Navigating the City

Hamilton’s Cycling Network

As of 2018 Hamilton’s cycling network consisted of 418km of cycling routes, about 150km of which are designated bicycle lanes or multi-use recreational trails. Hamilton plans to implement around 500km of additional cycling routes over the coming years outlined in the Cycling Master Plan.

You can use a map of Hamilton’s Urban Cycling Facilities to help plan your route or view their bikeways as an interactive layer of Open Data. 

Additionally, you can check out HamOnt Healthy Loops from the Everyone Rides Initiative for some fun and safe routes you can bike in your neighbourhood to get outdoors and active.

Linear Cycling Infrastructure

Conventional

Graphic of a road with a conventional painted bike lane
  • some examples include Sterling St (Forsyth to King), Gage Ave (Lawrence to Barton) and Longwood St N (Southbound only), Dundurn St N
  • These bike lanes use pavement markings to create a designed space for cyclists however without protection or separation from traffic they may not be comfortable for traffic speeds over 40km/h or volumes of over 3000 vehicles per day. Be sure to stay within painted lines and signal and check before exiting the lane

Buffered

Graphic of a bike lane with a painted buffer zone creating separation from traffic
  • An example is York Blvd from Dundurn to Hess St 
  • Creating separation from traffic with a buffer space can help cyclists feel more comfortable on busy streets. It is still important to be cognizant of traffic and be sure not to ride in the buffer zone

Bollard Separated

Graphic of a bike lane with yellow knock down sticks creating separation from traffic
  • An example is on King St from Paradise to Dundurn
  • Similar to a buffer, bollards can help cyclists feel more separated from motor traffic, however, remember these bollards do not provide physical protection so it is important to still be aware of traffic.

Parking Protected

Graphic of a bike lane with a lane of parked traffic creating protection from traffic
  • Examples include Herkimer (Eastbound only) and Charlton Ave (Westbound only)
  • This unique design features a bike lane between the sidewalk and parked cars providing true separation from moving traffic. Be cognisant of motorists opening or exiting their doors however as this can invade on bike lane space.

Bi-Directional

Graphic of two contra-flow bike lanes with planter boxes creating separation from traffic
  • Examples include the Cannon Cycle Track and Bay St from Cannon to Aberdeen 
        • This features 2 bike lanes flowing in opposite directions adjacent to traffic. Typically the contraflow lane is the inside lane to protect from traffic moving in the opposite direction. When traveling against traffic extra caution at intersections by both cyclists and motorists is required. Generally bi-directional lanes have physical separation from traffic, however this is not the case for all such lanes in Hamilton.

Raised and Separated Bike Path

Graphic of bike path separated from traffic by Greenspace
  • Examples include Governors Rd and Longwood St S (from Aberdeen to Frid St) 
  • Similar to a multi-use trail but for the exclusive use of cyclists, these paths may be raised or separated from traffic by the sidewalk.

Paved Multi-Use Trail

Graphic of bike path separated from traffic by Greenspace

Unpaved Multi-Use Trail

Graphic of trail with both pedestrians and cyclists surrounded by Greenspace with no adjacent motorized traffic
  • Examples include the Red Hill Valley trail and the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail
  • Maintenance and terrain vary so before your ride be sure to double check the conditions are safe for your comfort level and bike type. Again, be sure to yield to pedestrians and share the space with all users.

Neighbourhood Greenway (aka Bicycle Boulevard)

Graphic of two shared bicycle friendly street with "local traffic only" sign representing a traffic calming measure

 Typically on residential streets these are low volume and low speed streets where active travellers such as cyclists and pedestrians are given priority over motorists. There are different “levels” of bicycle boulevards depending on combination of infrastructure and street characteristics. Infrastructure can range from signage to pavement markings to intersection treatments to traffic calming to traffic diversion.

Shared Route

Graphic of bike sharrow in the same lane as vehicular traffic represented by car icon
  • Examples include Dundurn St (from Main to King) and Longwood Rd N (Northbound)
  • When cyclists are meant to share lanes with busier traffic lanes the use of “sharrows” is common. Only ride in these spaces if you are comfortable mixing with traffic, although it is a motorists responsibility to share the lane, there is no physical separation from traffic. 

