Exploring Richmond this summer is easier than ever thanks to the return of two car-free transportation options – the Richmond Discovery Shuttle and a Bike Valet in Steveston.
Building on last year’s success, the City of Richmond and Tourism Richmond have once again partnered to offer these two environmentally-friendly transportation services. Both are free to use and this year the Discovery Shuttle offers an additional route with extra stops to provide even more options to enjoy what the city has to offer.
“Richmond is one of the region’s most popular destinations for visitors,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The Discovery Shuttle is a comfortable, low-carbon option for people to experience some of our favorite locations. The Bike Valet supports our commitment to active transportation and encourages people to enjoy the many attractions of Steveston knowing their bike, scooter or stroller is safe and secure.”
“This summer, as we welcome people from near and far, we are pleased to offer these two options that make it easy for people to discover the many gems in our city,” said Nancy Small, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Richmond. “With new stops, the Discovery Shuttle is a convenient way to visit attractions and check out different areas in the city, and the Bike Valet in Steveston gives cyclists peace of mind that their bike is safely parked while they visit the many Village amenities.”
Richmond Discovery Shuttle
The Richmond Discovery Shuttle operates on weekends and statutory holidays until September 4. It will also provide service on Friday, June 30 ahead of the Canada Day weekend.
The Shuttle is a seasonal, free service which is a connection between hotels, attractions and Steveston Village. There are two Shuttle routes - the Blue Line and Yellow Line – and both have been designed for visitors to Richmond, who may not have a vehicle to explore the city. Residents are also welcome to use the Shuttle, as an environmentally-friendly way to explore Richmond attractions.
The Blue Line has six stops starting at 9:30am, with the last stop drop-off at 7:20pm:
- Radisson Hotel
- Sandman Signature Hotel
- Holiday Inn Express
- River Rock Casino Resort
- Versante Hotel
- McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
The Yellow Line has five stops starting at 10:00am, with the last stop drop off at 7:50pm:
- Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport
- Lansdowne Station
- McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
- Gulf of Georgia Cannery
- Britannia Shipyards
The Discovery Shuttle is made possible by a partnership between Tourism Richmond, the City of Richmond, and the Richmond Hotel Association. It is operated by Universal Coach Lines, a Richmond-based company.
Bike Valet in Steveston
For those who want to explore Steveston with the fresh air in their face, the City and Tourism Richmond have made it easier than ever with the return of the free Bike Valet. Similar to a coat check, the Bike Valet service offers secure parking for bicycles and other non-carbon vehicles such as strollers, skateboards and scooters. Knowing your bike is safely stored, you can discover Steveston’s many eateries, visit the quaint shops, and check out the parks, pier, boardwalk and historic sites of the popular waterfront destination. The Bike Valet secure area is continuously monitored and is operated by Bicycle Valet, a professional bike valet service and social enterprise of Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST).
Located in the heart of Steveston Village at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery parking lot (4th Ave and Chatham St), the Bike Valet holds up to 75 bicycles and operates from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekends and statutory holidays until September 4. Like the Discovery Shuttle, it will also open on Friday, June 30 for the Canada Day weekend.
The Bike Valet is another partnership project between the City and Tourism Richmond and is sponsored by the Steveston Harbour Authority, which is providing the location for the Bike Valet.