Siesta Key is known for its gorgeous white sand beaches, calm and clear waters and plentiful outdoor activities, watersports and things to do while on a family vacation. Biking is one of the best ways to get some great exercise, view wildlife up close, and explore the area.

Siesta Key is well worth a visit for any cycling enthusiast as there are a number of beautiful, lengthy and scenic bike trails to ride along in the area. Keep reading for some information on the best trails and path for cycling in the area as well as some important safety information.

Riding A Bike On Siesta Key

On Siesta Key you can bicycle all along the six miles of beaches on the hard sand while walking your bike on a small stretch of beach by the lifeguard stands near Siesta Village.

It is recommended to cycle during earlier in the day in order to avoid vehicles. Also make sure that you have good daylight visibility to spot obstacles on the ground or holes in the sand.

You can bike through most of Siesta Village and along Midnight Pass Road which has a bike path on the south of the island. Turtle Beach is usually less populated than Siesta Beach and can be a good area to cycle when Siesta Beach is packed. Bike rentals are available from several local rental companies including Siesta Key Sports Rentals and Siesta Key Bike & Kayak for a low daily rate, so you won’t need to bring a bike with you.

Scenic Bike Trails

Right outside of Siesta Key you will find some of the best bike trails in the state, with beautiful captivating views:

The Venetian Waterway Park Trail – This trail is about 10 miles long and goes along both banks of the Intercoastal Waterway. You’ll see people jogging with pets and plenty of other cyclists, and the trail ends at Caspersen Beach for a round trip of about 20 miles.

Legacy Trail – One of the top rated bike trails in Florida, this trail starts just south of Sarasota and runs down to Venice. There are 15 areas to stop as well as 8 rest stations along the trail, and it runs along a former historic railroad. There are also 7 access points to the trail including one at Sarasota’s Potter Park, one in Oscar Scherer State Park, and one at the historic Venice Train Depot.

You will find several miles of beautiful bike paths at Oscar Scherer State Park and Myakka River State Park, both of which are close to Siesta Key and offer incredible opportunities for wildlife viewing. You can also ask your bike rental company for specific information about other trails in the area or group cycling events that may be going on.

Florida Laws for Cyclists

The Florida Bicycle Association provides several details on the Florida laws for cyclists. You can read more about the laws in detail here, and a summary is provided below:

• Bicyclists must obey all traffic signals and controls.

• Headphones should not be used when riding.

• Bicyclists should ride in the same direction as vehicles and stay to the right.

• A regular fixed seat must be used for riding.

• Bicycles should not carry more people than the number they are designed for.

• Bicycles should be equipped with brakes that allow them to stop within 25 feet when going 10 mph on dry clean pavement.

• When riding on sidewalks or crosswalks, bicyclists must yield right of way to pedestrians.

• Parents and guardians are responsible to ensure their children follow protocols and that they wear a helmet if they are 16 or younger.

• Bicycles operating between sunset and sunrise must have a lamp on the front and a red reflector and a lamp on the back. The rear lamp should be visible from 600 feet and the front lamp should be visible from 500 feet.

Visit Siesta Key, Florida

Siesta Key Luxury Rental Properties can help you find answers to any questions that you have about cycling on Siesta Key and help you locate comfortable accommodations near the best bike trails in the area. For more information, call us today at (941)-349-1125.