Western Canada - Question for the Edmonton cyclists

This isn't a specifically cycling related question (although I could probably turn it into one if I had to) ... I will need to move into Edmonton in January.

Right now I'm commuting to Edmonton (U of A) from Central Alberta, and I'm getting to know a small section of the city, but I don't know most of it ... I haven't even seen most of it.

So my question is ... what are some decent parts of town, with relatively inexpensive rents, where I could look for a place to live? I see addresses in rental listings, but I have no idea if they are in a posh area, an average area, or a slummy area. Oh and ... the closer to the University the better.

Hey Machka, Cheap Edmonton rent is a bit of an oxymoron at the moment... Anything close to the University will be more expensive. There are good bus routes from Southgate north to the U. Anything on the north side of the river relatively close to the LRT is a good bet for speedy-ness to get back & forth to school. Some of the stuff further north isn't so nice though... PM me if you have specific questions about places/neighborhoods etc.

The only affordable places with good access to the university are pretty slummy (aka near the stadium or west side). I would look into student housing on or off campus first.

So my question is ... what are some decent parts of town, with relatively inexpensive rents, where I could look for a place to live?
Oh and ... the closer to the University the better.

These guys pretty much have it bang on.
Of course when you compare rent in Edmonton to rent in say, New York or something of the sort, it is comparable. But when judged against the prices a few years ago or against other parts of Canada, yes Edmonton rent is expensive.

I know you want a place close to campus but again, the closer a place is to any major center, the more expensive it will be.
There are options for having roommates that will make renting significantly more affordable.


Also, you don't have to live near the university to have it be convenient in getting to class.
There are express buses from the West End, LRT stations in the North and so on.


What are you looking to spend monthly for rent?
# of rooms?
Pets?

Post up the areas of town/addresses you're interested in or have looked at, I'm sure we'll be able to tell you about that part of the city.

What are you looking to spend monthly for rent?
# of rooms?
Pets?


Monthly rent ... well, anything over $450/month makes driving in from where I live now in Central Alberta a viable option, so therefore it would have to be less than that.

Also, I only need it for two 6 week periods, so a weekly rate would be great! Even more specifically, I only need it for 4 nights a week during those 6 week periods.

# of rooms ... one for me. That's it. All I want is my own private room where I could come and go as I please, and store my stuff safely, and go to bed as early or late as I want. Access to toilet facilities would be good too. Access to a kitchen, or at least a sink, microwave, and kettle would be nice, but not necessary.

Pets ... no. They wouldn't be coming with me.

And I'm looking anywhere within Edmonton city limits. I was staying out near Leduc 2 nights a week this past semester, and that was all right, but when it gets really snowy and icy, I'd rather be in the city so I could take alternate transportation and not have to depend on driving.

The only affordable places with good access to the university are pretty slummy (aka near the stadium or west side). I would look into student housing on or off campus first.

There's a 600 person waiting list right now to get into student housing ... and a $150 deposit to get my name added to that list. As I kinda have my doubts that I'll ever reach the top of that list, I'd rather not let go of a very precious $150.

Coming to the UofA OK. Get a free bicycle route map and start planning from there. One bus route "#4 " is equipped with bike racks and 15 minute service. Runs between the far west, possibly West Edmonton district and Capilano and goes through the University. Also anything west of 156 Street and 87 Avenue give you an access to the UofA by bike through Hawrelak Park. Winter cycling through the park is "iffy" because of the lack of snow clearing (up to 3 years ago) but this may have changed. Pick up a bus schedule from a #4 bus while stopped at the U terminal. Alternately a 106 route sked/map. Renting if available in areas near these bus rountes should be good, but I don't know rents. Any area south of the University should be OK too for bus service. Parking at the U is expensive and merciless. I'm at the U three mornings most weeks. Can I help further?

Slightly hijacking this thread, sorry...

I've been offered a job for three years in Edmonton and am weighing up whether to move or not (I'm in the UK so it's a pretty big thing). The job is excellent but I have a wife and two month old daughter (who willl come with me) so the timing is not great.

What's the place like? From what I've heard it is close to the Rockies (good) but is actually pretty flat itself (bad). Is it a good place for a family into cycling and skiing? Any advice welcome really.

My wife's main concern is that she won't know anyone right at a time that she wants friends and family to hand so is it a friendly place?

Oh yeah, what is it really like in winter? How would I fair riding to work?

It is close-ish to the Rockies, about a 4hour drive to Jasper, and a little longer (5 hours) to Banff. I guess close is all relative though....

The river valley is beautiful. There are lots of bike trails, paved/singletrack etc for riding. We also have quite a few bike clubs if you are looking for group/rides racing. There is lots of cross country skiing here. Several nice areas with groomed/maintained trails (both in & out of the city). Along with several clubs Edmonton is host to the Birkebiner festival in February. If you're into downhill, there are 3 small "hills" around the city, otherwise you'll be tripping out to the mountains on the weekend.

I think it can be a friendly place. Meeting people might be a bit hard, but if you are a "joiner" to clubs etc, there are opportunities to get out & meet people. There are lots of "moms & tots" kind of stuff, from active groups, to library story time etc.

Winter is cold & dark. And we get snow. Riding to work is doable, but below -20°C, you're bike will freeze up a bit & get sluggish. If you dress right, the bike will be a bigger problem than you getting cold. Don't know what you are used to, but we survive it all every year (and do a happy dance when spring comes).

The housing situation here right now sucks. There isn't much & it is expensive (especially for renting), so hopefully the job offer came with housing help.

it's also stupid cold all of a sudden...
but it does seem to be pretty bike friendly, even though there really aren't too many bikers around. We have a velodrome, too.

Hi!. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The areas closest to the University are anything south of Saskatchewan Drive, West of 104 Street, south to 51st Avenue and west to about 120 Street. Pick up a bicyling city map at any cycle store (free) and you can work from that. Rents I don't know. Two good buses from the far west end are the #106 and the #4 buses. The #4's are all equipped with bike racks on the front and it rides free anytime. In the west end, any place close to 87th Avenue, 142 street and west. These are all of the areas where students do rent and commute to the "U".
You don't have to be a cyclist to get a free map. Besides any bus should have a city map of their system available for the overall view. General advice is stay north of the Whitemud Drive, South of the river, wherever that is except in the west end out to WEM and beyond to Lessard area. Low kind of rent is something I don't know. We've owned our home since 1975. Hope this helps.

Hi! Edmonton is as friendly as you make it. Go shopping and talk to the person in line ahead or behind you. Some people have the big city idea that that next person is a big city person and removed from the idea of talking to other people. Just take the "bull by the horns" and talk to people. We do. We think Edmonton is more friendly than even Calgary. Check the news for people being put out by fire or disaster in this city and there's usually help from private people before you've been able to get to your feet. If you're in a university community, you may find most of the academically accomplished are pretty parochial about who they associate with. But working people and children are usually easy to meet and make friends with. The mountains are 5 hours by car away at Jasper Park. But there are two skii hills with tows in the city and one more just south of the city. We have a lot of cross country skii trails available in the river valley. Weatherwise, Edmonton is located just far enough north to have the jet stream nearby, just north of us, (Warm weather) and south of us and it's colder.
We do miss most of the extreme weather, winds, storms rain etc.