santa monica bike rentals

Santa Monica Bike Trails & Rentals

Gorgeous topography, temperate weather and a bike-loving populace make Santa Monica an ideal destination for two-wheeled adventure. Whether you prefer leisurely beach cruises, scenic road rides or epic patches of single-track, Santa Monica’s bike rentals, diverse trails, roads and tours deliver. Navigating the city by bike is also a breeze thanks to bright green bike lanes that help protect cyclists.

Biking into Santa Monica

Santa Monica Beach bike rentals are conveniently available at many hotels and along the beach bike path to ride and enjoy ocean and Pacific coastline views. Check out our picks for bike rentals in Santa Monica below. Many local hotels also provide complimentary bikes or bikes for rent.

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Ride easy

New to biking? Looking for an easier ride? We’ve got you covered. Bike Attack Electric rents a constantly updated selection of electric bikes for up to a full day of pedal-assisted cruising, so you can focus on the views.

Ride together

Roll through Santa Monica in style. Sea Mist Rentals offers a variety of things on wheels! From single-speed bikes to kids’ bikes and tandems, there’s plenty to choose from. Best of all, accessories are included.

Ride simply

Keep it simple with bike rentals and tours that offer everything you need in one convenient place. Blazing Saddles Beach Rentals and Tours kindly offers riders a helmet, lock and bottled water on each guided ride.

Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals offers nine bike rental locations and boasts the largest fleet in California. Choose from one, two, three-hour, all-day or multiday rentals starting at $10/hour with tag-alongs available for kids. Their Legends Historic Bike Tour explores both Santa Monica and Venice, where surfing, skateboarding and beach volleyball originated.

Known for its rental shops, Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals also boasts four open-air cafés, where riders often gather for snacks.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail & Perry's Cafe
Marvin Braude Bike Trail & Perry’s Cafe
Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals
Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals

Bike with a Partner

Helen’s Cycles rents performance road bikes and mountain bikes for one, three, or seven days (not hours).

Coed rides for intermediate to advanced cyclists are available on the first Saturday of every month. A women-only group rides the third Saturday of every month, a beginner ride the first and third Sunday of every month, and numerous other regular local rides.

You can also hire a guide to lead you on a private tour through the mountains.

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Rent your rides here

Rides with Perks

Bikes and Hikes LA offers premium brand rentals bikes and everything you need to ensure a safe trip, including helmets, safety vests and bike locks.

Santa Monica Bike Center offers membership perks like secure bike parking, showers and rental options. Ask about unique guided outings like Urban Farm and Street Art tours, or get advice on recommended routes for new riders.

Santa Monica Beach Bicycle Rentals near the 3rd Street Promenade offers 7-speed and single-speed cruiser day rentals. Lights, baskets, locks, local maps and helmets are included.

For a one-stop shop, check out Unlimited Biking. With access to an array of bike types including comfort, road, electric and even trailers and tag-a-long bikes for the whole family, all rentals come with complimentary helmets, locks and bike bags. Select your bike as an hourly rental, for a self-guided tour or as part of a guided tour through the city.

Stay off sidewalks

Riding on the sidewalk is prohibited in the City of Santa Monica and can result in a ticket. Ride on the right side of the road. Observe stop signs, signals and basic right-of-way rules. To merge, slow down and indicate to cars behind you by pointing down the road. Always look before merging.

Use hand gestures

Use hand signals and eye contact to communicate with motorists, other bicyclists and pedestrians. Communicate with the cars on the road by pointing left or right when you plan to turn. If you need to stop, raise your left arm and bend your elbow in a 90-degree angle.

Wear a helmet

Prevent serious injuries by wearing the appropriate safety gear. Helmets are required by law for any bicyclists under the age of 18, but always recommended for all ages. Pick up a free helmet (one size fits most) from one of Santa Monica’s Visitor Information Centers.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail

Known to locals as “The Strand,” the Marvin Braude bike trail is an iconic Santa Monica bike path that stretches along the Pacific Coast from Pacific Palisades to Torrance, packing in 22 miles of inspiring coastal scenery.

beach biking trails
beach biking trail
Marvin Braude Bike Trail

Start your Santa Monica biking adventure at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, continuing past popular surf breaks along Santa Monica State Beach, underneath the Santa Monica Pier, and by the famed Original Muscle Beach. The trail then leads to Venice Beach, until an end at Washington Blvd., where riders will need to head inland to pick up the trail near Marina del Rey—the only stretch where riders encounter motorists. Bikers will then be led to the Ballona Creek bike path before hitting a coastal trail again in Playa del Rey.

Those with stamina can press on through Venice, El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, all the way to the path’s end at Torrance County Beach.

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Palisades Park
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Santa Monica Beach
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Original Muscle Beach

Guided Santa Monica Bike Tours

Saddle up for motorized bicycle tours that allow visitors to rest their weary legs as they zip merrily between the city’s most famous landmarks. With Pedal… or Not Electric Bicycle Tours, discover the soul of Santa Monica—from Original Muscle Beach to the historic Marion Davies Guest House—on two- to three-hour outings, or customize a private tour.

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Bike Trails for Townies

Seemingly tailored for townie riders, Main Street is home to plenty of shops and restaurants, plus a Sunday farmers market with a free bike valet. Three bike corrals on Main Street make parking convenient and safe for riders.

Thanks to the recent addition of green bike lanes on Main Street and neighboring Ocean Park Boulevard, Broadway, and Second Street (as well as several bike boxes) the area is well-equipped for casual riders.

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biking downtown santa monica

Westridge-Canyonback Trail

The Westridge-Canyonback Trail is the perfect playground for fat tire fans. Westridge Fire Road links single-track trails along a ridgeline flanked by “The Big Wild,” a 20,000-acre forest.

Backbone Bike Trail

The Backbone Bike Trail begins at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. This 13-mile round-trip features smooth singletrack, switchbacks, flowing descents and just enough technical rocky sections to keep you on your toes, plus gorgeous Pacific panoramas.

Road Biking in Santa Monica

Stretching from Ocean Avenue to Wilshire, the San Vincente Boulevard bike path visits a lively mix of homes, shops, and restaurants. A dedicated bike lane allows cyclists to pedal from one end to the other, and dip into downtown via Ocean Avenue on the western end. The loop around the Brentwood Country Club, near Wilshire Boulevard, is a warm-up for cyclists who ride in groups, particularly on the weekends.

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santa monica road biking

Mandeville Canyon Road

Mandeville Canyon Road is a curvy sliver of asphalt bordering Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It’s a popular out-and-back training ride for cyclists. Thought to be the longest dead-end paved road in Los Angeles, the route stretches 5 miles, rising a heart-thumping 1,000 feet into the hills. The route’s gentle grade (5 percent) and minimal car traffic make it perfect for all skill levels.

Up for a challenge? Try sprinting up the canyon in under 18 minutes. The Mandeville Canyon Association has maps and route suggestions on their website.

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