Bicycling can be a great way to experience a travel destination – it’s healthy, environmentally friendly and provides a whole different perspective than you get riding in an enclosed vehicle.
Grand Rapids is an ideal spot for a bike-inclusive getaway. It’s been recognized as a Top 50 Best Biking City by Bicycling Magazine and a bronze-level Bike-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. In addition to a vast network of off-street multi-use trails, bicyclists can take advantage of 80+ miles of bike lanes, separated bikeways and sidepaths along city streets.
The City of Grand Rapids produced a formal Bicycle Action Plan in 2019. The purpose of the plan was to “move Grand Rapids forward as a community where bicycling for transportation and recreation is a safe, comfortable and integral part of daily life in Grand Rapids for people of all ages, abilities, gender orientations and socio-economic levels.”
Since then, the city – and the region – have worked to make road biking even more convenient, accessible and affordable for residents and visitors alike.
Getting started
The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition is a helpful resource for any bikers visiting or living in West Michigan. Visit their website for maps of on-street and off-street bike routes, safety information and a list of local bike shops. It’s also worth checking out the Driving Change website for the rules of biking on Grand Rapids and Michigan roads. Note that bicyclists are not required to wear helmets in Michigan, but the state strongly recommends their use.
Hosted by Freewheeler Bike Shop, Wednesday Evening Rides (WER), gathers 60-80 riders every Wednesday evening at Veterans Park during the summer offering a great way for new bikers to get involved in the road biking community. Checkout the Wednesday Evening Rides Facebook group for more information.
If you don’t own a bike or you’re not traveling to GR with yours, you can rent one. The City of Grand Rapids operates a bike (and scooter) share program that allows visitors and residents to get around on two wheels. Download the Lime app to get started.
If you don’t own a bike or you’re not traveling to GR with yours, you can rent one at these local shops:
The Kent District Library offers free bicycle rentals at its Caledonia, Cascade, East Grand Rapids, Grandville and Rockford branches if you have a library card from KDL, Grand Rapids Public Library or the Lakeland Library Cooperative. Bikes are typically available from May 1 - Oct. 31.
The City of Grand Rapids operates a bike (and scooter) share program that allows visitors and residents to get around on two wheels. Download the Lime app to get started.
Biking downtown
Downtown Grand Rapids encourages biking with hundreds of bicycle parking options, a handful of bike repair stations and the occasional bike box – a bright green box with white bicycle symbols inside, painted onto the pavement at select intersections. Motorists must stop behind the boxes when a traffic light turns red, allowing a bicyclist to move ahead of vehicle traffic. When the light turns green, the bicyclist can then turn left or go straight before the vehicles. There’s also a bicycle traffic light at the intersection of Leonard St. NW and Turner Ave. NW, the first of several to come.
All of this is meant to make it easy to explore the city center’s 300+ restaurants, breweries, museums and entertainment venues without relying on a motor vehicle.
