Self-Guided Biking in Ottawa-Gatineau
Description
We will give you a lightweight hybrid city bike, helmet, lock and map and send you off to a fun journey to explore Ottawa-Gatineau region all on safe and scenic bicycle paths away from traffic. Our maps are full cusotmizable to your interests.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Cycle on beautiful Rideau Canal pathway
Cycle through the beautiful waterfront pathway!
Arrive at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals at 65 Sparks St. 5 minutes prior to your reservation start time.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 18 years
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- You must leave a credit card information at the time of the bike pick up as a security against potential bike damage.
- Where to park: We recommend finding a private parking lot nearby or using the following underground parking lots: National Arts Centre (1 Elgin St.) City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W)
- We are located at 65 Sparks St. which is a pedestrian street between Elgin and Metcalfe. We are a few steps away from the Parliament Hills and the National War Memorial.
- A Valid ID is required for pick up.
Reviews(111)
We rented 7 bikes for the whole family and rode them for a week in and around Ottawa. Along the Rideau Canal and River, City Centre and even to Chelsea through the Gatineau Park. We are all seasoned cyclists, so our expectations were high. The bikes are very good and well maintained, the staff is super friendly and helpful, making our trip outstanding and exceeding our expectations. Thank you Maria and team for this, next time we will definitely rent again at Escape Bicycle!
A magnificent family experience!
We paid in advance non-refundable for a self guided tour. It originally showed a 3pm booking when I was going into the listing and defaulted to 1pm when I finalized (my own priblem) they were kind enough to say I could pick the bikes up late but we were driving from Toronto so Diane make it in time. I emailed asking if I could use the bikes in the morning and they said they were fully booked. The reason for the 3 star is that they didn’t offer any other alternatives, given it’s just a bike rental (not an actual tour) it would have bed. Nice to at least try to find a way to offer some accommodation rather than just taking all our money.
First time user with this type of business and didn't know what to expect, given our senior age. From our first greetings to final thank yous my wife and I had a fantastic time. They suite your choice given any restrictions and advise accordingly. Ask any questions and the answer/s are freely given. We will be returning to Ottawa and will definitely use Escape again.
Dear John, What kind and beautiful words! Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are so glad to hear that you and your wife had such a positive experience with us. We truly care about and take pride in making sure every valued customer feels comfortable and well looked after from the moment they walk in, and it is lovely to hear that came through. We very much look forward to seeing you both again on your next visit to Ottawa! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
Really good value for money, friendly staff, bikes are good quality. Highly recommend using if you want to bike around the Rideau canal and Gatineau!
Dear Anon, Thank you so much for your very kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time biking with us and that the bikes, value for money, and our team all hit the mark. Exploring the Rideau Canal and all the trails in Ottawa and Gatineau by bike is such a fun experience, and it’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks again for recommending Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals — we hope to see you back on two wheels soon! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
We've rented from Escape twice and had positive experiences both times. The bikes were all set to go when we arrived at the scheduled time in the morning and the staff was friendly and helpful. Helmets are included with the rental and the prices are reasonable.
Dear David! Thank you so much! It’s always so heartwarming to have returning guests. It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve had positive experiences renting with us. We’re glad our team could make your visits easy and enjoyable, and we appreciate your kind words about the bikes, helmets, and pricing. We look forward to your future visits! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
Top notch experience with Escape - I rented a high quality, well maintained bicycle kitted out with a bell, newish panier, great lock, very comfortable seat, properly fitted quality helmet. Polite, professional, friendly and very helpful staff - a please to deal with them. Kept their composure even when pressed from all sides by tourists. Highest of all possible recommendations for this company.
Wow — thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that your bike was comfortable and well equipped, and that our team could make your rental easy and enjoyable. It means so much to us that you noticed the care we put into both our bikes and our service — we love helping guests explore Ottawa with confidence and joy. We’re truly blessed with such a great team, and your kind words and high recommendation encourage us to keep doing what we love! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
The staff is very friendly. Very competent. The equipment is quality, well maintained, almost new. The advice is relevant. The price is very affordable. If I come back through Ottawa, I hope to come back to you. A Thousand Thank You, Good Continuation and May Your Small Enterprise Prosper.
Merci infiniment pour votre magnifique avis ! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié la découverte du canal Rideau à vélo, en toute sécurité et sans côtoyer les voitures. Nous sommes heureux que notre équipe ait pu vous accompagner avec attention et que le matériel ait répondu à vos attentes. Vos mots chaleureux sur nos conseils et nos services nous touchent beaucoup. Ce serait un vrai plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau si vous repassez par Ottawa ! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
Even before the rental, the Escape Tours and Rentals team took the time to fully understand my needs and suggested the perfect bike. The service was fast, personalized and very friendly. The bike was powerful, well maintained, and allowed me to cover about 80 km by modulating the assistance according to the terrain. Ideal for facing the slopes of the park while enjoying the landscape. Simple and hassle-free return. I recommend this company without hesitation for the quality of its advice, professionalism and reliability of its equipment.
Cher Jean-François, Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez trouvé notre service tellement impeccable et c'était vraiment notre plaisir d'être capable de vous le fournir. Nous adorons voir vos photos avec le vélo électrique dans le parc de la Gatineau ! Merci de les avoir partagés. Nous espérons vous retrouver pour une autre belle randonnée à Ottawa! Gros merci, l'Équipe Escape et Maria:)
It was our first time trying out electric bikes. Maria and her staff were super friendly and helpful with route suggestions. We did about a 40km loop in Ottawa and Gatineau, no problem with the electric assist. The bikes were brand new and good quality. We will definitely go back again.
Dear Jason, it was our pleasure to set you up for a nice ebike family ride in Ottawa! Thank you so much for choosing us and your recommendation. We look forward to your future visits! Warm regards, The Escape Team & Maria :)
