Bow Valley Parkway closure keeping pace with cyclist volumes on Legacy Trail

After the first year officially piloting the Bow Valley Parkway as a cycling experience, a clearer picture is emerging of how theclosure is being used as tourists and visitors return to Banff National Park.

Back in 2020, Parks Canada decided to restrict access to the parkway as a COVID-19 public health measure.

After public consultation, Parks Canada announced a three-year pilot program to study how a seasonal closure, specifically for cyclists, works. The closure encompasses 17 kilometres of road on the easterly portion of the 1A, maintaining vehicular access to Johnston Canyon.

"We did expect a high usage and volume," said Banff Field Unit visitor experience manager Daniella Rubeling. "I think we were still a little surprised because it's not insignificant the volume of people taking advantage of that offer."

Between May and June 25,and in the fall for the month of September, officials logged 63,694 cycling trips with newly-installed counters.

Comparing the spring trips to activity on Legacy Trail, a well-established pathway connecting Banff and Canmore, shows the Bow Valley Parkway is keeping pace. Between May 1and June 30, there were 34,000 trips on the 1A and 32,357 logged on the Legacy Trail.

The closure has become part of Banff Cycle's tour offerings, owner Tom Couture says many who hop on the saddle to cruise up and down the hilly parkway are from Alberta.

"Parks Canada went out on a real limb," Couture said. "I know there was a lot of skepticism about the value of the closure of the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon."

He's glad to see real data and numbers coming out of the pilot, and hopes at the end of the day these stats show the value of this closure.

"From a personal point of view, I hope it stays closed forever," Couture said.

WATCH| This video from 2020 shows how cyclists use the Bow Valley Parkway:

Two-wheeled visitors have more elbow room in Banff National Park

4 years ago

Duration 0:50

Until further notice, motor vehicles aren't allowed on the Bow Valley Parkway and Tunnel Mountain Drive in Banff.

With the launch of a pilot, Rubeling said Parks was able to deploy signage to help people understand the route and where to access washroom facilities along the way.

This is one of the things she wants to improve for next year, ensuring people understand how to travel from the Town of Banff to the parkway experience by bike parking at the head of the parkway isn't encouraged.

In terms of wildlife conflict and emergency response, 2022 was a quiet year.

"There was definitely a lot of wildlife on the Bow Valley Parkway in the spring," Rubeling said. "Even though there was lots of wildlife activity, there were no real conflicts with the cyclists."

The pilot will wrap up in 2024, and the findings will inform future planning for Parks Canada. Rubeling says while there will be small tweaks to the pilot after its first year, cyclists shouldn't notice the closure dates and parameters will remain the same.