Biking in Sarasota

Owen, Dan, and Lena Schulman on the Sarasota Legacy Trail

By Carrie Schulman

A couple weeks ago, my family and I went on a fun little getaway to Sarasota, Florida, to visit my father-in-law. One of the highlights of the trip was renting bikes from Siesta Key Bike and Kayak. We all got our own set of wheels for a day of exploring!  Dan and I cruised around on "Comfort Hybrid" bikes, Owen satisfied his need for speed with a flat bar road bike, and Lena was just barely tall enough to get an e-bike. It was the perfect setup – while Owen and Lena zipped ahead, Dan and I took our time, enjoying the ride, and we'd eventually catch up.

Sarasota is home to a large Amish community, and since they don’t drive cars, the town has an extensive network of bike lanes to accommodate them. That said, the “bike lanes” leave much to be desired. Most of them are narrow, consisting almost entirely of the cement gutter with a single line of white paint separating bikes from Florida’s over-sized cars.

The real gem of the ride was Sarasota's Legacy Trail. This former railroad line has been transformed into a 19-mile, scenic multi-use path. It’s smooth, well-maintained, and surrounded by nature. Long stretches of path offer peaceful views, and the occasional road crossing is marked with clear signage or even overpasses for the busier crossings. Plus, there were plenty of shade huts with benches to take a break and soak in the scenery.

One thing that caught my eye was all the signs along the path reminding cyclists to be courteous and safe while passing others. It seems like the Legacy Trail is dealing with the same cyclist vs. pedestrian issues we often encounter on the Ohlone Greenway. I got a couple of reminders about leaving more space when passing people – I guess I’m just used to the more crowded Bay Area paths!

All in all, biking on the Sarasota Legacy Trail was an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend!