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Honolulu, Hawaii, is a beautiful place to enjoy and experience nature at its best. It is the perfect location for a vacation. If you are considering going to Honolulu and love biking, you might wonder if Honolulu is bike friendly.
Honolulu is bike friendly and was awarded a bronze ranking by the American League of Cyclists. There are miles of protected bike lanes and designated bike paths to ensure the safety of cyclists. There are countless offroad nature trails to explore and flat paths for easy biking.
Honolulu is an excellent place for biking. Riding your bike is the ideal way to get around. You can experience the wind in your hair and breathe the fresh ocean air. It is also a relatively inexpensive way to travel and see the sights on your own or with a tour guide.
Honolulu Is Bike Friendly
The American League of Cyclists awarded Honolulu a well-deserved Bronze ranking. There are miles of protected bike lanes and almost 50 miles of bike paths throughout Honolulu to ensure the safety of all cyclists.
Springtime is the ideal time to bike in Honolulu when it is not tourist season. You can expect warm weather, with little to no rain. At this time of the year, biking in Honolulu is perfect, as the biking paths, trails, and terrains are dry and not muddy.
There are many beautiful locations in Honolulu to explore on your bike, like:
- The Round Top Forest Reserve
- Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve
- Aloha Memorial Park Bike Path
- Mānoa Falls Trail
- Wa’ahila Ridge State Recreation Area
- Aloha Aina Patriotism Park
Some of these parks have paved bike paths that are easy to ride on and well-suited to any type of bike, while other parks should only be attempted on mountain bikes by more experienced bike riders.
There are also interesting guided bike tours on offer, where local tour guides accompany you all over Honolulu and teach you about Hawaii’s landmarks, rich history, and traditions.
There are a few ways to transport your own bike to Hawaii. You can ship your bike to Honolulu or book your bike in as part of your luggage on your flight. Or you can rent a bike from a bike shop. Bike sharing is another way to rent a bike. You should consider your budget and the duration of your stay when deciding on the best option.
The Best Time Of The Year To Bike In Honolulu
The best time of the year to visit Honolulu and explore some biking trails is in springtime, from April to mid-June. The temperature ranges from the high 60s to the high 80s, and you are unlikely to encounter rain or muddy trails.
Since it’s not tourist season and surf season has ended before these months, hotels and airlines offer discounted rates, and you are less likely to encounter large crowds or overcrowded bike trails.
5 Best Places To Bike In Honolulu
Honolulu radiates beauty, and biking through its beautiful landscapes is breathtaking.
Here are 5 of the best and most beautiful places to bike in no specific order:
- Round Top Forest Reserve has breathtaking mountain views and is the perfect place to take a mountain bike on an offroad adventure.
- Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve is a tropical rainforest where you can ride your mountain bike to the gorgeous Mānoa Falls waterfall.
- Aloha Memorial Park Bike Path is an easy, flat route where the whole family can easily bike.
- Wa’ahila Ridge State Recreation Area is another great offroad trail, with areas where you can stop for a picnic and admire nature.
- Aloha Aina Patriotism Park has flat asphalt cycling paths and is an easy route for cyclists of all ages and skill levels.
Guided Bike Tours In Honolulu
Honolulu offers great guided bike tours if you really want to release your inner tourist.
Oahu Tours’ Diamond Head Tour
Oahu Tours brings you an amazing Diamond Head Bike to Hike and Local Lunch package, lasting around four hours of fun, beauty, learning, and exercise.
The tour starts in Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu. From there, you will bike to the famous Diamond Head Crater and hike up to the dormant volcano while learning about Hawaii’s magical landmarks and history.
This tour includes a lunch at the base of Diamond Head, authentic Hawaiian snacks, sports drinks and water, bike equipment, and amazing oceanic views.
Oahu’s Hawaiian Food Bike Tour
Explore the best local food places with this mouth-watering bike tour. You can expect four to five hours of snacking and sampling some of Honolulu’s best food.
This yummy tour also starts at Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu. You will have the chance to bike through Waikiki, stopping at about six restaurants, bars, and coffee shops along the way. There will be tasty food, snacks, and drinks to sample. Your local guide will teach you all about Hawaii’s culinary traditions.
This tour includes bike and Helmut rentals and lots of tasty treats.
Should You Bring Your Bike Or Rent A Bike In Honolulu?
Getting your bike onto an island can be tricky and expensive. You can ship your bike to Honolulu or rent a bike there. Some airlines have even started to allow checking in your bike as luggage.
Ship Your Bike To Hawaii
Shipping your bike to Honolulu is always an option and is worth considering if you plan on visiting Honolulu for longer and not just for a weekend getaway. Shipping your bike will take at least a day and can be quite expensive.
Rent A Bike In Honolulu
There are many bike shops in Honolulu that rent out mountain bikes, road bikes, and even electric bikes. You can rent a bike for a day or a week, making it the best option for longer bike trips.
Bike sharing is another way of renting a bike in Honolulu. There are more than 100 Biki Bike stations where you can simply collect a bike and pay to use it. With the Biki App, you can find all the locations of these stations and pick up or leave the bike at any station along the way. This is ideal for traveling short distances.
Check-In Your Bike As Airplane Luggage
Some airlines allow you to check your bike in as luggage.
The following airlines allow you to fly with your bike:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
Conclusion
Honolulu Is bike friendly and has designated safe lanes and paths for cyclists. It is best to visit during Spring, as the paths and trails are dry, and there are few tourists. There are offroad trails for experienced riders and routes that are flat and easy to bike. Tourists can go on many guided bike tours led by local guides.
You can ship your own bike to Honolulu, book your bike in as airplane luggage or rent any bike when you get there.
References
- https://www.alltrails.com/hawaii/oahu/road-biking
- https://www.ironman.com/news_article/show/1041398
- https://www.alltrails.com/parks/hawaii/oahu/waahila-ridge-state-recreation-area
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60982-i38-k6139038-
- https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bikesharing&find_loc=Honolulu%2C+HI
- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/bikemapoahu-ten-bike-safety-tips-from-bike-oahu/