Bidegorri is Basque for bike path and literally translated means “red path”. It is the perfect description since the bike lanes in San Sebastián are painted red on the streets and marked red on maps.
If you are planning your vacation in San
Sebastian and are looking for alternatives to a rental car, which is
rather unnecessary anyways given the proximity of everything , or if you
are planning an outdoorsy vacation, a rental bike is your perfect
solution.
The bike lanes are widespread, well marked
and very safe since they are oftentimes separated from the sidewalks and
car lanes by elevated borderlines and flower beds. Alltogether the bike
paths cover a distance of over 30km with more in the planning to link
existing paths and create new ones.
You can pick up a free map at the tourist office at Boulevard 8
downtown whith the bike paths marked in red. You can also take a look
ahead on this online version with more details, such as where to rent a
bike (red dots).http://www.donostiamovilidad.com/bicicletas/red-de-bidegorris/
Bike Tours
The following link shows you an easy sightseeing tour of San Sebastian.The difficulty level is minor since the paths are fully developed and mostly level. The distance covered is about 15 miles.
If you follow the marked path you will start at Zurriola Beach with the architectural highlight Kursaal, end at the famous Wind Comb Sculptures at Ondarreta Beach and see a couple of the most famous sights in between.
http://www.gipuzkoaturismo.net
In July and August a guided bike tour is also available through the official tourism office.
www.sansebastianturismo.com
If you want to go on a little further I recommend a bike tour to San Pedro de Pasajes and San Juan de Pasajes, which are two quaint little fisher village separated by a tiny passage 5km east of San Sebastián. A dingy ferry will take you and your bike across and you can either walk from there or take your bike into the mountains all the way to France.
A more challenging tour further inland would be one to Lasarte-Oria. It covers about 19km one-way with the option of taking the train (Euskotren) back to San Sebastián. The route leads over paved paths for the most part and only has 1km of sharp incline.
http://www.gipuzkoaturismo.net
Bike Rentals
- BiciRentDonosti, Avenida de la Zurriola, 22. Tel: 943.29.08.54 http://bicirentdonosti.es/
- Amara Bike, Plaza de los Estudios, 2. Tel: 943.457367 http://www.amarabike.com/
- Bici Rent Colon, Paseo de Colón, 54. Tel: 943.29.08.54
- Bicicletas Alai, Avenida de Madrid, 24. Tel: 943.47.00.01 http://www.alaitxirrinduak.com/inicio.php
Another possibility is the public bike sharing service offered by San Sebastian´s tourism office.
You have to pay a 20.00 € safety deposit which will be refunded upon return of bike on the stipulated day.
The rental rates are:
1 day= 8€
3 days= 15
1 week 25€
There´s just one catch: The maximum rental period in one row is 4hrs. You have to return the bike to one of the 9 designated stations around town, wait 30 minutes and then you can take a bike again.
Pick- up and drop-off has to be made between 10am and 9pm, Monday through Sunday.
www.sansebastianturismo.com
Here are some reminders to make sure that your biking experience will be a safe and enjoyable one:
- Stick to the bike lanes as much as possible
- Use proper safety gear such as helmets, bright or light-colored clothing, front and rear lights and reflectors
- Pedestrians: Limit your speed to avoid accidents on paths shared with them
- The recommended speed limit is 15km/h
- Check your bike and make sure that the brakes are in good condition
- When locking your bike make sure to use a secure padlock (one used for scooters) and park on areas specially designated for bikes.
Bike path along La Concha Beach
Sources: www.gipuzkoaturismo.net
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