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For Pedaling Pilots, Six Airports Near Bike Trails and Rentals

Sometimes bikes are ideal for covering aviation’s ‘last mile’ to your destination.

is set in a rolling countryside that is well suited to bicycling and is close to the Blazing Star State Trail. [File photo: Shutterstock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • An increasing number of airports and nearby shops are offering bicycle rentals or loan programs for pilots, providing a convenient way to explore local areas instead of relying on taxis or rideshares.
  • The growth of accessible bike trails, particularly those converted from former railroad rights of way by groups like the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, further enhances the appeal of cycling from airports.
  • Several airports across the U.S., including Albert Lea, Mackinac Island, Portland, and St. Louis, are highlighted as excellent destinations for pilots seeking to connect flying with two-wheeled exploration due to readily available bikes and extensive trail networks.
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Whether you are arriving at a sprawling international airport in St. Louis or a quiet strip in rural Maine, one of your chief concerns is how to get from the airport to the hotel, restaurant, or other attractions you might want to visit. Taxis and rideshares are fine, but when truly exploring a new place, often what you want is a bicycle.

You can bring a bike with you, sure. But the good news is that a growing number of airports and nearby shops offer bikes that pilots can rent or even borrow for a ride into town or to check out local trails. The trails themselves have also become more plentiful and accessible in the past several years as groups like the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy continue to expand, maintain, and improve the network of trails built on former railroad rights of way.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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