Car-free cycling in Banff National Park & a stunningly beautiful bike commute, all in the same ride!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Best ride of the year so far for me, and I learned a little something about the benefits of adding joy to bike-commuting routes. Oh, and I was reminded that riding on freeways and highways when cars are banned is, like, the best thing ever.

[@sammydavis991]

Try banff to Louise this summer.

[@jasonarthurs3885]

What a gorgeous ride. I'm blessed with an 75 minute commute through a temperate rainforest on southern Vancouver Island, but that is some inspirational scenery! In terms of natural beauty, Canada has no peers.

[@billmillen29]

Just brilliant. I wish they would do the same thing here in Scotland.

[@josephsmith2682]

This is great to see! It’s awesome to see bike infrastructure in places outside cities.

[@zumezoom9593]

Banff and Vancouver I think is the best locations to ride. beautiful scenery and bike paths are considerably well paved

[@toko25]

What a glorious commute. That's the dream

[@Shifter_Cycling]

It's gorgeous!

[@HS-dn5uu]

Excellent! Thanks a lot for showing the path and giving some advices. I’m planning to ride there for the first time. Super excited.

[@bearcubdaycare]

I love the views of Banff and the area. Brings me back to when I lived in Calgary.

[@bengt_axle]

One day per week in the summer, they should close the roads in these areas and even the city (for a few hours before noon). It would dramatically increase the participation in fitness activities, while at the same time giving the local businesses a boost. When you are on a bike, you have time to slow down and appreciate the surroundings, unlike when you are driving.

[@downercowzzz.3236]

Thanks for such an enjoyable short ride.

[@wingy72]

To add to that, they have just paved this stretch of the highway too, so it is super fresh smooth pavement! Go do it if you are in this part of the world!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes! I didn't even mention that smooth blacktop. It was a dream to ride on.

[@Myaccisbanned]

Beautiful scenery, if I want car less roads. I get up at like 1 am and go for a ride.

[@ardynottle]

Hey Tom that looks like a fantastic ride. I’m really enjoying your content, keep up the great work. Regards Ardy, from Adelaide, South Australia

[@haveygonzalez7946]

Hello! Are you able to share the route for this ride? :) would like to try it myself when i visit.

[@thebearfootexplorer3163]

This is exactly where I live! I like to explore on a bike, too!

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

Beautiful park

[@Sivah_Akash]

I was just there and was riding to Canmore from Banff. And my cycle broke down half way lol! Basically stranded in the middle of two towns with no buses! 😅

[@ryanarmishaw3305]

Somehow this video escaped me on my binge-watching of your videos. Glad it came up on my feed this am. Epic ride! I've lived in Alberta my whole life and didn't know you could commute between Canmore and Banff.

[@coffeestainedwreck]

This is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure the car-less views aren't going to last, but I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I hope so too! Thanks for watching.

[@segalasudut]

I almost cried watching this. I have flight ticket to Vancouver for this October and planning to go to Banff. I guess I'll have to wait until next year. Thanks for the video, Tom.

[@FortheLoveofCycling]

I miss Banff. Want to ride Jasper. Rode from Canmore to Lake Louise Lake.

[@MarcelinoDeseo]

Lovely view :)

[@aldryxz1023]

Great ful that I live in Canmore.

[@gracetrigno]

I'm so glad to find this video of yours! I'll be in Canada and Jasper for 10 days starting on May 11. I'm a road cyclist and this is definitely on my list..my Bike-it list! Great video! 😍 Do you live in Banff or Canmore? I plan on riding to Lake Louise from Banff and back to Banff. So freakin' excited!!🥰🚴‍♀️🎊

[@tescopiwo]

Canada is insane lol, wish i had those views on my paris bike commute

[@dougwedel9484]

Canmore is getting the protected intersection... eventually... right? I keep checking on the progress, when construction will start, when it's scheduled to finish.

[@bennetthasty7886]

If you like the Priority commuter & you have an aero/cyclocross bike have you looked at the Apollo drop bar gravel?

[@malaysiadentist4637]

If we're to visit Banff ...would there be places where we can rent bikes. How hard would the ride be in terms of inclination?

[@diverm2371]

What are the maximum motor watts? Can you have a throttle, if not can you just turn it off in the settings?

[@kalencrowe103]

Is the legacy trail between banff and canmore cleared when it snows? I imagine yes, just not as consistently as the bow path?

[@SeanNicholsEh]

No, not at all. It's a summer path only. I was out that way a few weeks ago, and it was completely covered in huge mounds of snow; I had to do the ride on the highway.

[@ex0stasis72]

4:51 Is...is that an actual good bike rack for mass bikes? It looks like you can just roll it underneath and U-lock it even if you have to tip one end of the bike up in the air, but it works.

[@dog2819]

Nice video as always. Did you ride a single speed up those hills?

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Not this one. From start to finish and back again was about 100 kms, which is about 90 kms longer than I like going on a single-speed. I was on my cyclocross bike.

[@vincewhite5087]

Did you cycle out to Canmore?

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes, started and ended in Canmore

[@stephengarfield4691]

Hey, get a camera and mount it on your helmet.

[@derekdavis6508]

If I leave the US and denounce my citizenship, I was looking at Switzerland but it's pricey.

[@randomrandom316]

Great video and I agree with everything you talk about here but what I don't understand is that if the route was closed to cars because of a pandemic why is it that no one is wearing any masks? Also I understand that density of people over there is not very high but it just seems that there is no attempt to socially distance at all, all caution seems to have been thrown in the air. Something here just doesn't add up is it the same in all other first world countries too? Is this a first world phenomenon or are people in other countries looking at this in confusion and disbelief just as I am?

[@jaensimone]

3:36 you have a sleuth behind you

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Haha. That's my riding partner, cooling his wheels while I talk to myself on camera.

[@djeventsparty]

Canmore is as expensive as banff now

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes, probably true

[@sayantanutbe]

Ironic that paths are closed to cars but open to bikes. People inside cars would probably be safer from COVID than people on bikes, who're breathing hard and inhaling more air and germs.

[@jaensimone]

It's so that when people are walking or cycling they do not have to be so close together on the slim paths. Opening the roads allows for social distancing while being active outside.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Reducing car use also reduces congestion on the trail at the end of the ride.

[@BenjaminSmith2]

It's unlikely people in cars are safer than those on bikes. The available information shows that one of the major contributing factors to transmission is low air circulation. Being outside decreases the rate of transmission, and cycling at 12 to 18 mph (20 to 30 kph) is a further decrease. Yes, physical activity increases the rate of inhalation but on a bike, it is far less likely to be contaminated than indoors or in a car with other people. I cannot be ignored that people who are healthy are also likely to have better health outcomes if they get COVID-19. Outdoor activity, including cycling, is far, far better than exercising indoors for managing COVID. So for those that need to manage their health, exercising outdoors is the best option by far. That being said, I still won't go on group rides with people I don't know or draft them. Keep in mind, people also go to Banff and the surrounding area specifically for outdoor recreation so it makes more sense to prioritize the safety of cyclists, runners, and hikers by giving them the full width of the road to give appropriate distance. Discouraging outdoor activity is counter-productive for public health at any time, and especially in this pandemic.