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Have Style Will Travel: A Two-wheeled Option for Travelers

By: Molly Heintz

When you arrive in a new city, it’s tempting to skip the hassle of figuring out public transportation and just jump in a cab. But more and more hotels now offer another transportation alternative: bicycles. Not only is it the most sustainable choice, but it’s also an inexpensive and fun way to get to know a cityscape. And doesn’t everyone look cuter on a bike?

Luxist.com reports that many boutique hotels around the country now offer bikes to guests: the James Chicago provides Paul Frank city bikes, the Gansevoort in South Miami offers cool Puma models (that glow in the dark!), and the Liberty Hotel in Boston has the super-stylish Electra Amsterdam Classic 3i. And if your hotel doesn’t offer bikes, just check with the concierge about where to find a rental.

You don’t have to be an expert cyclist to navigate urban environments. Large cities are becoming more and more bike-friendly with better bicycle lanes and storage options. Virgin Vacations recently announced its picks for the most bike-friendly cities in the world, and it’s no surprise that Amsterdam and Copenhagen top the list, but four of the eleven cities are in the U.S.A.: Portland (#2), Boulder (#4), Davis, California (#5) and—if you can take a few hills—San Francisco (#8). Even Detroit, historically known as “Motor City,” is beginning construction on over 400 new miles of bike lanes as part of its urban renewal program.

Plus, Google Maps now provides biking directions, so no matter where you are, you can see what will work best for two wheels. Just go to maps.google.com/biking.