Santa Monica Bike Center Recommended!

 

If you’re from out of town and not all that familiar with the area, a day of bike rental from the Santa Monica Bike Center really can’t be beat. Easy to get to, hundreds of parking spaces, reasonable rates, extended hours, and friendly service makes this our first choice.
Located at 1555 2nd Street at Colorado. (310)656-8500.

On a very busy summer weekend they had plenty of bikes left mid afternoon.
Santa Monica Bike Center
Santa Monica Bike Center Members Services
Santa Monica Bike Center Colorado
Santa Monica Bike Center 2nd

If $30 a day seems high, consider that is open to close! M-Thur 6:30am to 10pm
Fri 6:30am – midnight, Sat 8am to midnight, Sunday 8 am to 8 pm Not only that but for $5 more you can keep the bike overnight until noon the next day! Price includes a lock and a helmet if you like. To rent a bike you’ll leave a government issue ID or an imprint of your credit card.Santa Monica Bike Center Prices

Santa Monica Bike Center Prices

Six floors of parking.Santa Monice Bike Center Parkng

$9 All Day Flat Rate.Santa Monice Bike Center Parkng

Two blocks from Santa Monica Pier your gateway to the bike path. Head south to Venice!
Santa Monice Pier

North Venice Blvd.

North Venice Blvd. runs right into this lot. It’s a large lot and costs $5.N. Venice Blvd. Beach Parking Lot

When it gets busy, it turns into a real bottleneck.
North Venice Bottleneck

You’ll pass another lot on your way in. This one’s just East of Pacific at Dell. A hefty $15 on this busy weekend.
Venice Blvd. North and Dell

Look south from this lot and you can catch a glimpse of the Venice Canals.Venice Canals

Or get lucky! Street parking. Here I’m looking West down Venice Blvd. South.Venice Street Parking

Venice Blvd. Parking Sign

Okay, we’re parked let’s get bikes. Hey, there’s another Perry’s, right in the N. Venice parking lot.
Perrys Bike Rental North Venice

Rates and Procedure.
Perrys North Venice Rates
In case you can’t read that…
You have to fill out and sign a waiver. You need a credit card or debit card, a driver’s license or a passport. Payment is cash only and rates range from $8 an hour to $25 a day for a cruiser, mountain bike or rollerblades.

Let’s have a look at a couple of other out of the way bike rental spots nearby. The main Venice Boardwalk is actually Ocean Front Walk. This bike rental spot is just East on 18th Ave. just about a block North of the North Venice parking lot.
Oceanfront 18th Bikes
Ocean Front 18th Bikes Rates

And another on 17th Ave.
Ocean Front Walk 17th Bikes

Ocean Front Walk 17th Bikes Rates

If you’re stuck in traffic in that last block of Venice North, West of Pacific, check out a couple of Venice landmarks. Here’s the R. Cronk Abbott Kinney mural.
Abbott Kiney by R Cronk

Or a favorite nightlife watering hole (with great food), James Beach, located 60 N Venice Blvd. 310-823-5396
James Beach Restaurant

Washington & Pacific


This is a shot as you enter the lot at the end of Washington. This lot is right next to the Venice Pier and marks the Southern end of the bike path. (The bike path extends further south but only after a jog East on Washington Blvd.)

No in and out privileges
No refunds
When lot is staffed, maximum daily rates apply ($9.00)
Bruffy’s Tow 310-395 0084
No overnight parking 1am – 6 am
Parking ticket must be displayed on dashboard.

Autos only
No trailers
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited
Animals must be on a leash
No camping or sleeping in vehicle at any time
No perimeter back in parking

These shots were taken on Easter weekend, 2012. It was the first crazy
beach day of the year. There were long lines to get into all the city and
county parking lots.

There’s also 2 hour park and pay, street parking right on Washington W. of Pacific
8am – 6pm.

 

Bikes!
First up, Venice Bike and Skate. They’re located at  21 Washington Boulevard (310) 301-4011

These are some of the lower rates in the area (April, 2012). They also take credit cards.

And Perry’s which is located right on the sand adjacent to the parking lot.

Note you need a Driver’s License or Passport, a Credit or ATM card, but they only take payment in cash.

Open until 6:30 weekdays and 7 Saturday and Sunday (summer hours).

Food and Drink
The Washington & Pacific strip has some of the best food and bars in the area.


Venice Whaler is a party bar and features live music.
10 Washington Boulevard  Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (310) 821-8737

Casa Ado 12 Washington Blvd. Marina del Rey, CA 90202 tel 310 577 2589


Mercedes Grille 18 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 310.827.6209


Cabo Contina 30 Washington Boulevard Marina Del Rey, CA (310) 306-2500


The Cow’s End for all your coffee needs. Great vibe. Free WiFi.


C&O Trattoria 31 Washington Boulevard  Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (310) 823-9491 Great Italian. Fun family vibe.


Hinano Cafe 15 Washington Boulevard  Venice, CA 90292 (310) 822-3902 A little wilder. Beer, pool and burgers.

I missed a lot of great restaurants. Plenty of food, drink of all sorts day and night.