Bike Commute from Woodroffe & Carling to Kanata where Herzberg Road turns into Terry Fox Drive

Laura was asking about a bike commute route from the intersection of Woodroffe and Carling Avenues to approximately where Herzberg Road becomes Terry Fox Drive in Kanata. Here’s the route I tested.

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Carling & Woodroffe is a busy extended traffic intersection – not the most pleasant place to hang out on a bicycle, so I cut through the parking lot to the north to get to Woodland Ave.

And away we go! Arrow points across parking lot towards Woodland Ave
And away we go! Arrow points across parking lot towards Woodland Ave

I then zig-zagged my way along quiet residential streets to the northern end of Edgeworth Avenue. There I crossed at the traffic lights to the north side of Richmond. Richmond is usually busy however there are bike lanes that run alongside where it goes up and over the SJAM Parkway.

Taking the bike lane along Richmond Road
Taking the bike lane along Richmond Road

I then turned north off Richmond onto Regina Lane.

Turn onto Regina Lane
Turn onto Regina Lane

Regina Lane is one way so the return trip would require crossing Richmond a block further west at the lights at Assaly Street, as suggested by the green line on the above map.

I then wove my way north-westerly along residential streets to a path just off Lincoln Heights Road that leads to the Ottawa River Pathway.

Path off Lincoln Heights Road
Path off Lincoln Heights Road

I followed the Ottawa River Pathway west all the way to the cross lights at Carling.

Crosswalk at Carling from Ottawa River Pathway to the start of Watts Creek Pathway
Crosswalk at Carling and the Ottawa River Pathway

On the opposite side of Carling the path becomes Watts Creek Pathway. There is another signalized crosswalk where the path meets Holly Acres Road.

Crosswalk at Watts Creek Pathway and Holly Acres Road
Crosswalk at Watts Creek Pathway and Holly Acres Road

On the other side of Holly Acres I rode along Aero Drive for a hundred yards or so before continuing on Watts Creek pathway.

Watts Creek Pathway continuing a short distance along Aero Drive
Watts Creek Pathway continuing a short distance along Aero Drive

Watts Creek Pathway rolls along very nicely through wooded area at times within sight of the Queensway.

Watts Creek Pathway in a wooded spot
Watts Creek Pathway in a wooded spot

Once arrived at Corkstown Road the path continues as a packed gravel path on the opposite side of the street for a short distance as far as Moodie Drive. Many choose to ride along Corkstown Road, but it doesn’t have a shoulder and many cars like to speed along this street, so if it isn’t raining or too mucky I take to the path. UPDATE 2017: A great new paved path has been created replacing the packed gravel path! So, no need to bike along Corkstown Road.

Watts Creek Pathway at Corkstown Road with view of the gravel path across the street
Watts Creek Pathway at Corkstown Road with view of the gravel path across the street

Across Moodie Drive, Watts Creek Pathway continues a short distance along Corkstown Road.

View across Moodie towards continuation of Watts Creek Pathway a short distance along Corkstown Road
View across Moodie towards continuation of Watts Creek Pathway a short distance along Corkstown Road

I continued along the path under the train tracks versus taking the split towards Carling.

Path followed under train tracks
Path followed under train tracks

A bit further on I took the exit off the path at the sign indicating Burke Road.

Exit towards Burke Road
Exit towards Burke Road

There’s a short section of packed gravel path on the way to to Burke Road.

Short section of gravel path on the way to Burke Road
Short section of gravel path on the way to Burke Road

Burke Road is very short before connecting to Carling Avenue.

There’s a mostly packed gravel & dirt path across Carling from Burke Road. It can get muddy if it’s raining but otherwise, it’s lots of fun to ride along through a forested area and past a golf course.

Start of path on north side of Carling opposite Burke Road
Start of path on north side of Carling opposite Burke Road

At one point there’s an unmarked left turn onto a narrow path. I missed it the first time round, which wasn’t a big deal because the path reaches Herzberg Road just a bit further on, which you can take back to Terry Fox Drive, as suggested by the pink line on the above map.

Short path link towards Terry Fox Drive
Short path link towards Terry Fox Drive

I prefer the short narrow path because it goes by this great old abandoned barn before arriving at where Herzberg Road becomes Terry Fox Drive.

Old barn
Old barn

Once arrived at Terry Fox Drive there’s a bike lane I followed the rest of the way to our final destination.

Bike lane along Terry Fox Drive
Bike lane along Terry Fox Drive

On the way back, rather than take the gravel path, I followed the bike lane along Terry Fox Drive/Hertzberg Road, then along Carling back to Burke Road, as indicated by the purple line on the above map.

If I’m riding at a time when there isn’t much traffic I may choose to continue along the Carling bike lane beyond the Burke Road turn, however where Carling passes under the train tracks the bike lanes disappear, like so. It’s location is indicated by the green drop pin on the above map.

The Carling SQUEEZE!!!
The Carling Avenue SQUEEZE!!!

Carling has a lot of speeding traffic, so I usually get back on Burke Road to avoid this tight spot.

Et voila!

bridge

Dear reader, if you know of anyone else who is looking for a bike route to work please feel free to forward them this promo: Promo4-01

Author: ottawavelo

bicycler

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