Getting to the Goose!

Regional connectivity is a cycling concern for those living in the east end of Greater Victoria, and getting to the Goose and Lochside Trails by bike can pose challenges.  Cycling north-west from Oak Bay is daunting if the goal is to avoid travelling on busy arterial roads.

Here's one of my favourite ways to get to the Goose.  Use the University of Victoria campus as the starting point.  You probably have a favourite cycling route to the campus depending on where you live in Oak Bay.  As the Saanich and Oak Bay municipal borders bisect the campus, let's start at the edge of the Oak Bay border of the campus.


Cycle west along the pathway leading from the Commons beside the Hickman Building.

Continue across Ring Road along the pathway



Cross Gordon Head Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signalled crosswalk at Midgard Street.   Proceed along Midgard, then turn right at Ansell Road, then left at Mortimer Street.



Cross Shelbourne Street, using the cyclist-activated traffic light,  (Thank you Saanich for this amenity! Cyclists need a similar treatment on the Haultain Connector to cross Foul Bay Rd.)



Continue on Mortimer to Cedar Hill Road.  Turn right on Cedar Hill, proceed about 35 metres, then turn left on to Gregory Place, leading in to Cedar Hill Middle School.



Turn right in front of school, cycling with the building on your left, and follow the path.

Continue along the school path to Garnet Road.



Turn left, leaving school property at the Garnet cul-de-sac.  A paved, winding pathway leads up to Shorncliffe Road.  Turn right on Shorncliffe,  continue along about 100 metres, then turn right on Wende Road.  Follow Wende  as it winds to the left and changes its name to Harrop Road



Cycle along Harrop to Braefoot Road, then turn right (north) on Braefoot.



Cycling north on Braefoot, cross McKenzie Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signal on the west side of the intersection.  As there is no crosswalk or signal on the east side of the intersection, and as McKenzie is a very busy road, it's problematic to cross by bike unless the west crosswalk is used.



Proceed along Braefoot to Mount Douglas Cross Road, then turn left (west) on to the cycle path.  Watch for pedestrians and cyclists on the trail before turning!



Cycle west on the trail, then cross Blenkinsop Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signal.  You are now on the Blenkinsop Greenway multi-use trail that intersects directly with the Lochside Trail.



Time for a rest at the trail intersection of Blenkinsop Greenway and the Lochside Trail.  Turning right (north) on the Lochside Trail leads to Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, and Swartz Bay.
Turning left (south) leads to downtown Victoria and the Galloping Goose Trail intersection.   The Goose multi-use trail extends west of Victoria.

Enjoy your ride to the Goose.  If you have a good route you'd like to share, please comment.