Canada is a great place for motorcyclists in general. No matter what kind of motorcycle routes you’re into, there are plenty to choose from. But if you’re looking for the single most motorcycle-friendly city in the nation, one city really stands out from the crowd.
Ottawa: The Motorcycle Capital
The nation’s capital could also be said to be the Canadian motorcycle capital. If you’re a biker of any sort, Ottawa has a lot to offer you. For one thing, it’s got the perfect blend of urban and rural routes.
Ottawa has a wide array of incredible restaurants, bars, and other urban attractions. You can enjoy these things and then quickly and easily get to some awesome rural routes with stunning natural splendour, twisty roads, and long open stretches. You can start a trip exploring the urban streets of Ottawa and end it by touring through some charming small towns.
Awesome Ottawa-Area Motorcycle Routes
The Ottawa region has some of the best Canadian motorcycle routes. The backroads from Ottawa to Calabogie, for example, are a lot of fun.
You can also head out to West Carleton and ride the twisty River Road through some incredible scenery. You can even find some nice switchbacks. If you like, you can follow the river through the valley and explore the further reaches of Ontario.
If you’re into longer trips, Ottawa’s location close to the border makes it easy to get to the small towns and resorts of Vermont, and you’ll ride through some great motorcycle roads through the mountains. There are, of course, many other great routes too, there’s just not enough space here to fit them all in.
It’s a Great Place to Learn How to Be a Motorcyclist
The Ottawa Safety Council goes to great lengths to help people get their motorcycle licenses. Ottawa uses a graduated licensing system, in which applicants learn motorcycle skills in stages, and focus on developing them in the proper order. It offers a wide variety of classes, such as novice introductory classes and street riding skill classes. This focus allows instructors to focus on groups of people of the same skill level and really help them develop the skills that need to come next. Students don’t take motorcycle rides until they are ready. By the time they get their licenses, they are well prepared for any kind of motorcycle touring.
There Are a Lot of Motorcycle Resources There
Because Ottawa is one of the biggest cities in Ontario or even all of Canada, it has a lot of resources the motorcyclists will find useful, from repairs to clubs to events.
Runners Up
Of course, there are a lot of great cities for motorcyclists across Canada. Saskatoon (home of FFUN Motorcycle Company) has some great open roads. Calgary has some great events and routes. Vancouver Island has the Pacific Rim Highway. There’s plenty to explore!
