Bike Lanes and Trails

Cycling infrastructure

You may ride your bike on all city streets in St. John's, unless a posted sign shows otherwise. Learn about some of the infrastructure available for cycling.

View Map of Cycling Routes 

Bike lanes

Bike lanes are on-street travel lanes reserved for people cycling. They are separate from sidewalks and motor vehicle traffic lanes. Bike lanes can be separated from traffic with a painted line, a painted buffer, a curb or other physical barriers. People must ride in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic when using a bike lane.

Streets with bike lanes are:

Airport Heights Drive (Parkers Pond Road to Elderberry Place)
Munday Pond Road (Columbus Drive to Cashin Avenue/Cambell Ave)
Viscount Street (Airport Heights Drive to SUP at Portugal Cove Rd)
Canada Drive (Hamlyn Road to Cowan Avenue)
Cowan Avenue (Frecker Drive to Topsail Road)
Cashin Avenue Extension (Mundy Pond Road to Blackmarsh Road)

Shared-use paths

Shared-use paths are used by both people walking, cycling and wheeling. People can travel in both directions and should yield to slower transportation users. People who are walking always have the right of way on a shared-use path. Please remember, to keep to the right and ring your bell while riding before passing anyone.

We recently completed multiple Public Engagement Sessions regarding three sections of the shared-use path network in June 2023. Visit EngageStJohns.ca to learn more or read our What We Heard report.

Watch the below episode of Municipal Matters on active transportation to learn more. 

Existing shared-use path locations

• T’railway along the Waterford River from Railway Coastal Museum on Water Street, through Bowring Park to Mount Pearl - Gravel
• Along Portugal Cove Road from Airport Heights Drive to Windsor Lake - Gravel
• From Airport Heights Drive to Penney Crescent - Gravel
• Along Columbus Drive, from Captain Whelan Drive to Wishingwell Road - Paved
• Along Prince Philip Drive, from Wexford Street to Westerland Road - Paved
• Along Captain Whelan Drive from Columbus Drive to Blackmarsh Road- Paved
• Throughout the Galway development - Paved

Please follow posted signage and be respectful of one another when cycling on trails. Some city trails do not permit cycling and signage is posted in these areas.

Building more shared-use paths

As part of building an active transportation network in St. John’s, there are several shared-use path projects in various stages of development. Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods powered by human activity, and includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades and more.

The City’s Bike Master Plan, which was approved by City Council 2019, sets out the goal to create a safe, inclusive, and convenient cycling network that is well-connected, attractive, and reflective of the City’s unique topography and climate. A component of the cycling plan is to build shared-use paths throughout the city to support multiple modes of active transportation.

Providing convenient, comfortable, and attractive active transportation routes is necessary progress toward advancing the city’s sustainable mode share targets, the Resilient St. John’s Community Climate Plan, and the Bike St. John's Master Plan.

Paved shared-use paths are designed to be accessible for people of all ages and abilities. They are wheelchair-friendly, stroller-friendly, and provide a safer and smoother surface for all users, regardless of their mobility or physical limitations.

There are multiple shared use path projects that are scheduled for construction this year, 2023, and will be completed in the next few years.

Kelly’s Brook Trail

A shared-use path will be constructed from Kings Bridge Road to Columbus Drive. This trail provides a connection from the east end to the west end of the city, with many amenities and parks and destinations along the route. Public engagement for the design of this section of the transportation network occurred in the fall of 2020. Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2023, with further details to be announced prior to work starting. Background information and an FAQ regarding the Kelly's Brook Trail project is available at EngageStJohns.ca.

Canada Drive

A street re-build with a new shared-use path is planned on Canada Drive from Columbus Drive to the Team Gushue Highway (approximately civic address 243 Canada Drive). Public engagement for this project took place in spring 2022 where two options were proposed, and input was gathered from the public and community stakeholders.  A shared-use path will be installed on the south side of the street along with road reconstruction and an upgraded sidewalk on the north side of the street. Construction on Canada Drive will begin in 2023 between Columbus Drive and Hamlyn Road. An announcement will be made prior to construction starting this summer. Visit EngageStJohns.ca for further background information.

Columbus Drive

A shared-use path extension is going to be constructed on Columbus Drive from Captain Whelan Drive to Canada Drive. This will allow a connection from the new path that will be built on Canada Drive to the existing path that goes from Captain Whelan Drive to the university at Westerland Road.

Another shared-use path connection on Columbus Drive is going to be constructed between Wexford Street and Wishingwell Road. This will connect a missing link in the existing share-use path through a busy intersection and across the overpass. This is scheduled for construction in 2023, further details will be announced prior to the construction starting.

Elizabeth Avenue

As part of a street rehabilitation project a new shared-use path will be constructed on Elizabeth Avenue. The construction work will rehabilitate road and sidewalk infrastructure and select underground utilities, starting in 2023. The shared-use path will be constructed on a section of the north side of Elizabeth Avenue, adjacent to Memorial University, extending from Bonaventure Avenue to Paton Street.

Once completed, the project will be beneficial for all users of Elizabeth Avenue as the road surface will be improved, upgrade to existing and new pedestrian crossings will be added to enhance pedestrian safety. The shared use path will allow for better accessibility and will eventually connect to other cycling infrastructure to create a safe a convenient active transportation network in the city. Further details about this project will be announced this spring.