of the Arbutus corridor. I will be either cycling or running it next week, depending on the weather.
From your description it appears cycling it will not be easy due to the narrow pathway – what do you think? I will be coming from Coquitlam by bike which adds another 40 plus km to the 22 km route.
Thanks.
Hi Peter!
A deal was been recently reached between CP and the City of Vancouver to sell the rail corridor land to city, but the CP rail line still runs the length of the corridor making some sections very difficult or impossible to ride. As part of their negotiation strategy, CP even upgraded a lot of the line in an effort to show the city they were serious about running trains through town. This means brush has been cut back in places making the corridor more passable, but it also means new gravel and rail ties in other places making it less passable. Unless you want more of an urban riding adventure, I’d find an alternative route, but if you really want to ride the corridor, there are probably enough roads which parallel the tracks that you can use if the corridor becomes unrideable.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Thanks for the advice. I do want to travel the corridor before the City starts work on the upgrading. I am not sure whether to run it or cycle it. I have a mountain bike with wider tires, making it easier to ride on gravel surfaces if I decide to cycle.
Peter.
I did manage to cycle the corridor before they started working to tear up the ties. It was an interesting ride and, as I have a mountain bike, I was able to ride the corridor most of the way. I only had to leave the trail twice due to overgrown vegitation or deep gaps between the rails.
I did notice that some of the trail is isolated so I hope they open it up when they develope it.
Thanks for the detailed description of the Arbutus corridor. I will be either cycling or running it next week, depending on the weather.
From your description it appears cycling it will not be easy due to the narrow pathway – what do you think? I will be coming from Coquitlam by bike which adds another 40 plus km to the 22 km route.
Thanks.
Hi Peter!
A deal was been recently reached between CP and the City of Vancouver to sell the rail corridor land to city, but the CP rail line still runs the length of the corridor making some sections very difficult or impossible to ride. As part of their negotiation strategy, CP even upgraded a lot of the line in an effort to show the city they were serious about running trains through town. This means brush has been cut back in places making the corridor more passable, but it also means new gravel and rail ties in other places making it less passable. Unless you want more of an urban riding adventure, I’d find an alternative route, but if you really want to ride the corridor, there are probably enough roads which parallel the tracks that you can use if the corridor becomes unrideable.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Thanks for the advice. I do want to travel the corridor before the City starts work on the upgrading. I am not sure whether to run it or cycle it. I have a mountain bike with wider tires, making it easier to ride on gravel surfaces if I decide to cycle.
Peter.
I did manage to cycle the corridor before they started working to tear up the ties. It was an interesting ride and, as I have a mountain bike, I was able to ride the corridor most of the way. I only had to leave the trail twice due to overgrown vegitation or deep gaps between the rails.
I did notice that some of the trail is isolated so I hope they open it up when they develope it.
Happy cycling,
Peter