Bicycling Key West

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 January 2013 17:03

Written by Donna Perdue

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Bicycle Rental Recommendations

The best way to do Key West is either on foot or by bicycle. Sure, you can rent a car, rent one of those weird electric cars (try finding a parking spot for one of those babies--yep, if you're lucky to find a street spot, you'll pay the meter endlessly [they know they've got you and want every dime you have in your pocket]---or hand over $20 to park in a lot that you'll have to find when you wander off on foot for dinner, shopping for baubles or just getting hammered at one of the cool watering holes). Just get a bike. The locals prefer them and the law is on your side. Besides, Key West is one of the most bicycle friendly spots we know!

Want great deals and the best service, go with Eaton Bikes.

Eaton Bikes - Key West's Full Service Cycling Shop
830 Eaton Street
Key West, FL
Mon-Sat 9 am - 6 pm, Sun 9 am - 4 pm
1-305-294-8188

You can order your bike online and they will call to confirm everything and deliver to your hotel, condo or rental home. Their rentals include bike locks, and they are very reasonably priced. We have our own bikes with us, but when our sons, daughters or friends visit, we have a bike delivered and take advantage of their great weekly rates. We've used a couple other companies and find the folks at Eaton to be the best on the island! Customer service ROCKS! We usually don't link to other sites so you must know we like Eaton to link directly to them!

Island Bicycles
529 Truman Avenue
Key West, FL
Mon-Sat 8 am - 6 pm
1-305-292-9707

This is another solid choice. The staff is friendly and because they were within walking distance of where we were staying one year, we used them to rent bikes for a couple friends that were visiting us. Rates are reasonable.

Tropical Rentals
1300 Duval Street
Key West, FL
Mon-Sun 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
305-294-8136

Perfectly located to capture the cruise-ship audience. If you don't mind paying a bit more for your day or week rental, go for it. Their convenient location to the cruise ships make them perfect for that audience. However, if you're visiting for more than a few days, call Eaton or Island Bicycles (above) for a better deal overall. And check out what others say at Yelp:  http://www.yelp.com/biz/tropical-bicycle-and-scooter-rentals-key-west

Yes there are other bicycle rental companies on the island, and perhaps they'll give you a great deal and treat you right. But most of them have very obnoxious "Rent Me" signs on the bikes and don't take very good care of their bicycles. We tried a couple of them and won't bother mentioning their names. If they didn't make our list, trust us, you're better off with one of the three above.

Happy biking!

TIP:  Key West laws for bicyclists are exactly the same as they are for motorists. Please signal your turns, stop at the stop signs and red lights, use night blinkers (front and rear) and drive on the same side of the road as the traffic going in your direction. Oh, and please don't ride side-by-side; ride single file please. :)