By: Shayne Benowitz
With year round warm and balmy temperatures, Miami is the perfect place to hop on a bicycle or a scooter and explore the city.
One of the easiest ways to bike around is through the bicycle stations operated by CitiBike. There are dozens of stations with easy hop-on, hop-off locales in neighborhoods like Coconut Grove, Downtown, Wynwood, South Beach, Miami Beach, Surfside and Bal Harbour. And the good news is that throughout Miami, improvements are being made to transform the city into a bike-friendly community. Many neighborhoods have added dedicated bicycle lanes, shared user paths and greenways.
With CitiBike, you can either rent a bike by the hour or purchase a membership, which enables you to check out and return any available bike from any station all day long. Rates start at $4.50 for a 30-minute access pass and go up to $24 for a full day. Memberships start at $15 for 30 days of unlimited 30-minute rides (additional 30 minutes are $4.60).
There are also plenty of shops where you can rent bicycles or scooters in Miami. And many hotels include bicycle rentals in their room rates. Call ahead to find out if your hotel of choice offers bikes as freebies.
Biking in South Beach
Bike & Segway Tours
With two locations on South Beach (10th & Collins; James Avenue) and one in Downtown Miami (Bayside Marketplace), Bike and Roll Miami offers daily bike and Segway tours hosted by professional guides. They also offer a customizable Wynwood Graffiti Tour. Bike and Roll’s self-guided Miami bike map offers easy-to-follow routes to several Miami neighborhoods. They offer a wide variety of rentals to choose from, including cruisers, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, tandems and even trailers and rollerblades.
The 444-acre Deering Estate in South Dade offers seasonal eco-bike tours along historic limestone trails. From a mangrove forest at the edge of Biscayne Bay, to tropical hardwood hammocks, you’ll see Miami as it was long ago. For more information, contact (305) 235-1668 ext. 233.
Oleta River State Park's Trails
Bike Trails & Events
Miami offers a nice collection of biking trails, paths and greenways. Shaded by Australian pine trees and mangrove thickets, Oleta River State Park near Sunny Isles Beach offers more than 14 miles of mountain bike trails. You can also head over to Historic Virginia Key Beach, rent a bike from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center and hit up some bike trials designed and built by local bike enthusiasts themselves.
One of the prettiest neighborhood bike rides is the stretch along Old Cutler Road from Sunset Drive to Matheson Hammock Park. There's also a trail off Snapper Creek starting roughly at SW 57th Avenue and Kendall Drive, right off of Dante Fascell Park.
When you’re ready for a breather, grab a cool drink at the Pinecrest Wayside Market, an old-time fruit stand popular with locals. Another popular place for a cool drink is Robert Is Here, a local farmers market in Homestead.
You can also find a comprehensive list of trails and group rides, courtesy of The Miami Bike Scene, the group that organizes Miami’s Critical Mass bike riding event. Critical Mass is a bicycling event that’s usually held on the last Friday of the month and it’s a way for cyclists to travel together as a group and ride through the city. It’s a great way to get to know the local cycling scene.
Perfect Bike Weather
Safety Tips For Cyclists
Review and obey Florida’s bicycle laws. The law states that you have to have a red rear light and a front headlight if you’re riding at night. And it’s illegal to wear headphones while you bike around.
Ride on the bike lane/shoulder and make sure you use extreme caution with motorists. Stay in the right lane and do not ride across the middle lane into the opposite lane.
Yield to emergency vehicles, buses and pedestrians.
Don’t drink alcohol and ride a bike. It is possible to be arrested for biking under the influence in Florida.
When you’re passing pedestrians, it’s helpful to ring a bell and/or say, “on your left” to alert them and avoid collisions.
Always use a high quality lock to secure your bicycle (11-18mm u-locks are much better than cable locks).
Above all, have fun! Biking around Miami is a great way to enjoy the area’s spectacular scenery and intriguing neighborhoods.
Read More:
Guided Tours In The Florida Everglades
Experience Life On Water, Miami's Boat Tours And Water Parks
Group Tours In Miami
Ultimate Eco Itinerary