Bicycling On Nantucket

by Vera Thornton

Nantucket is a great island for biking for several reasons: It small, relatively flat, and scenically gorgeous. And, in the busy summer season you can avoid traffic and often make faster progress on a bike than in a car, particulary downtown and mid-island. So if you have a bike, bring it along, and if not you can rent one, along with all the necessary accessories.

Nantucket has 24 miles of bike paths, which are separated from the roadways. A terrific feature is the color-coded sticker sign system on posts along the bike routes through downtown, which will lead you right to the paths. The bike paths vary in length and cover the whole island, of course leading to the beaches and scenic points of interest. Try the five mile Madaket path out to the west side of the island and the village of Madeket, where the beach is great for scalloping and crabbing, and where you can catch an incredible sunset. Along the way you’ll pass the Sanford Farm and the Quaker Cemetery.

The Milestone Road bike path is a little longer, 6.5 miles, and cuts right across the middle of the island to the eastern side, passing the Nantucket moors, a cranberry bog and views of the golf course. Milestone connects to the Polpis route, 8.2 miles, which brings you back to town on an alternative route past the Sankaty Head Lighthouse and the Life Saving Museum. If all the pedaling gets to be too much for you, the public shuttle busses all have bike racks.

Remember that bicycle etiquette asks you to obey one-way street signs and walk your bike if you’re on the sidewalk. And when you stop, make sure you’re off to the side and not in the middle of the street, a situation which will not endear you to the locals! And as elsewhere in Massachusetts, anyone age 16 or younger is required to wear a bicycle helmet.

For rentals and touring information, contact the following local businesses:

Young's Bicycle Shop
(508) 228-1151
6 Broad Street - PO Box 1229 - Nantucket, MA

Nantucket Bike Shop
Steamboat Wharf/Straight Wharf
(800) 770-3088

Easy Riders Bicycle Rentals and Delivery
(508) 325-2722
Nantucket Memorial Airport, 14 Airport Road and 65 Surfside Road - Nantucket, MA

Island Bike & Sport
(508) 228-4070 – (877) 228-4070
25 Old South Road - Nantucket, MA

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Young's Bike Shop