Cycle through the Capital: Best Bike Rental Shops in Ottawa
Imagine this, you are cycling all over the beautiful city, with the scenic views unfolding while you enjoy the fresh air.
Ottawa is considered a bike-friendly city with many trails made for bikes. These paths are integrated into the city streets and the many parks that breathe life into this metropolis.
Whether you are a visitor or a local, renting a bike in Ottawa is easy and affordable, and there are many options to choose from.
In this article, I will share some of the best places where you can rent bikes in Ottawa:
RentABike Ottawa
Location: 2 Rideau St, Below Plaza Bridge
Website: https://www.rentabike.ca/
Mobile Number: 613-241-4140
Rates: Standard Bike – $11 per hour, Electric Bike – $20 per hour, Children’s Bike – $8 per hour
This is one of the most popular bike rental shops in Ottawa, with a 30-year history of serving bike lovers. It is located at the historic Bytown Museum near the Rideau Canal locks.
There are many bike options in this shop, from a wide range of bikes for all ages and skill levels, including e-bikes, tandem bikes, and mountain bikes. You can also get helmets, locks, maps, bags, and baskets for free with every rental.
Booking is so convenient because you can do it online or you can walk in from 9 AM to 6 PM every day.
RentABike also offers guided bike tours of Ottawa’s landmarks and neighborhoods, such as Parliament Hill, Chaudiere Falls, Little Italy, Rockcliffe Park, and Dow’s Lake. Tours like this are a great way to learn more about the city and its people.
Pro Tip:
If you intend to ride along the majestic Rideau Canal, this is a perfect place to start your route.
Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
Location: 65 Sparks
Website: https://escapebicycletours.ca/
Mobile Number: 613-608-7407
Rates: Performance City Bike- $11 per hour, Comfort City Bike- $11 per hour, Electric Bike- $21 per hour, Electric Scooter- $22 per hour, Mountain Bike- $15 per hour
Another great option for bike rentals in Ottawa is the Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals. This shop is conveniently located near Parliament Hill, a stunning and perfect spot to start your bike adventure in the city.
This shop has high-quality bikes in all sizes and models, including performance bikes, comfort bikes, electric bikes, and road bikes. Rentals can also include helmets, locks, maps, bags, and baskets for free.
You can reserve online or walk in from 9 AM to 6 PM every day.
Aside from rentals, they also offer customized bike tours of Ottawa’s attractions and nature, such as Gatineau Park, Fitzroy Harbour, Kanata Lakes, and more.
Pro Tip:
If you are planning a bike ride with a group, book the Bike and Bites package that will take you to 15 kilometers of scenic views and one hour of food tour.
Bixi City Bike Rentals
Location: Elgin, Queen, William, Rideau, Wellington, Lyon and O’Connor Streets, Sussex Drive, Laurier Avenue West
Website: Users can download the Bixi App
Rates: $5 for 24 hours
Bixi is a bike-sharing service that allows users to rent bicycles from stations in Ottawa and Gatineau. You can find Bixi stations in various locations across the city and use your credit card to unlock a bike.
This service comes with the Bixi app, where you can see how many bikes and stations are available for rent, choose how long you want to rent a bike, and get access codes to unlock it.
You can drop off the bike at any Bixi station when you are done.
Bixi also offers electric bikes, scooters, group rides, and rewards as part of the app’s feature. The service is convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly.
Pro Tip:
Consider using Bixi for daily transportation. It has bike-sharing locations near the majority of bus stations.
Cyco’s Sports
Location: 25 Hawthorne Avenue
Website: https://www.cycosport.ca/
Mobile Number: (613) 567-8180
Rates: Hybrid bikes- $10 for 1 hour, Performance bikes (mountain, road, fat)- $15 for 1 hour, Tandem bikes- $15 for 1 hour
Another local bike shop that has withstood time is Cyco’s Sports. This place has been serving the bike-lovers of Ottawa since 1996.
Cyco’s Sports is located at 25 Hawthorne Avenue, which is very near the Rideau River.
This shop has a variety of bikes for rent, including hybrid bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, fat bikes, and kids’ bikes. They also provide helmets, locks, maps, pumps, tools, and racks for free with every rental.
It is also easy to rent a bike here, which you can do online or walk in from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and from 10 AM to 5 PM on weekends.
Aside from rentals, this shop also offers bike repair services and sells new and used bikes.
Pro Tip:
If you are biking with someone, you can rent a tandem bike from this shop and enjoy an afternoon of biking along the Rideau Canal.
No matter what kind of bike you are looking for or what kind of adventure you are planning, you will find a bike rental option in Ottawa that suits your needs and budget.