It depends on the province, and in both the answer is “only when it is clearly allowed.” In British Columbia, the default is no sidewalk riding unless a sign or municipal bylaw permits it. In Alberta, the province’s cycling page allows sidewalk riding on signed shared-use sidewalks, and otherwise only on small bikes with wheels under 50 cm in diameter. This page covers those two provincial rules as published; your own city may add to them.
The two rules side by side
| British Columbia | Alberta | |
|---|---|---|
| Default for adult-size bikes | Not allowed on sidewalks | Not allowed on sidewalks |
| What unlocks sidewalk riding | A sign or other traffic control device, or a municipal bylaw | Shared-use signage on the sidewalk |
| Wheel-size exception | No size exception in the provincial rule | Wheels under 50 cm (about 20 in) in diameter |
| Duty toward pedestrians | Reasonable consideration for other road users | Give pedestrians right-of-way; sound a bell or horn before passing |
British Columbia: sign or bylaw, or stay off
The Motor Vehicle Act says a person operating a cycle must not ride on a sidewalk unless a bylaw made under section 124 authorizes it or a sign directs otherwise. The province’s cycling page puts it more plainly: you must not cycle on sidewalks unless a sign or other traffic control device permits it.
The “bylaw” part matters because BC leaves much of this to cities. Section 124 lets a municipal council regulate, control or prohibit traffic on sidewalks, and lets a bylaw set the places and conditions in which people on cycles may use sidewalks and crosswalks. So a sidewalk that is fine to ride in one municipality may be off-limits in the next. Look for the signs, and if there are none, treat the sidewalk as walking space.
Crosswalks follow the same logic
The same section of the Act also says a cyclist must not ride on a crosswalk to cross a highway unless a bylaw allows it or a sign directs otherwise. The practical habit is to dismount and walk the bike across, unless a marked bike crossing tells you otherwise.
Bridges are a special case
BC’s page lists bridges where bikes are not allowed on the road portion, including the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge. For those, the province says you can ride on the sidewalk or a shared-use path where cycle use is permitted. That is an example of the “permitted by the rules” route, not a general license for sidewalks.
Alberta: signs first, then wheel size
Alberta’s government states that if a sidewalk has signage saying it is shared-use, cyclists can ride there. Without that signage, only bicycles with wheels less than 50 cm in diameter, which the page describes as the size of a child’s bike, are permitted on sidewalks and pathways.
Fifty cm is roughly 20 in. Adult commuter, hybrid and mountain bikes have wheels well beyond that, so for them the practical rule is to ride on the road or a bike lane unless a shared-use sign says otherwise. If a child’s bike is close to the limit, do not assume it qualifies; stick to signed paths or the roadway.
Manners and duties when you are allowed
Alberta spells out the courtesy rules: give pedestrians the right-of-way, use an audible signal such as a bell or horn before passing, and travel at a safe speed. Those are sensible anywhere. A walker with headphones, a dog on a lead or a child stepping off a driveway can move into your path in a second, so slow to walking pace near them.
BC asks for due care and attention and reasonable consideration for other road users. BC law also treats a cyclist on a highway as having the same rights and duties as a vehicle driver, and the duty after an injury crash applies to cycles on a highway or a sidewalk: stay at or return to the scene and give all possible assistance, as the Act puts it.
What this means for different riders
- Parents with small children: in Alberta a child on a small-wheel bike may use the sidewalk. In BC, do not rely on size; check for signs or a local bylaw. For younger kids and trailers, see our guide to cycling with kids.
- Commuters: plan on-road or bike-lane routes instead of hoping a sidewalk is legal. Our pieces on commuting by bike and the basic rules for riding on roads cover how to do that.
- E-bike riders: these rules are written for bicycles; for e-bike classes and rules, read E-Bike Laws and your province’s own e-bike page before riding on a sidewalk.
- Anyone unsure: a sidewalk with no sign is the case to avoid. Walk the bike for that block.
Uncertainty and checking locally
This summarizes the BC Motor Vehicle Act and the BC and Alberta government pages; the BC page shows an update date of June 12, 2025. Municipalities in BC can pass their own sidewalk bylaws, so a city’s website or street signage is the final word where you ride. This is general information, not legal advice. If you are cited or involved in a collision, consult the official legislation or a lawyer.
Sources
- BC Laws: Motor Vehicle Act, RSBC 1996 c.318
- Province of British Columbia: Cycling regulations, restrictions and rules
- Government of Alberta: Cycling paths and visibility
Last reviewed: October 2026.