Ottawa Electric Bike Tour

Explore Ottawa easily!

You will be riding one of our pedal-assist e-bikes on Ottawa’s safe and scenic beautiful bike trails on a small group tour. During your Ottawa Electric Bike Tour with us, you will learn about Ottawa’s past and present from your passionate and fun local guide.

This relaxed and fun e-bike tour does not just bring you to landmarks and touristic sites but also takes you beyond downtown to some of Ottawa’s hidden gems and quaint neighbourhoods.

There is a mix of biking and stops for storytelling, taking pictures and enjoying the views. You can choose one of our top quality step-through easy-entry electric bikes or a more sporty one to discover beautiful Ottawa.

Starting at our downtown location on historic Sparks Street, your journey with us begins with a proper bike fitting and safety review. We will show you how your pedal-assist electric bike works for your maximum safety, enjoyment and fun. 

You will bike with us along the picturesque Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Safe and scenic, riding on the Rideau Canal Pathway is a must when you visit Ottawa. We will stop at Corktown Bridge so you can take a few Instagram-worthy shots of the love locks and observe the activity of locals riding their bikes, walking, and running or boats traveling through the Canal. Our passionate local guides will fill you in with the history of the canal and neighbourhood!

Next you will bike through the cultural heart of Ottawa, where you’ll have the opportunity to see the renowned National Art Gallery, Maman Sculpture (the famous Ottawa Spider), and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.

Then, pedal through the backroads of the Byward Market, one of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhoods, and admire the old quaint houses.

Crossing a few beautiful bridges to the New Edinburgh neighbourhood, you’ll be transported to a charming enclave filled with historic architecture and green parks. You will enjoy the beautiful gardens, trees and shade at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, and learn from your guide about the Canadian political system and events in Ottawa. 

Next, a stop at Rideau Falls offers a refreshing cool-down as you enjoy a view of where the three rivers meet, and hear how the lumber trade played an important role in the economic growth of the region—with rivers being used to transport the logs.

You will cycle back on Sussex drive (Ottawa’s political hub) and, if there is time, cross over to the Quebec side, to see the fascinating Museum of History whose inspired by Canadian nature and the Indigenous history. You’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Parliament buildings against the backdrop of the Ottawa River. 

Your last stop will be Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa’s first public park, where you will witness the fascinating engineering marvel of the Rideau Canal Locks. 

You will be amazed by how much you see and learn about Ottawa on this easy Ottawa electric bike tour! 

End your tour with a ride back to the Escape Tours & Rentals shop. There you can ask your guide more questions about what to do next or where to eat and drink.

Visit the most popular and famous Ottawa landmarks up close while cycling on bike trails from a perspective not seen from a car or bus tour.

For your bike and helmet fitting and safety review, please arrive 20 minutes prior to your tour start time!

Your tour starts and ends at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals at 65 Sparks St.

Parking: We highly recommend leaving your car at your hotel. Street parking in our neighbourhood is difficult and the meters/time restrictions can be confusing. But if you must drive, here are a few underground parking lots: National Art Centre Parkade (99 Elgin St.), World Exchange Plaza (Metcalfe and Albert entrance), City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W). 

Flexible Booking – Book with confidence! For public tours, you will be fully refunded if you give us 24 hours notice before your tour starts.

No refunds for any cancellations within 24 hours prior to the activity start date and time. 

Bad weather? Don’t worry, If your reservation must be cancelled due to the bad weather, you will be fully refunded.

What is your cancellation policy?
You will be fully refunded if you give us 24 hours’ notice. There will be no refunds for any cancellations within 24 hours prior to the activity start date and time. Please inquire about the private tour cancellation policy.

Are there any hills?
Ottawa is a flat city, so most of the ride will be on flat bike paths. There might be a few inclines that can be easily managed when riding our top-quality pedal-assit electric bikes.

What if it rains?
Your ride will continue in light rain. We supply you with rain ponchos. 

In case of heavy rain or storm forecast, your trip will be cancelled — the final call will be made two hours before the start time of your tour, and we’ll contact you by phone and email. 

If your tour is cancelled due to the weather, you will be fully refunded or can choose to keep your credit for an alternative date or time.

Is biking in Ottawa safe?  
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.

Can I bring my own bicycle?
Yes. Please ensure that your bicycle is in good working condition and you have spare parts (e.g., proper tube size) in case. You will receive a $5 discount for bringing your own bicycle.

Have more questions? Visit our detailed FAQs page or contact us!

“We are on a NZ friends/family group tour of Canada. Travelling from Toronto to Quebec. Staying 2 days in Ottawa. Booked on this tour as it could provide fully equipped bikes (including an Ebike for my husband) and a guide. Age group 35 – 66yrs in our group. Varying levels of fitness & abilities. Just fantastic. We had Brian as our tour guide. Wonderfully humorous but extremely safe. Continually checking on a couple of the slower members of our group. Fantastic experience…..Thank you Escape Cycle Tours”

Claire

“David was an excellent guide! Very considerate and helpful and kind and welcoming. We got to see incredible views and hear tidbits of interesting history. This 3.5 hour tour even included a stop for espresso and dessert in Little Italy! It’s a safe ride through scenic parks along the Rideau canal and over the bridge to Quebec, through nice neighborhoods and paved trails. The tour provides a bottle of water and a granola bar, but bring extra water too! There are a couple stops with bathrooms too, if you were to need them. I HIGHLY recommend springing for an e-bike (it’s an add-on after booking) if you’re not a powerful rider and can’t effortlessly cycle uphill – there were only a few inclines, and everyone else on the tour managed well on regular bikes, but I’m a novice with a weird knee and I would’ve fallen behind for sure! My pedal assist e-bike made for an easy, fun ride, with all the joy of cycling in the great outdoors. Their storefront/meet up spot on Spark Street has bathrooms and an expansive cafe with food and drink, and a beautiful outdoor patio to rest/collapse at afterwards. They’ve thought of everything. Easily the best experience in town. Thanks!”

Fiona

“We took a 3.5 hour private e-bike tour of Ottawa. The e-bikes allowed us to see more of the city with less effort although the bike paths in Ottawa are so well paved, easily navigable and mostly flat so could easily be done on a regular bike.
Our guide, Mike, was so friendly and easy going. He was very knowledgeable about the area.
Maria, the owner of the company was easy to work with by phone ahead of time and helped me decide which tour was best for my group.
I would highly recommend this activity when in Ottawa. I’ve never done a bike tour before but would do it again in a heartbeat!”

Suzy