Frequently Asked Questions
Find some answers here, and don’t hesitate to ask us anything!
Ottawa Bike Tour Related FAQs
Booking an Ottawa bike tour
Easy, just go to our tour page and click on book now to follow the easy online booking process. You can also call or email us to book a tour.
Tours prices range from $45 to $99, depending on their length. Costs are indicated under each tour description and also at the booking time. For group and custom tours, please contact us to discuss your needs and pricing options.
Contact us and we will likely work it out for you. When one of our tours is maxed out, we form a second group with a second guide so everyone can go out for a fun tour.
You highly recommend booking in advance to save your spot as we do sell out on our popular tours.
Yes. Please call or email us to discuss this.
We offer our regular tours in English. We can offer our tours in French, Spanish, German and Dutch. For non-English tours please contact us to inquire.
Yes. Any of our tours can be an electric bike tour of Ottawa. All you need to do is to choose the e-bike add-on at the checkout.
Yes, very often! Visit our private tour page and call or email and let us know what you have in mind and we’ll make it happen for you!
Yes. By purchasing an Escape gift certificate, you’re giving the gift of health, wellness, and a great natural adventure! Here are some occasions to present an Escape Bicycle Tour gift certificate:
- Birthday
- Wedding
- Graduation
- Welcome to Ottawa
- New home
- Employee incentive or thank you
We now offer the Escape flex card that gives you maximum flexibility and discount.
Please call or email to purchase a gift certificate.
Refund, cancellation and weather policy for our Ottawa tours
For public tours, you will be fully refunded if you give us 24 hours notice. There will be no refunds for any cancellations or rescheduling requests within 24 hours prior to the booking/activity start date and time. If the reservation must be cancelled By Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals due to the bad weather, we fully refund our clients. Please inquire for private tours cancellation policy.
What to expect before and during your Ottawa bike tour?
We use hybrid performance or hybrid comfort bikes because they provide maximum comfort while allowing you to ride at a relaxed enjoyable pace.
Our tour begins at our location 65 Sparks St.
We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes in advance to do the bicycle/helmet fitting, review the tour, sign the required document(s) and get to know your guide and other tour participants. We’ll leave sharp on time. There will be no refund for late arrival.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring your phone/camera and expect to have a great time. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Some cash for tips is recommended.
The tours are easy and you will bike at a leisurely and relaxed paced. We’ll set a pace that is comfortable for all and explain how to ride in a group safely. Most of our tours are for leisure visitors who want to experience places (not just cycle through them fast). Our tours also have an ease rating that helps you identify the suitability of the tour. If you’re not sure, please call or email us to discuss your needs, and we’ll suggest the tour that is best suited for you.
Ottawa is an extremely bike-friendly city. Almost all of your ride will be on Ottawa’s well-maintained cycle paths. In a few exceptions, we will be riding on backroads in neighbourhoods or crossing streets with traffic lights. As well, we start all our tours with a safety briefing and proper fitting for your bike and safety helmet.
Ottawa is a flat city, so most of the ride will be on flat paths. There might be a few inclines but they are manageable. We always say there is no hill that you cannot walk up!
Yes, our 2-hour tour is family-friendly and we have child trailer and bicycles/accessories for little ones from the age of 1 to youth. For the 3, 3.5 hour tours we recommend bringing children who are 11 or older.
Yes, you will have about 6-10 stops depending on the length of your tour.
Ottawa Bike Rental Related FAQs
How to Rent a bike in Ottawa?
At Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals located at 65 Sparks St. Ottawa.
- Reserve online, over the phone or walk-in to our location.
- Come to our location at 65 Sparks St. to be fitted on the bike.
- We will fill out a form for you with your credit card information (you won’t be charged, We will pre-authorize a certain amount for e bike, road and mountain bike rentals).
- Pay however way you like (cash, debit, credit card) when you return the bike(s).
It depends on the type of bike. Our prices starts from $8 per hour and the fee decreases the longer you rent to as low as $3 per hour for full day. See our rates here.
At Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals located at 65 Sparks St.
Yes. At Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals located at 65 Sparks St.
Our primary location is at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals, located at 65 Sparks St. We have a limited number of Rentals available at Dows’ Lake Pavillion. Please visit our Dow’s Lake rental page to learn more.
We recommend doing so. While we have many hybrid bikes available , we recommend advanced reservation for specialty bikes such as ebikes, road and mountain bikes especially during long weekends and busy weekends in July and Summer.
Types of rental bikes
All types: hybrid performance, Hybrid comfort, Electric (pedal assist), Mountain, Road, Tandem & Kids’ bikes. See our bike fleet here.
Yes, we have a variety of options including child trailer, trail-a-bike, 20, 24 and 26 inch wheel size bikes. Visit our rental fleet page to see the options for your little ones.
Yes. We have top of the line cube and Gazelle ebikes with Bosch engine/battery and up to 100 km range. You can check out our ebikes here.
Depending on the mode, our Bosch engineered ebikes have up to 100 KM range. You can check our ebikes here.
In Ontario, any one of the age of 16 or older can ride an electric bike.
Yes. Please call or email us to discuss this.
In Ontario, anyone under 18 must wear a helmet. Wearing helmet is optional for anyone of the age of 18 or older.
The chance of having mechanical difficulties is very low as our bikes are brand new and we maintain them on a very regular basis. We do provide flat repair kit with the rental if you wish. If anything happens because of the bike maintenance issue on our side we would do our best to take care of you depending on the circumstances.
Yes. By purchasing an Escape gift certificate, you’re giving the gift of health, wellness, and a great natural adventure! Here are some occasions to present an Escape Bicycle Tour gift certificate:
- Birthday
- Wedding
- Graduation
- Welcome to Ottawa
- New home
- Employee incentive or thank you
We now offer the Escape flex card that gives you maximum flexibility and discount.
Please call or email to purchase a gift certificate.