Cycling in Vancouver, BC: False Creek, Canada

Vancouver Cycling: The False Creek Seawall Looking at Science World, BC (Canada).

I’m back home in Vancouver after a full summer of travelling through Canada. It’s been mostly my head buried in my laptop so far, getting caught up, hitting deadlines and trying to reconnect with friends who have almost forgotten me.

I did get a chance to visit the summer night market in Richmond, though, and today I took a real break and went cycling for the afternoon.

I took the Ontario Street bike route north and onto the False Creek seawall. I haven’t been this way for ages and there’s now new condos lined up along the waterfront and a new seawall being finished.

Vancouver Cycling: The new False Creek Seawall pedestrian bridge in BC, Canada.

All of this, of course, is because of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics this February. It’s all a bit juxtaposing: written along the pavement is, “Slaves to 2010,” while a lovely new path with much greenery and gorgeous views is being created for all to enjoy; the garish posters on the new condo buildings that say something like, “Buy your own Vancouver 2010 Olympic souvenir,” act as a backdrop to the man I just passed searching the bushes for empty bottles.

I must admit, I voted against the Olympics, but there aren’t many people as excited as I am about welcoming Team Canada’s men and women’s hockey teams to our rinks.

I guess the Olympics are full of contradictions. There’s nothing to do now but accept that they’re coming and cheer on our country’s athletes.

Vancouver Cycling: Funky Chairs on the False Creek Seawall in BC, Canada.

What I Liked:

• This new path (still being built) is a wonderful use of space. If large condos are inevitably going to fill the waterfront, at least people still have space to enjoy it.
• It’s now a lovely connection from high up on south Main Street to False Creek and Granville Island. I’m going to use this route a lot more now.
• The best way to take advantage of Vancouver when it’s not raining is to get outside and soak up one of the most gorgeous cities on earth. (I’m not biased or anything just because I live here…)