Each year the Bike League reviews cities, communities and universities for the bike friendly amenities. Their evaluation includes 5 categories: engineering, education, evaluation, enforcement, and encouragement. Based on their evaluation, the ratings include: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Sanibel receives silver award as a bike friendly community.
On any given day, you will find bikes, trikes, and cyclers from all ages and areas enjoying the 25 plus miles of well maintained bike paths on Sanibel Island. Most island visitors arrive without bikes but that is just fine. With Billy's Bike Rentals & Finnamore's Rentals you will find a great fit for your bike needs. Many Sanibel hotels, resorts and private condominiums also offer complimentary bikes for your stay on Sanibel.
With over 25 miles of paths, many island visitors will spend more time on a bike during their Sanibel vacation than they have in the past few years. Most places to stay, restaurants, shops and services are along Sanibel's bike paths. For the more adventurous, the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge is a great ride.
For residents, the Sanibel Bike Club and Trails in Motion offer a great way to connect with other cycling enthusiasts here on the islands. Bike club president Patti Sousa "I think it shows commitment from the city that we have a healthylife style".
When asked to comment on Sanibel's Silver Award for Bike Friendly Communities, Mayor Kevin Ruane replied, "we are happy with Silver but won't stop until we reach Gold".
Only three other cities in the state of Florida hold the Silver title. The city of Sanibel celebrated by opening up a new bike trail. In the 70's Sanibel only had 2.5 miles of bike paths. The community has shown a commitment for the past 40 years to maintain existing paths and continue to expand the system to incorporate 25 miles. New additions will include several trails that do not transect business areas but instead will meander thru more wooded natural settings offering fabulous natural surroundings.
In 2010, the city was awarded the bronze status. Since then it added four miles of bike trails in four years. And it's appreciated. Mayor Ruane shared that at any given time, there are more users on the shared use bike paths than on the roads. Education and bike safety are paramount to keeping our bikes safely integrated into the community.
So if you are a kid or ready to be a kid again, come to Sanibel and get on that bike. The paths are here for you to enjoy. Bike Sanibel on your next vacation.
ENJOY THIS SANIBEL ISLAND BIKE SAFETY VIDEO: