During this pandemic, the Zygg e-bikes have allowed us to have a socially distanced activity while still making us feel connected to the city. It’s also been a great way to discover parts of the city that were previously unknown and a bit further than where we usually go. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite bicycle lanes in Toronto that take half a day to a day to complete.
The ride to Bluffers Park. Need we say more? The views, the beach, the water, the cliffs. The Bluffs have it all. We like stopping along the way at the R.C. Harris Treatment Centre to get our dose of Art Deco architecture in. This trail has become especially accessible with a Zygg e-bike on the way out of the park. No need to push your bike up the huge hill when you have pedal assist.
One of our favourite things about riding electric bikes in the city is how it’s made parks that used to feel far away much more reachable. The city doesn’t seem as big when you’re on an electric bike and you can go to pockets of the city that you had never visited before.On the Humber Valley Trail you can clock in over 20km one way depending on where you start. We personally love riding all the way up to Steeles from Lake Ontario giving you the opportunity to both take an Instagram worthy picture on the Humber Bay Bridge and then head up north to some slightly less busy areas to spot some urban wildlife.
The Humber Valley Trail is also one of our favourites because it’s connected to so many other trails notably the Eglinton West Trail that brings you out to Centennial Park in Etobicoke. Centennial Park has a collection of Cherry Trees making it a great alternative to High Park in the spring for the blooms.
When you bike along the whole trail you get to see glimpses of different versions of Toronto from the lake, to ponds to murals. One experience along the Humber that reminds us that Toronto is a city within a forest is the salmon runs. Watching the salmon jump up the Humber River near Etienne Brulé park in late October to early November is one of the most spectacular things we’ve seen.Our final favourite bike ride is the Martin Goodman Trail down to the Leslie Spit. You cross man made beaches (Echo Beach, Sugar Beach) along the way and can have a stopover at Cherry Beach. We’re especially looking forward to riding on the new bridge being installed on Cherry Street bringing a pop of colour to the entrance of the Port Lands.
We love reaching the end of the spit when you get a glimpse into what Toronto was a few decades ago with its discarded materials and spontaneous art that has come from it. It sometimes feels like you’ve left the city behind once you’ve reached the lighthouse.
In the winter we love going through the Waterfront BIA’s art installations that liven up the shorter days with its immersive lights.
You could also connect all three of these rides together to go for a behemoth of a ride!
The City of Toronto has a map of all it’s bike lanes and trails so you can create your own! Make sure to share them with us by tagging @rideZygg on Instagram!
The electric bikes have made these longer trails so much easier to tackle. Before they may have seemed daunting due to the 20km+ rides, now there is a reassurance in knowing that when fatigue hits, you can rely on your Zygg to get you through the tougher part of a ride. Nothing seems out of the question on an electric bike!