Ottawa Bike Rentals

Thursday, May 25, 2023

RentABike, Ontario, Canada

Today would be a full day of biking in Ottawa and I had perfect clear weather for the day. I had researched Ottawa Rent-A-Bike at the start of the Rideau Canal just under the Chateau Laurier hotel.

The cost to rent the bike for the day was $50. However they said they closed at 5pm and my tour of Rideau Hall was at 4pm. I did not know if I could finish the tour and get the bike back before 5pm. They said I could keep it overnight in my hotel, which I wasn't sure if the hotel would allow.

Rent-A-Bike Ottawa

Rideau Canal

Heading down the Rideau Canal there was a pedestrian bridge crossing where I was able to take my bike across without carrying it up stairs.

I continued south on Rideau Canal heading south to Dows Lake. From here there was supposed to be a bike trail that would take me back north to the Ottawa River.

Due to construction of a new rail line the path was closed and I had to detour thru Little Italy before joining the path back

The path joins the Ottawa River by an old railway bridge which crosses into Quebec. Heading west along the river I came to the Belverdere Rapids which had quite strong currents and is very dangerous to enter.

Geese

Chaudiere Falls

Coming back east along the river towards downtown Ottawa is Chaudiere Island. I have never been here before in any of my visits. It actually houses a hydro dam so creates artificial waterfalls and rapids with strong currents. I don't think tourists know to come here. I didn't on any past trip.

Old Mill

Chaudiere Falls

There was a lot of construction and I was pushed onto Portage Bridge which crosses the Ottawa River into Hull Quebec. I planned to detour a bit and see the Quebec side.

There are many biking trails on the Quebec side but it was mostly parkland so I decided to go back to Ottawa so I would not go too deep and have to bike back

To cross back into Ontario is Alexandra Bridge by my hotel. I had checked them that it was ok to leave the bike in my room overnight and I had a balcony to keep it.

The Alexandra Bridge is a single lane steel bridge which also has a biking path. I was glad I didnt have to keep walking across from my hotel to get to Ottawa and had the bike. It also overlooks Parliament Hill so allows great views from my room

I was now able to make my way to Parliament Hill and bike around downtown Ottawa Streets (Bank, Laurier) heading over to Rideau River to get to my Rideau Hall tour at 4pm.

There was construction again and a lane was closed. I was trying to get around the traffic and did not see a large pothole hidden by the construction barriers. As I biked thru at speed my camera was thrown from my hand onto the sidewalk as the strap broke