Bikes can be taken on the C-Train any time of the day, although during peak times, it is important to use your best judgement. If a train car is full, you may need to wait for the next train to get one. Luckily, peak times mean that the next train is just moments away!

Doors are clearly marked for bicycle access with a Bicycle icon, although the style of train will change the location of the “bike doors”. The newer “Mask” trains have bicycles entering at one of two mid-car doors, with bike and riders lining up against the lean bar seating. In the older style trains, bikes and riders are asked to get on at the end of the cars (but never at the first door blocking the driver!) and remain at the door for the duration of the trip. The Red Line, Blue Line and soon (ish) Green line can expand the distances even in a city as vast as Calgary, and allows you to reduce the “last mile” distance to your final destination.

Of course, not everything is covered by the C-Train, and your best option might be to take your bike on the bus to reach a further destination. The bus racks can be intimidating, especially when you have never used it before. You have a bus full of people waiting for you to figure it out, and the driver is sometimes just watching you. Not to fear! The racks are actually quite simple to use if you just follow the instructions that are located on the sticker at the front of the bus on the top rail. Note that most residential and commercial routes have buses with racks, even the smaller shuttles in the summer. Some industrial routes do not prioritize bus racks as of now.

• Stand with intention at the bus stop. This lets the bus driver know you are actively seeking a ride and not just standing nearby with your bicycle
• Remove any unsecured items like locks, bags, water bottles or anything that could come loose during the trip
• Once bus has come to a stop, approach the front of the bus with your bike. The driver should lower the bus at this time
• Lift handle to drop the rack to sitting position
• Front and rear wheel placement is marked on the rack once down
• If you are the first bike getting on, courtesy suggests you should place your bike closest to the bus in case another rider is getting on later
• Lift the security arm over your tire and fit it firmly
• A driver will come to assist you if you are struggling, but they will not secure the bike for you, rather guide you through the process. They are happy to do so!
• Get on the bus and scan your pass or ticket
• Try to stay near the front of the bus so that you can see your bike as you will want to keep an eye on it at stops
• When it is your stop, simply remove your bike and lower the security arm. If you are the only bike, lift the rack back to the upright position
• Wave a thank you to the driver

The Calgary Transit App has a feature in the settings to make biking your primary mode of transportation. This allows you to see your destination in segments that can be combined with biking and transit to arrive in time for the bell, the start of a shift, or even to the theatre in time to line up for popcorn.

While this is not necessarily the best app for wayfinding, it is handy for those longer trips, when weather makes you think twice about riding home or days when you are not feeling great and need an assist. It does calculate in miles vs kilometers, and you may not get all of the information about a bike detour that you would on other platforms, but it does make multi-modal planning very easy to do.