FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa (August 1, 2025) —Bike Ottawa is pleased to announce the launch of the free Cycling Guide app in Ottawa, offering residents and visitors the best available low-stress, cycling-friendly routes to get where they want to go.
A “Made in Canada” solution to the common barrier for people using bikes as transportation – how do I get from A to B safely? This mobile app provides users with the safest routes, all colour-coded for easy understanding, making it perfect for those who want to start using their bike and offering better alternatives for getting around their city. And if you are a visitor unfamiliar with finding safe routes, the Cycling Guide app will also help you.
In 2016, Bike Ottawa developed innovative coding to make web-based routing based on the comfort of the person biking on different streets. This work inspired the Cycling Guide app as well as other similar projects around the world. Cycling Guide Foundation, a registered charity, launched in Waterloo in 2023. This year’s launch will also see the cities of Halifax and Sarnia added, with planned expansion in other parts of Canada.
“The Cycling Guide app will make it easier for people to bike in Ottawa. You don’t need to plan an entire route before you leave home; you can find safe, comfortable routes on the go using the app. We know that people are looking for safe routes to get to shops, schools, community centres, and more, and we are thrilled to support the Cycling Guide app in providing this service in Ottawa.” – Florence Lehmann, President of Bike Ottawa.
“People in Ottawa really do want to be able to cycle on low-stress routes to get where they’re going. And we feel great about making that easy for them to do via the best available low-stress, cycling-friendly routes.” – Mark Connolly, Executive Director, Cycling Guide Foundation.
Bike Ottawa would like to thank the dedicated staff at the Cycling Guide Foundation for their tireless efforts, as well as the approximately 100 volunteer testers in Ottawa. We also appreciate the financial support from members of the public and The Biking Lawyer.
Want to try the Cycling Guide app in Ottawa? Get the app now for Android or iPhone. It’s completely free to download and use. Happy cycling!
For any media inquiries, please contact Bike Ottawa at info@bikeottawa.ca