Non-Linear Cycling Infrastructure

 

Bike Box
  • One stage bike boxes such as at Bay and cannon are used to help cyclists cross traffic lanes at a red light with motorists stopped behind them. 
  • Two-stage bike boxes provide interim locations for cyclists to wait while making a two part turn. After proceeding straight through an intersection, wait in the bike box for the light to change before completing the turn.

 

  • Examples of both types of bike boxes are featured from 2:00 onwards on Hamilton’s video explaining the cannon street bidirectional bike lanes

Bicycle Traffic Signals

 At some intersections, bicycle traffic lights are used to control intersections for cyclists. This is particularly important for contraflow bike lanes where cyclists travel in the opposite direction of traffic (such as Cannon St).

 

Bicycle Parking

 Bike racks come in different forms but the best way to ensure your bike is locked as well as possible to lock both the frame and any quick release wheels to the rack.
  • Make you note down your bike’s serial number, this can help you find your bike if it is ever stolen. An additional precaution you can take is to register your bike with garage 529, a free bike recovery service.

Bike Buddies Routes

Want to try biking to get class, errands or recreational spaces but don’t know what route to take? A group of SUSTAIN 3S03 students mapped out safe biking routes to student identified destinations from McMaster University. Give them a try to get outdoors and get active while you travel around town!

Jackson Square via Westdale/Strathcona Visit Site

Locke St & Jackson Square via Rail Trail Visit Site

Dundas via Cootes Dr Trail Visit Site

Bayfront & General Hospital via Waterfront Trail Visit Site

Locke St via Westdale/Strathcona Visit Site

Westdale via King St Visit Site

 

McMaster to Westdale Video

Follow along as a group of students take you through the route from McMaster to Westdale (Food Basics King St) and share tips on how to navigate traffic safely!

Expandable List

A flat paved path stretches from princess point to Bayfront park and then further along the waterfront to piers 4 and 7. Be sure to watch out for other trail users and yield to pedestrians. The trail is also a great connector to the downtown, it can take you from the Westdale area off Longwood to Bay St which has a bike lane connecting to the Cannon Cycle Track as well as passing the west side of Jackson square. The trail is part of the Great Lakes Waterfront trail and a portion of the HamBur loop.

The Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail is a 32km trail connecting the 2 cities through a beautiful, flat trail surrounded by nature.

Notes:

  • The trail is not lit or paved with the exception of a short connection heading through Ainslie Wood in Hamilton from Ewen Rd to Studholme Road.
  • This section through Ainslie Wood crosses many streets; be sure to stop at every intersection.
  • To access the trail from McMaster head west along Sanders Blvd then take Westbourne Rd south to the trail just past Main St.
  • Around Sulphur Springs Rd, the trail connects to the Dundas Valley Conservation area which offers amazing trails for hiking and some for mountain biking

Adjacent to Mountain Brow Blvd a 2 metre wide paved shared path takes you from Mohawk Rd E to Oakcrest Dr (a block east of the Jolly Cut). It features stunning views of the Niagara Escarpment and the lower city below.

Notes

  • West of Oakcrest the bike lane ends and Mountain Brow Blvd becomes a busy artery; unless you are comfortable mixing with traffic be sure to turn on Oakcrest and follow the signed on street route.

The Escarpment Rail Trail is a roughly paved trail that connects Corktown park with Albion Falls taking you up the escarpment. The trail follows the path of an old railroad track with a slight incline the whole way when heading east. 

Notes: 

  • The Wentworth stairs connect the trail to Wentworth St South, however, the stairs do not feature a bike trough. A SoBi bike station is located at the bottom of the stairs. 
  • The Kennilworth Stairs on the other hand are bike accessible with bike troughs for rolling your bike up or down.

The Red Hill Valley Trail is a mostly gravel trail connecting to both Confederation Beach Park and the Bruce Trail. Its southern section is technical featuring some steep hills.