Terms of Use
Whimsy Bike: Victoria Bike Map · Last updated October 13, 2026
These terms are an agreement between you and the maker of Whimsy Bike, also called Victoria Bike Map ("we", "us"), covering the website at whimsybike.ca (also cycle-victoria.web.app) and the Whimsy Bike app (together, the "Service"). By selecting "I agree", or by using the Service, you accept them. If you don't accept them, don't use the Service.
Please read sections 2 to 7 carefully. They say that cycling is risky, that our maps and directions can be wrong, that you ride at your own risk, and that you give up certain legal claims against us, including claims for our own negligence, as far as the law allows.
1. What the Service is
The Service shows bike routes, suggests directions, and gives turn-by-turn guidance and related information (bike parking, bike share, buses, the harbour ferry, businesses, weather) for Greater Victoria. It is meant for use in British Columbia, Canada. It is a free planning aid. It is not a guarantee that any route is safe, legal, open or suitable for you.
2. Maps and directions can be wrong
Our maps, routes, turn costs, traffic levels, travel times, elevations, hours and other information come from public and third-party data (such as OpenStreetMap contributors, the City of Victoria, BC Transit and Environment and Climate Change Canada) and from our own estimates. That data can be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and real conditions change. A suggested route may, for example:
- include a turn or crossing that is dangerous, or not allowed, at that time or for you;
- use a road, path or trail where cycling isn't allowed, or that is closed, under construction, private, unpaved, flooded, icy, dark or blocked;
- miss a slip lane, a divided road, a signal, a one-way street or a turn restriction;
- describe a bike lane, signal, parking spot, bike share station, bus, ferry or business that isn't there, or isn't available when you arrive.
Times are estimates, not measurements. Riding and arrival times come from a simple model of average speeds and climbs. They are not scientific, and we make no claim that they are accurate: your fitness, bike, load, stops, signals, traffic, surface and the weather all change how long a trip takes. Bus times come from published timetables and can change without notice.
Weather can be wrong. Current conditions and forecasts come from Environment and Climate Change Canada and are shown as they are, without any promise that they're accurate or up to date. Check the conditions yourself before you ride.
Not for emergencies. Don't rely on the Service in an emergency or whenever time or safety is critical, such as getting someone to a hospital, getting away from danger, or anywhere being late or lost could cause harm. In an emergency, call 911. Routes favour comfort over speed, times are estimates, and the Service can be wrong, slow or unavailable without warning, including when you have no signal or your battery runs out.
Directions are suggestions only. Traffic laws, signs, signals, road markings and the directions of police or road crews always come first. If a route or instruction looks unsafe, illegal or wrong, don't follow it: walk your bike, wait, or choose another way.
3. Riding safely is your responsibility
You are responsible for how, where and when you ride, and for deciding whether a route and the conditions suit your skill, fitness, equipment and the weather. In particular:
- Wear a helmet, and have lights. British Columbia law requires cyclists to wear an approved bicycle helmet, and from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise to have a white front light visible from 150 metres, a red rear reflector and a red rear light. Have at least a front light and a rear reflector on your bike whenever you ride, and keep it in safe working order.
- Don't let your device distract you. Plan your route before you ride. Mount your device securely if you use it while riding, glance at it only when it's safe, and stop somewhere safe before touching the screen. Never let the Service take your attention from the road, traffic or people around you.
- Use your own judgment, obey the BC Motor Vehicle Act and local bylaws, and ride within your abilities.
4. Assumption of risk
CYCLING, WALKING AND USING ROADS, PATHS AND TRAILS ARE RISKY. THEY CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, INCLUDING FROM TRAFFIC, ROAD AND TRAIL CONDITIONS, WEATHER, DARKNESS, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, OTHER PEOPLE, AND ERRORS IN MAPS OR DIRECTIONS. YOU FREELY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL OF THESE RISKS WHEN YOU USE THE SERVICE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE DESCRIBED HERE.
