Formally named the Marvin Braude Bike Path (after a long-serving Los Angeles City Council member who championed the preservation of open space in the Santa Monica Mountains), the 22-mile (35-kilometer) journey is wide and almost entirely flat. By any means, traveling the path is an ideal activity for families and couples, or anyone who wants to find a bit of quiet time and fresh air while visiting this enormous city renowned for its traffic.
The Santa Monica Pier makes an excellent starting point for a bike-path journey, and offers several places to rent bicycles. From here you can venture north to see the mansions of Pacific Palisades, or head south to the Venice Boardwalk and continue on to Marina del Rey then onwards to Redondo Beach. Parking is available along the trail, most often near public beaches.
The Marvin Braude Bike Path is open year-round. It’s more crowded on weekends, which are best for festivities and people-watching. If you’d prefer a more spacious ride with less people-traffic to navigate, it’s best to go on a weekday or early morning.
Aside from up-close views of the Pacific Ocean while you ride, the cycling path boasts numerous attractions. Hop off at the Santa Monica Pier for an ice cream or carousel ride, and spend time shopping at the nearby 3rd Street Promenade. Venice Beach is known for its funky shops, murals, skate park, and the bodybuilders at Muscle Beach. Volleyball players or spectators can enjoy a game at Manhattan Beach.
