Cycling Restrictions
[Excerpt from the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation B.C. REG. 26/58]
The Ministry of Transportation currently allows cyclists on all highways except designated freeways.
Except as authorized by a permit issued by the Minister of Transportation, and except for crossing a highway at an intersection, use of any highway named in Schedule 1 by the following is prohibited at all times:
- vehicles drawn by animals
- livestock, as defined in the Livestock Act
- form implements and farm machinery, whether self-propelled or towed
- pedestrians, unless attending a disabled vehicle
- vehicles incapable of maintaining a minimum speed of 60 km/h on level road, except construction or maintenance equipment owned or hired by the Ministry of Transportation while working on or travelling to or from a work site located on a highway named in Schedule 1
For safety reasons, cyclists are not allowed on these portions of the following Schedule 1 highways:
| Schedule 1 Highways |
Summary |
Trans-Canada Highway 1
*Note Exception Below* |
from the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay to the north approach of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge;
from its intersection with Rupert Street to its junction with Highway 3 in Hope;
from its junction with the Coquihalla Highway (Afton Interchange) on the west approach to Kamloops to its junction with the Yellowhead Highway 5 on the east approach to Kamloops. |
Hope-Princeton Highway 3
*Note Exception Below* |
from its junction with Highway 1 in Hope to its junction with the Coquihalla Highway, 7.7 km east |
Coquihalla Highway 5
*Note Exception Below* |
from its junction with Highway 3, 7.7 km east of Hope, to its junction with Highway 1 (Afton Interchange) on the west approach to Kamloops. |
Inland Island Highway 19
*Note Exception Below* |
from Craig's crossing south of Parksville to its intersection with Highway 19A at Willow/Tamarac in Campbell River
from its North Cedar Road intersection with Trans-Canada Highway 1, south of Nanaimo, to its intersection with Highway 19A north of Nanaimo. |
| Annacis Highway 91 |
from its interchange Highway 99 to the south
approach to the Annacis Bridge; from the north
approach to the Annacis Bridge to the the south
approach to the East Channel Bridge; from the north
approach to the East Channel Bridge to the Richmond Connector. |
| Annacis Highway 91A |
from the Richmond Connector to the south approach to the Queensborough Bridge. |
Okanagan Connector Highway 97C
*Note Exception Below* |
from its junction with Highway 5A to its junction with Highway 97, a distance of approximately 108 kilometres. |
Highway 99
*Note Exception Below* |
from 1st Avenue in Surrey to the south approach of the Oak Street Bridge. |
Exceptions to Cycling Restrictions on Schedule 1 Highways
As noted under Section 19.07 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, cyclists are permitted on Schedule 1 highways only where signs are in place. In British Columbia, the following Schedule 1 highway sections are signed to allow cyclists:
| Schedule 1 Highways |
Summary |
| Highway 1 |
Horseshoe Bay to Capilano Road
Highway 11 (Abbotsford) to Highway 3 (Hope) excluding the section between No. 3 Road (Abbotsford) and Lickman Road.
Valleyview Road to Route 5 (Kamloops East) for westbound travel only. |
| Highway 3 |
Highway 1 (Hope) to Highway 5 (east of Hope). |
| Highway 5 |
Highway 3 (east of Hope) to Highway 1, Afton Interchange (Kamloops West). |
| Highway 19 |
South of Parksville (Craig's Crossing) to Campbell River (Willow/Tamarac)
From its North Cedar Road intersection with Trans-Canada Highway 1, south of Nanaimo, to its intersection with Highway 19A north of Nanaimo. |
| Highway 97C |
Highway 5A (east of Merrit) to Route 97 (Peachland) |
| Highway 99 |
Canada/U.S.A. border to Eighth Avenue (Surrey). |
Map of BC cycling Restrictions
Map of Lower Mainland Cycling Restrictions
Bridge Restrictions for Bicycles
[Excerpt from the Highway Act B.C. REG. 174/70]
| Structure |
Section/Subsection/Summary |
Annacis Bridge - Highway 91
[New Westminster - Richmond - Delta] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
East Channel Bridge - Highway 91
[New Westminster - Richmond - Delta] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Queensborough Bridge - Highway 91A
[New Westminster] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Knight Street Bridge - Knight Street
[Vancouver - Richmond] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Lions Gate Bridge - Highway 1A/99
[North Vancouver - Vancouver] |
2.08 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge - Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway)
[North Vancouver - Vancouver] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge - Highway 9
[Agassiz - Rosedale] |
No bicycle restrictions. |
Nelson Bridge - Highway 3A
[Nelson] |
No bicycle restrictions. |
Oak Street Bridge - Highway 99
[Vancouver - Richmond] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Okanagan Lake Bridge - Highway 97
[Kelowna] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
Port Mann Bridge - Highway 1
(Trans-Canada Highway)
[Coquitlam - Surrey] |
2.02 (b) Bicycles not permitted on or within structure. |
Pattullo Bridge - Highway 99A/1A
[New Westminster - Surrey] |
2.03 (b) Bicycles not permitted on roadways but may use a sidewalk. |
George Massey Tunnel - Highway 99
[Richmond - Delta] |
2.02 (b) Bicycles not permitted on or within structure. |
Cassiar Connector - Highway 1
(Trans-Canada Highway)
[Vancouver] |
2.02 (b) Bicycles not permitted on or within structure. |
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