SantiagoChile.com The Ultimate Guide to Santiago – for Residents & Visitors
Those who enjoy exploring cities by bicycle will be pleased to know that many of the municipalities of Santiago have effective programs in place to encourage biking, and keep the activity safe and accessible. The communities Providencia, Ñuñoa, Central Santiago, and Las Condes are at the heart of this movement. Best of all, tourists do not need to worry about packing up bicycles for their vacation: there are a few solid options for how to rent bikes.
Most hotels and other accommodations know of local stores where visitors can rent bikes, especially those near major bike paths, such as the streets Pocuro and Antonio Varas. Bike shops in Santiago are small, but abundant. Services and equipment are generally inexpensive, although bikes themselves have a massive range of value. If you choose to rent a bike from a shop, you will likely have the option of renting it for more than a day at a time (perhaps a weekend), and to get a helmet and other equipment with it. It will cost $5,000 Chilean Pesos at the very least.
Another great option is the blue public bikes found on approximately twenty major racks throughout the community of Providencia. Use of these bikes costs $2,000 pesos per month. It is available from 7:30 AM until 9:30 PM Monday through Friday, and 9 AM through 2 PM Saturday. A copy of a passport is needed to rent these bikes (in lieu of a Chilean identification card), as well as documentation of accommodations.
These bikes can be found close to metros Manuel Montt, Salvador, Parque Bustamante, and at other points of interest in Providencia. These bikes are ideal for exploring General Bustamante Park and Balmaceda Park- South and East of Plaza Italia, respectively. There is even a bike path along the street Andres Bello, next to the Mapocho River, which goes along the length of Providencia up to the Costanera Center. An official map of the bike paths of Santiago can be found online and in many bike shops.
If you have access to a bike on Sunday morning, or even if you do not, consider visiting one of the many streets closed to motor traffic until 2 PM. Families, friends, and visitors enjoy the open space and clean air. Urban cyclists, roller skaters, and joggers take advantage of the wide and safe stretches of pavement. Some streets included in this program are Andres Bello, Pocuro, Los Leones, and Tobalaba.
Moderate-to-advanced cycling skills are needed to spend significant time off the bike paths. Cyclists in Santiago try to stay in the streets, but traffic frequently gets dangerous enough to persuade them onto the sidewalks. The utmost caution toward pedestrians and vehicles is recommended for visitors to Santiago who want to try commuting this way. Consider buying a helmet, if renting is not an option. Lights are inexpensive, and a huge asset at night.
Santiago has a temperate climate and great infrastructure- perfect for biking. There is a strong and welcoming cyclist community, and the municipalities are listening to their requests. This city is a great destination for those who love getting around on two wheels when they can.
*Update to this post
“La Bicicleta Verde” (the green bike) is a great little US/Chilean company offering. bike rentals and all kind of bike tours, they include maps of recommended routes well, worth taking a look at. Their wesbsite is: http://www.labicicletaverde.com/
Here´s a short video below of them in action…
