There is something both incredibly liberating and romantic about cycling in Rome. It is true that you get a completely different feel for the city when you are on a bike than when traveling by car or foot. However, although truly idyllic, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
Confidence and Relaxation
You need to be extremely confident on a bike and this means being an experienced and competent rider. The traffic in Rome is incredibly busy and haphazard to say the least so you really do need to feel confident. Having experience in riding in busy city traffic is also a must if you want to enjoy the sights and sounds that Rome has to offer you.
Safe Options
If you are a less confident bike rider then there are other safer options available. Riding on a Sunday when the traffic is less busy is one option and renting a bike in the Villa Borghese park area is another safe option which will still allow you to see Rome and all of its beauty.
Bike Tours
Bike Tours are also extremely popular and usually last for 3–4 hours costing on average $40 per person. One such tour is based at the Rome City Bike Tour. This will allow you to see the wondrous sights of Rome with the added bonus of insider expert knowledge. Many of these routes are purely for bikes only so they are extremely safe while other routes have limited access to traffic so these are less busy. You will therefore feel safer and cable to enjoy the stunning views.
Renting a Bike
Another option that is open to you is that of renting a bike. You can rent via a private retailer or the best way is to use the city’s extremely cheap bike sharing system. The Bike sharing program allows you to access up to 150 green bicycles with over 21 kiosks throughout Rome. The cost price per half an hour is €0.50 so this is incredibly affordable. This service is available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
Sign-up now
However you do need to sign up to this service and get a Bike sharing card which can be purchased for €10 from any Metro ticket office. You can then start using your card straight away. What is really valuable about this system is the fact that you will always be aware of where the next Bike sharing stand is as there is an iPhone app that will tell you where it is located and how you can get there so this is an incredibly important tool to have at your disposal.
Just remember what you can see on your journey around Rome: the Coliseum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps – all from your bike. The perfect time to do so is from May to September as the historic center is closed to cars. Enjoy your time in Rome, be prepared, get yourself a Bike sharing card and enjoy the beauty that Rome is waiting to share with you.