Imagine a whirlwind tour of the Eternal City – the Forum, Coliseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Vatican, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps as today’s Romans do; from atop a bicicletta. The best time to peddle through this gorgeous city is from May through September, when the historic center is closed to autos and motorini every second Sunday of the month.

During this time, the city center is nicknamed Isola Verde or “Green Island” referring to the environmentally friendly aspect of reduced air and noise pollution. Touring by bicycle is a perfect way to see Rome from literally a fresh perspective.

Identification, in the form of a driver’s license or a copy of your passport is all that is required to rent a bike. Helmets are not mandatory and are not provided by the rental agencies, so you may want to bring your own.

For those bringing their own bikes, repair shops are much more available than they were only ten years ago. Collalti, conveniently located near Campo de’ Fiori, offers an assortment of bike accessories as well.

Visiting Londoners Kirsty Norton and Chris Allen who rented bikes by the hour in Villa Borghese thought the prices were very good and as Kirsty exclaimed, “it beats walking”. At the park’s Bici Pincio rental site, tandem bikes are also available as are risciò, pedal-powered carts for 3 to 6 people.

"It's Easier"

Cyclists in Rome have somewhat similar reasons for riding rather than motoring around the city. Austrian Clarisse Maylunas said, “It’s easier”. She then quickly corrected herself by adding, “It’s not easier, but it is less polluting and quicker than looking for a parking place”.

Italian Silvia Maddalo who rides to work and everywhere else she can says she likes the ecological aspect of cycling. A Roman family pausing in Campo de’ Fiori on a recent beautiful day were “looking for streets without cars and a place for lunch”. Francesco Cartolano said the children ride on his bike and he leads because the boys “want to see where they are going”.

Laney Sigrist from Pennsylvania was enthusiastic about commuting in the city via bicycle because, “we can go faster than a car or moped.”READ MORE