Thunder Bay Bike Friendly Business List

09/23/2026

I wish Thunder Bay drivers would follow these rules! Last year I reported several vehicles that passed me VERY close (less than 1m space) complete with pictures and video, one even had some sheet metal hanging out the side of the truck that passed over my head! I never heard back from the Thunder Bay Police Service at all. They don't seem to take this seriously or we're not a priority.

🚴‍♂️🚗 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗡 🇪🇸

From 𝟭 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, Spain is introducing stricter rules to provide greater protection for cyclists.

Drivers will need to remember:

🔹 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
On interurban roads, you must travel at least 𝟮𝟬 𝗸𝗺/𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 while passing a cyclist. On a 90 km/h road, that means overtaking at no more than 𝟳𝟬 𝗸𝗺/𝗵.

🔹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲
The minimum sideways distance remains 𝟭.𝟱 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀. On roads with two or more lanes in the same direction, you must move completely into the adjoining lane.

🔹 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀
Drivers must leave at least 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 between their vehicle and a cyclist travelling ahead in the same lane.

🔹 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲
In urban areas, cyclists will generally be entitled to ride in the centre of their lane rather than being forced close to the kerb.

🔹 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
This includes marked cycle crossings, vehicles turning across a cyclist’s path and groups of cyclists already entering a junction or roundabout.

🔹 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀
Councils can authorise this on single-lane roads limited to 30 km/h or less, but only where it is specifically signposted.

⚠️ Serious breaches can mean a 𝗺𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 €𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Some protections, including the 1.5-metre passing distance, already existed. The major new requirements include 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 in urban areas.

Please share so that more drivers are aware before the new rules take effect.

Car Registrations Spain

09/13/2026

Another great business that has made cyclists feel welcome when you are riding north of the city on Highway 591. There is a bike rack and a nice picnic table outside to enjoy your mid-ride snack at The Store on 591. I had a delicious home-made date square, perfect fuel for the rest of my ride out to Dog Lake.

09/08/2026

Latest entry to the list is Lakehead B**r Company and Tomlin Subdivision outdoor patio. They have some nice bike hooks to hang your bike (with a ring bolted in the wall you can attach your cable lock). You can also just bring your bike right onto the patio where you're sitting if you're not carrying a lock.

08/06/2026

Thank you Joe OBlenis for today's featured bike friendly business The Early Refill Coffee in Rosslyn (also with a location in Kakabeka Falls). Nice bike rack out front with outdoor seating to watch your ride. Also very a very nice Trek Bicycle Joe! This is a nice place to start and end a ride around the southern rural roads of Thunder Bay.

07/16/2026

This one goes to 11? Isn't 10 the worst? I think Thunder Bay is definitely NOT bike friendly right now. Stay indoors and stay safe! Nobody should be breathing this air while riding a bike. 😲

07/11/2026

Bike Friendly Business today is the Metropolitan Moose Beanery & Cafe in Kakabeka Falls! This is the place for Coffee and Pastries after a nice ~30km ride from Thunder Bay along scenic Oliver Road. Plenty of outdoor seating for you and your bike on the front porch or behind the rustic log building.

07/07/2026

Three new entries to the list today! Thank you Cindy S for the submissions, these all look very bike friendly!

In no particular order;
1. Marostica Subaru at 502 16 Ave
2. Curans Heart Centre at 1165 Barton St
3. Savory Market and Deli at 300 Empress Ave S

06/24/2026

Today's Bike Friendly business is Half-Way Motors Nissan ! They have a nice set of bike racks at the rear of the building on a concrete pad. You can secure your ride while you look at cars at this locally owned dealership. I know we'd all like to commute by bike everywhere but sometimes you need a car too!

06/18/2026

It's been a week since I created this page and about a month since the idea of a Business Friendly List came about. Thank you to all new followers and supporters of this idea! Ken Shields Just Bike Thunder Bay and many others! I'm looking forward to building this list all summer and would love your help! If you see a good candidate to be on the list please send in the form and we can get them added to the list right away. As time allows I'll be trying to visit every location myself as well and feature them in a social media post. Entries can be submitted here: https://halatfreshair.my.canva.site/ (for now) and i'm planning to get a real domain name setup soon.

06/15/2026

Today's bike friendly business is... Rose N Crantz Roasting Co at 905 Copper Crescent, Thunder Bay, ON. One bike rack out front (was actually full though) but also a nice patio where you can sit with your bike or keep an eye on it while you enjoy a nice Canadiano coffee.