5. Release of liability
AS FAR AS THE LAW ALLOWS, YOU RELEASE US, AND WAIVE ANY CLAIM AGAINST US, FOR ANY INJURY, DEATH, LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND THAT ARISES FROM OR RELATES TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE OR ANY ROUTE, DIRECTION OR INFORMATION IT GIVES, INCLUDING WHERE IT IS CAUSED BY OUR NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF ANY DUTY OF CARE OR STATUTORY DUTY. THIS RELEASE BINDS YOUR HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND ANYONE WHO MIGHT CLAIM ON YOUR BEHALF.
6. No warranties
THE SERVICE AND ALL ITS INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITH ALL FAULTS. AS FAR AS THE LAW ALLOWS, WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING OF ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, SAFETY, AVAILABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DON'T PROMISE THAT THE SERVICE WILL WORK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OR ERRORS, OR THAT YOUR LOCATION WILL BE SHOWN ACCURATELY.
7. Limitation of liability
AS FAR AS THE LAW ALLOWS, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST DATA, PROFITS OR OPPORTUNITIES, HOWEVER CAUSED, AND OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF CAD $50 AND THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US FOR THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM. SOME LAWS DON'T ALLOW SOME OF THESE LIMITS; WHERE THEY DON'T, THE LIMITS APPLY AS FAR AS THOSE LAWS ALLOW.
8. Indemnity
As far as the law allows, you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claim, loss or expense (including reasonable legal fees) brought by someone else that arises from your use of the Service, your riding, or your breach of these terms or of any law.
9. Other people's services and information
Bike share, buses, the harbour ferry, the bike valet, businesses and weather are run by others. We don't control them, and their hours, prices, locations and availability can change. Check with the operator before relying on them. Links to other websites are for convenience only.
10. Your privacy
We don't ask you to create an account. Your location is used on your device to show where you are, to guide you and to pick the nearest weather station. We don't send it to ourselves or store it. Your settings and your acceptance of these terms are kept on your device.
Anonymous usage counts. To see what's used and what needs fixing, the Service sends us small anonymous counts, for example: that a route was planned, how many of its stops were in each municipality (never where), the bike type and route preference chosen, that a route was ridden for 500 m or finished, which map views were opened, which Nerd mode extras were used (riders 19 and over who turned Nerd mode on), how often a featured place was shown or tapped, searches that found nothing (not what was searched), and app errors. You can turn these counts off in Settings.
Weekly visit count (always sent). Once a week, when you open the Service, it sends how many weeks it has been since the Service was first used on your device and the app's version. This is the bare minimum we need to know whether anyone uses the Service, and it's a condition of using it: it can't be turned off. It says nothing about you or your trips.
None of these counts carry a name, account, device identifier or location. Our database (Supabase, on servers in Canada) records the country the request came from, worked out from your internet address, which itself is not kept, and the hour it arrived. More in plain language: Privacy.
Problem reports. If you send a report, we receive what you wrote, the app's version and settings and your screen size, and for a problem on the map, the spot where you put the pin.
To show the weather, the Service asks Environment and Climate Change Canada for the conditions at the weather station nearest you (only the station is requested, not your location). Like any website, our web host (Google Firebase) may log technical details such as IP addresses when pages are requested.
11. Using the Service fairly
Use the Service only for lawful, personal, non-commercial trip planning. Don't copy, extract or resell its data in bulk, interfere with it, or use it in a way that breaks the terms of the data it contains (see Credits in the app). The map data we publish under the Open Database License (linked in Credits) is free to download and reuse on that licence's terms.
12. Age
You must be 16 or older to use the Service. If you are 16, 17 or 18 (under the age of majority in British Columbia), use it only with the permission of a parent or guardian, who agrees to these terms for you and on their own behalf. When you first agree to these terms we ask your age group. Some places, such as a clothing-optional beach, are only shown to people who say they are 19 or older.
13. Changes
We may change the Service at any time, or stop offering it. We may also update these terms. When we do, we'll change the date above, and for important changes we'll ask you to agree again before you continue.
14. Law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. You and we agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of British Columbia. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, it is limited as little as needed and the rest stays in effect. Our not enforcing a term isn't a waiver of it. These terms are the whole agreement between you and us about the Service.
15. Contact
Questions about these terms can be sent through the contact details on our App Store listing or website.