BC Cycle Tourism Society

Guide to the BC Bike Stops directory

Every touring cyclist in BC is doing the same detective work: Will the hostel store my bike? Does the bus take three bikes? Will I be able to fill up my water bottle mid-ride?

18,600+
cycling stops
908
BC communities
7
stop types

BC Bike Stops is an accreditation program developed by the BC Cycle Tourism Society to highlight businesses that genuinely serve cycle tourists. Seven categories of stops, criteria designed for each facility type, and every listing tells you what you're getting before you arrive.

Already know what you're looking for? Open the interactive directory →

The seven stop types#

What we require of each, at a glance. Each type has its own guide: what the criteria mean, what else we track, and a few stops that show the range.

Those are the required basics. On top of them, each type carries a standardized set of optional amenities, from a dozen for supplies up to twenty-plus for camping, chosen for what actually helps a cyclist, whether you're loaded up for a week of bikepacking or out for an afternoon on a rail trail: covered bike parking, a water bottle refill, laundry, somewhere to bring your bike inside, Wi-Fi, a bike wash. Every amenity is recorded on each listing, and you can filter any category down to just the stops that have the ones you need.

What the badges mean#

Every listing carries one of four badges, so you can tell at a glance how much we know.

Accredited

Verified to meet all accreditation criteria, by application, our own research, or community recommendation.

Welcoming

Meets our cyclist-welcoming criteria on the info we have, but hasn't been formally accredited.

Info

Listed for reference; details are mostly assumed from public data.

Bikes Unwelcome

Known not to accommodate bikes, flagged so you can plan around it.

Every listing shows which criteria are confirmed and which are still assumed from public data, so you know what you are getting before you arrive. Riders and businesses can correct any listing.

How we build this
The BC Cycle Tourism Society starts from open data — OpenStreetMap, open government datasets, and public sources — and uses AI to match places to cycling routes and draft each listing against its category's criteria. Businesses can also apply directly — a 10-minute form where they confirm they meet their category's criteria and share local knowledge for cyclists. We review every application ourselves, usually within two weeks. Accreditation lasts two years, then we check in to confirm the listing is still accurate.

Want the backstory? Read how and why we built this in our Field Notes Newsletter.

Common questions#

What is BC Bike Stops?

It's an accreditation program from the BC Cycle Tourism Society, and a directory of places across BC that are glad to see you arrive by bike. Seven categories of stops, each with criteria built for that kind of place, so every listing tells you what you're getting before you arrive.

What does “cycle tourism” mean?

Travelling by bike for the trip itself. It might be a day ride around one town, a few days linking rail-trails and quiet roads, or a loaded bikepacking route. Not commuting, not racing. Just exploring BC under your own power and choosing stops along the way that make the ride easier and more enjoyable.

How is this different from a regular tourism listing?

A normal listing tells you a place exists. Ours tells you whether it works when you arrive on a bike. Each category carries its required basics plus a standardized set of optional amenities, from a dozen for supplies up to twenty-plus for camping, all chosen for what actually helps a cyclist on the road.

Does it cover all of British Columbia?

Yes, all of it. The directory spans 908 communities, from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island to the Kootenays, the Okanagan, the North, and the Interior. Coverage is denser in some areas than others, and it keeps growing as more stops are added.

How can I find cycle tourism spots along my planned route?

For now, browse stops by community along your route and filter each category down to the amenities you need. We're also building route-planning tools that will show cyclist-welcoming stops right along your route, so you can plan a whole trip in one view. Those are coming soon, stay tuned!

Can I find budget options, or higher-end ones?

Both. Accommodation, food and drink, and attractions carry a price indicator ($ to $$$), so you can pick a cheap campground meal or a nicer stay depending on the trip you want. The listings don't push you either way. They just show what's there so you can choose.

I ride an e-bike. Is this useful to me too?

Yes. E-bike riders are a growing part of the touring crowd, and the directory tracks what matters to you. “E-bike charging” is a flagged amenity on accommodation, camping, food, and attraction listings, so you can find places to top up the battery. We also try to make clear whether a bike shop can service e-bike motors and batteries, and whether transport accepts e-bikes, weight and battery rules included. We don't have complete details everywhere yet, but it keeps getting better.

Is this directory useful if I'm hiking or paddling instead of cycling?

It's built for people travelling by bike, and the criteria reflect that, like secure bike storage and whether a bus will carry your bike. That said, a lot of what it tracks, water refills, washrooms, welcoming places to stay, and local route knowledge, is useful to anyone exploring BC under their own power.

How do you decide what counts as Indigenous-owned?

We don't decide it ourselves. The Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-operated tags come from Indigenous Tourism BC and Destination Indigenous, where businesses self-identify and are listed by the Indigenous tourism organizations themselves. A few band-operated facilities, like Nation-run campgrounds in provincial parks, are tagged from public operator records. Culture & heritage is broader: it means a place centres Indigenous culture, art, or heritage you can experience as a visitor, whatever its ownership. If we've got something wrong, or your business should be here and isn't, please tell us and we'll fix it. We care about recognizing Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-operated listings correctly and respectfully.

Is it free to use?

Yes. Browsing the directory and planning your trip is completely free. Listing a business or becoming accredited is free too. Our goal is a comprehensive directory that benefits every cycle tourist in BC.

I run a business. What are the benefits of being listed or accredited?

Cyclists plan their trips around places that welcome them. In Quebec, where the Bienvenue cyclistes! program has run for decades, 31% of overnight cycle tourists adjust their itinerary based on certification. Listing is free. Accreditation brings a full, customized listing with the teal Accredited badge, highlighted placement in our route-planning tools, features in our newsletter and social channels, and a digital "BC Bike Stops" badge for your own website if you'd like one. The form takes about 10 minutes, we review every application ourselves within two weeks, and accreditation lasts two years. Apply on the Apply for accreditation page.

I have a suggestion that would help other cycle tourists. Where do I send it?

We'd love to hear it. If you know a great cyclist-welcoming stop we're missing, or you spot something that needs fixing, head to the Suggest or update a listing page and tell us. The directory gets better every time a rider shares what they know, so thank you!


Get involved#

Help us make the BC Bike Stops directory better.

Want to welcome cyclists?

Join the BC Bike Stops program as an accredited business and tell touring riders exactly what you offer.

Apply for accreditation →
Know a business that should be listed?

Rode past a café with a bike rack? Stayed at a hostel that stored your bike? Tell us about it.

Suggest or update a listing →

Got feedback on the program? We'd love to hear it. Contact us or email hello@bccycletourism.ca.