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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:

  • Bicycling is increasingly offered as a convenient and enjoyable way for pilots and travelers to explore destinations directly from airports, providing an alternative to traditional transport options.
  • A growing number of airports and nearby shops provide bike rentals or loans, supported by an expanding network of accessible trails, including those developed by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
  • Several U.S. airports, such as Albert Lea, Mackinac Island, Portland, and St. Louis, are highlighted as excellent hubs for two-wheeled exploration, offering access to scenic trails and local attractions.
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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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