Bike the Big Easy: Exploring New Orleans on two wheels

Two-wheeled tourists are increasingly common in New Orleans. Credit: HolyWhiteShirt.

By Blane Bachelor

As it rebuilds, New Orleans has quadrupled its miles of bikeways, and more and more people have taken to pedaling. The League of American Bicyclists has taken note, awarding the city a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community Award for the first time ever. For your next New Orleans vacation, here’s how to explore the Big Easy on two wheels.

Unless you’re a serious rider who travels with your bike, you’ll have to rent your ride. Several bike rental shops are located in and around the French Quarter which deliver and pick up to and from your hotel. Regardless of where you rent from, however, Jamie Wine, executive director of the NOLA-based, Bike Easy suggests stopping by Bicycle Michael’s on Frenchmen Street. The tiny bike shop is packed with gear and has a solid following among New Orleans’ cycling community, making it a great resource for insider tips on New Orleans biking.

For bike-friendly neighborhoods, Wine’s top recommendations are the French Quarter and up-and-coming Fabourg Marigny, known more commonly as Marigny, and Bywater. Must-see stops along your route in those ‘hoods:

Vaughan’s Lounge: expect big crowds on Thursdays, when popular trumpeter Kermit Ruffins often plays and sometimes cooks up some of his famous barbeque
Mimi’s in the Marigny: a lounge and restaurant where small plates and live music are served up until the wee hours
Frenchmen Street, one of the best spots in the city for live jazz

Serious cyclists looking for a longer ride should check out the New Orleans Levee-Top Trail. Also known as the Mississippi Levee Trail, this 25-mile route stretches from Audubon Park, about six miles west of the French Quarter, upriver to the community of Destrehan in St. Charles Parish. The trail passes through diverse scenery that includes bustling wharves, the antebellum Destrehan Plantation and serene marshland.

Related resources

Blane Bachelor, a San Francisco-based travel writer and author, lists Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans as among her all-time favorite bars.

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