October 19, 2022 - Nova Scotia’s fabulous Blue Route is a 3,000km cycling network designed to connect communities across the province via designated cycling routes on secondary highways with paved shoulders, low-traffic volume roads, hard surfaced trails, and city streets.

Inspired in part by Québec’s Route Verte, the concept was initially conceived at the first annual Nova Scotia Bicycle Summit in Cape Breton back in 2006. 

Over time it evolved, and in 2013 it became an action plan within Nova Scotia’s Sustainable Transportation Strategy “Choose How You Move” — now called Let’s Get Moving Nova Scotia. 

The Blue Route officially launched in 2015 as a collaborative project between Bicycle Nova Scotia (BNS) and its many supporters. 

In 2018, the Blue Route Hubs Project was initiated to help connect the existing network to Nova Scotia’s towns, municipalities and Mi’kmaq communities. By providing consulting at no charge, and funding assistance as well, local communities can apply to build safe cycling routes for local riders of all ages and people with disabilities, which also provides easy access to local businesses and attractions for cycling tourists.

Working with municipalities such as Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, along with cities and towns including Antigonish, Wolfville, Port Hawkesbury, New Glasgow, Middleton and Annapolis Royal, about 500km of the Blue Route have been completed, and the trails are open to e-bikes.

A full-time BNS Active Transportation Planner is tasked with providing planning services on the project and supporting project expenses, while the Director of Blue Route and Cycling Advocacy is furthering the recognition of the importance of cycling and active transportation in Nova Scotia.

In late 2019, a Bicycle Route Wayfinding Guide was created to help ensure a seamless rider experience. With a focus on the Blue Route and the many local trails that intersect with it, the guide is intended to be a useful tool for trail route managers across the province. 

Notable destination trails that are part of the Blue Route include the Rum Runners Trail, 119km of off-road trails between Halifax and Lunenburg; the 110km Harvest Moon trail in the Annapolis Valley connecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grand Pré to the historic seaside town of Annapolis Royal; and the 92km Celtic Shores Coastal Trail that stretches from Port Hastings to Inverness on the west coast of beautiful Cape Breton Island.

For more information on Nova Scotia’s Blue Route, please visit www.blueroute.ca