‘Motoring’ around Edmonton

We’re nearly a decade past when “Back to the Future 2” incorrectly predicted hoverboards as a popular mode of transport, but luckily a few other vehicles have stepped into the gap.

We’ve left out the word “happily” in that statement, if only because the number of e-scooters adorning trees and parts of the river valley indicate that not everyone is thrilled with the new 21st century rides. Still, they’re catching on, and cars are no longer the primary means of transportation for many. Take a second to tabulate the number of alternative choices out there beyond bicycles, motorcycles, and skateboards.  

Better yet, let us do that for you, and give some suggestions on where to rent or buy.

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E-Scooters

The bane of many people’s existence is also a cheap and fun way to get around. For rental purposes, Edmonton currently has two operators, Lime and Bird, while St. Albert is welcoming back Bird for 2024. To unlock, you’ll pay in the range of a dollar, and then 30 to 35 cents per minute. If you’re interested in owning, St. Albert’s Boot ‘n’ Scooter has a selection that ranges from $1,099 up to just under $4,000. E-scooters are allowed on shared pathways, bike lanes and roads with a speed limit of 50 km an hour or lower, but forbidden on sidewalks.

( bird.co)

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Bicycles

If you want to kick it old school with a kickstand there are plenty of places to buy a bike. Bike Edmonton sells refurbished bikes for those on a budget, while Edmonton Bike Rentals rent for as low as $50 a day. Cranky’s Bike Shop in St. Albert has kids rides for as low as a couple of hundred dollars, while those with a couple of thousand in loose change can salivate at the fancy mountain bikes. Stay in the bike lane or road, but not on the sidewalk!

(crankys.ca, edmontonbikerentals.com)

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Motorcycles

Sometimes you just feel the need to feel the wind in your face, or alternately the thundering roar of a loud pipe in other people’s ears. If so, a motorcycle is exactly what you’re looking for, whether cruisers like Harley and Kawasaki, choppers, minis, and more. Harley-Davidson Edmonton can lighten your wallet by as much as $52,399 for a Street Glide. Rentals can be found for as low as $199 at Big Toy Shop in Edmonton. Riverside Moto Sports in St. Albert can partially scratch that itch with a selection that starts as low as $2,099. Not for novices, but you knew that, right?

(riversidemotosports.com, bigtoyshop.ca)

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Electric Bikes

Biking is healthy and fun, but sometimes you just don’t want to deal with those pesky inclines. A battery powered e-bike can take the strain off when you’re feeling like giving those gams a rest in the midst of a long commute or trip. Riverbank E-Bikes rent for $25 an hour or $100 a day, while in St. Albert, you can find a number of purchasing choices at Cranky’s for as low as $1,600 or so. As with other leg powered vehicles, stay off the sidewalks!

(riverbankebikes.com)

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Segways

Remember when Segways were everywhere? Or at least it seemed like the self-balancing two wheels were going to revolutionize personal transport. They’re still around; Best Buy and Walmart have models in the thousand and above range, but the company has opted to focus on other motor devices. They’re still popular in certain quarters, though; River Valley Adventure in Edmonton has 60- and 90-minute courses starting at $59.99 for those who wish to trek through the river valley like cyborg ducks all in a row.

(rivervalleyadventure.com)

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Mopeds and Scooters

The tiny distant cousins to motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are modest and cheaper modes of transport for getting around town. Scooters have larger motors than mopeds, while mopeds are far cooler if you’re trying to approximate the lifestyle of Who-obsessed English Mods circa the movie “Quadrophenia.” The terms are interchangeable in Canada, really, so if you’re looking to buy, there’s both to be found at Alberta Cycle, including a Justin Bieber model, for as low as $3,000 or so. Rental? Try Vespa YEG, that offers $100 for a half day and $150 for a full.

(albertacycle.com, vespayeg.com)

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Skateboards

Planning to learn how to crooked grind on the vert ramp this summer? If you can decipher that sentence then you’re already well on your way to becoming a skateboarder. There are plenty of shops in town to find what you need, whether for tricks or transportation, including Edmonton’s Local 124, which offers complete skateboards for as little as $89.99. Rentals? That’s a little harder, but House of Wheels does offer $10 rentals along with utility fees.  

(local124.com, houseofwheels.ca)

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Electric Unicycle

The most recent wildcard in the personal transport device would be the electric unicycle. They still exist in a legal gray area, but that hasn’t stopped a large number of Edmonton and area residents from learning how to balance on that single wheel. Keep it to the bike lanes and likely the police won’t pester you, but otherwise it’s a coin toss. Cost? You can find them online for quite the range, $300 or so and up to the thousands, but it’s hard to find anywhere in the area that sells. Rentals are another proposition: YEG Wheel in Edmonton offers both necessary training and rentals, so hop on their website if you want to get in on the action.

(yegwheel.com)

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