Spirit Trail 2023

Spirit Trail Photo Project

Introduction

In September 2023, I did a photo documentary of the North Vancouver Spirit Trail.

North Shore bike infrastructure still has a long way to go before catching up with the Netherlands (or even Downtown Vancouver), but I want to highlight some of the infrastructure we have.

The trail is a multi-use path (MUP) that eventually? will connect Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay. Currently the trail is mostly complete in the City and parts of District of NorthVan.

Information Sign at the east end of the Spirit Trail. The sign has a "you are here" map and says: "The City's portion of the multi-use Spirit Trail is 6.5 km long. It connects neighbourhoods and new landmarks with popular destinations such as Lonsdale Quay, The Shipyards and Moodyville Park."

Map showing the current route of the Spirit Trail in North and West Vancouver. The trail is marked with a red line.

Leaving aside issues with MUPs (not so good for fast cycling, mixing people traveling at different speeds, etc), the trail provides a safe, connected, east/west route through the lower North Shore from Park and Tilford Mall to Ambleside Park. I know one person who will only bike on a fully protected lane like the Spirit Trail, and often see parents biking with their kids along it, often transporting them on cargo bikes.

I broke the trail into 11 sections (A to K). Photos are from September 2023 and organized travelling from east to west.

Map of the east end of the Spirit Trail, showing sections A to G.

Map of the west end of the Spirit Trail, showing sections G to K.

For some more info about the trail see:

• City of North Vancouver - North Shore Spirit Trail

• District of North Vancouver

• District of West Vancouver

Rona to Bridge over 3rd Street

Section A. The East end of the Spirit Trail currently ends/begins behind Park and Tilford Mall and Rona at Gladstone Ave. There is also a short section for the new bridge over Lynn Creek, but I am not counting that since it is not yet connected to the main trail.

The trail winds up a little hill which is fun to bike down.

This section passes Heywood Street, which provides a north/south street connection to East Keith Road.

Start/End of the east end of the Spirit Trail. Photo shows a crosswalk and the beginning of the trail, protected from cars by a central bollard.	Two people biking eastbound along the Spirit Trail beside 4th Street.
One person biking eastward down the hill between Heywood Street and 4th Street.	A person cycling west, crossing Heywood Street on a crosswalk.

Moodyville Park

Section B. This section of the #SpiritTrail crosses 3rd Street on a bridge and passes through Moodyville Park. It provides a safer alternative to the 3rd Street Hill or Low Level Road. The bridge provides a view point for the train yard, Burnaby Mountain, and our local coal pile.

A cyclist crossing the Spirit Trail bridge above 3rd Street.	A person biking up the hill from the bridge to Moodyville Park. A fence on the right keeps people from falling over a cliff.
Three kids biking along the Spirit Trail in Moodyville Park. There are trees (mostly bigleaf maple and some alder) on either side of the trail.	A cyclist coming down the windy hill near the Moodyville Park playground. This is near Moody Ave and 2nd Street.