click anywhere on map to zoom-in to a printable version of the whole thing ---- Notes on map ----
- indicates a tried and tested route by yours truly which is generally specifically designated as a bike/blade route (the only exceptions being: the stretch through Gastown between Canada Place and B.C. Place; between just past the Science centre and near Stamp's Landing; and the area around the Planetarium to over the Burrard Street Bridge). See below for more info about skating around the city	- indicates areas available only to cyclists. This is fairly limited at the moment, but we are getting an expert cyclist writing in the Recreation Tips section soon who will be able to expand upon the 'cyclist only' routes. If you have a specific route that you would like added, email us - rough stretches of pavement, rollerblade advisory
special notes 1 Stanley Park - this area is very rough for rollerbladers and is often wet as it gets little sun and water laps up onto the seawall. Novice bladers beware. 2 When continuing on the Around the City route, the seawall path enters Devonian Harbour Park just before here and then seems to end at the construction near the Bayshore Hotel. Just cut up Denman Street one street to your left and take this road about 250 metres beyond the Hotel to get to the newest Waterfront development where the seawall path continues. 3 Further along the new path the park ends and you see chainlink fencing at the moment. There is a new temporary path that will allow you to continue through to Canada Place and beyond. Beware: large trucks cross the path as there is construction here and the path sometimes turns gravelly - best not to go too fast! 4 The official Seawall path has ended but can be picked up again at B.C. Place stadium. Just follow the footpath near Gastown, cutting across on Abbott Street and heading up past the old Woodwards and then past GM Place. 5 The path is often obstructed and rough in spots due to construction. This should be a smooth track soon however, as the waterfront seawall extension is nearing completion. 6 Check out the new addition to the False Creek seawall. Turn left off Pacific at Davie Street (if coming from the city) and head towards the waterfront. The path to the right of the round-a-bout follows the water around the new condos and merges with the main path again at David Lam Park. 7 Just past the Science Centre (heading south) or past Stamp's Landing (heading east) there is sudden lack of rollerblade path. Unless I've been missing something, there is no tidy way to go through this area. You'll have to head up to 2nd Avenue to get to a footpath to skate on (cyclists can take 1st Ave.), and even then it's pretty poor. Please let me know if there is a better way.
The 'Around the City Route' The great thing about living in Vancouver these days is that someone is finally listening to what residents of this city really want - to be outdoors admiring the beautiful scenery. There of course has been no doubt that you've been able to do this for years, but in many cases, especially Downtown, there was always eyesores that mucked up that perfect vista, or some form of limitation to where you could go for outdoor fun. Finally, we see the opening up of the Coal Harbour waterfront, the improvements to the False Creek circuit and intelligent development on the old Expo grounds. The Parks Board have listened to what people have to say about rollerblading in Stanley Park, and have recently added logical routing to separate cyclists/skaters from pedestrians all the way around the park. It is now possible to start cycling/skating in English Bay heading southeast along the beach - either crossing the Burrard Street bridge and taking the False Creek path all the way around the Science centre to B.C. Place or continuing along the path under the bridges and around the Yaletown area to B.C. Place - cutting through some back streets in Gastown to Canada Place, along the Coal Harbour waterfront path, around Stanley Park's entire perimeter and then back to English Bay - should you feel so inclined! Of course, you can do bits of this route which allows for daily outdoor exercise that is challenging and not the least bit dull. We'll keep you updated here first as changes are made - happy trails!