The Trailside Center is closed for the season.
We will reopen in Spring of 2025.
We strongly recommend that you make a reservation for your bike rentals.
We do not accept cash as payment for bike rentals.
Please note: There is no after-hours drop-off. Bikes must be returned by 6 pm unless bikes are rented for multiple days.
Rental proceeds support Local Motion's non-profit advocacy mission to make it safe, accessible, and fun for everyone to bike, walk, and roll in Vermont. Learn more about us.
Bike Types and Sizes
- We offer “sporty” and “relaxed” style bikes for adults, e-bikes (age 16+), various kids bikes, and adult bikes with kids trailers or tagalongs attached. We also have a couple of adaptive bikes. We do not offer mountain bikes or road bikes.
- All of our bikes are well suited for the bike path and Colchester Causeway, but it depends on what you are used to riding, how comfortable you are on a bike, and how leisurely you want your ride to be! If you haven’t ridden a bike in a while or aren’t super comfortable on a bike, we would recommend the “relaxed” style bike, but if you are a more seasoned rider and want more gears/speeds to shift between, you might enjoy the “sporty” style bike.
- Yes! We have an adult tricycle and a DUET wheelchair tandem bike. On the adult tricycle, you would be seated with your legs out in front of you, pedaling. But on the DUET, one person sits in a chair on the front of the bike while another person pedals from behind. Please contact [email protected] with inquiries about renting an adaptive bike. We are happy to have you stop by before you plan to ride to try out the bike and make sure it is a good fit.
- Yes, we offer various sizes of kids bikes. We also offer adults bikes with either a trailer or a tag-along attached. Please note that there is no option to rent an e-bike with a trailer or tag-along.
- Trailers can fit up to 2 children. Children must be 18 months old or OLDER for everyone's safety. Inserts are available for smaller children. Trailers can hold up to 100 lbs. We do not carry infant seats so we cannot accommodate children younger than 18 months old.
- Tag-alongs are kids bikes that are attached to an adult bike by a tow bar connection where the front fork would normally be. Tag-alongs are suitable for children who are not able to ride on their own, but are able to keep themselves in an upright position. We’d suggest this is an option for a child who is 4 years or above, has good balance and can confidently use a pedal bike (without training wheels). They will need to be mature enough to understand they cannot just climb off the tag-along when they want to. Tag-alongs have a weight limit of 80 lbs.
- An e-bike is a bike with an electric motor, powered by a battery. All of our e-bikes are pedal assist. Pedal-assist means you must pedal in order to actuate the motor. If you stop pedaling, the motor assist will turn off.
- E-bikes may be rented by anyone 18 years old or older. 16-17 year olds may rent one with their parent or guardian present. All e-bike renters must show an ID when picking up their bikes.
- Trailers and tag-alongs can not be attached to e-bikes. E-bikes rented for multiple days must be stored in an indoor, locked location overnight. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
- Please refer to the sizing guide provided on the rentals page when you choose the style of bike you would like to ride.
Making a Reservation (Reserving a Bike)
- We strongly recommend making a reservation online, because it will get you on your bike sooner. Reservations will also ensure that your preferred bike type and size are available for you on the day you would like to rent.
- We often run out of certain sizes or styles on the busiest days. Try adjusting your reservation date or time, or the size or style of your bikes.
- We offer a 3 hour rental period or a Full Day rental period. All rentals start at the time you select when reserving your bike. 3 hour rentals are due back 3 hours after the time you select for pick up. Full Day rentals must be returned by 6 pm that day. You may rent bikes for multiple days by adding days to your reservation. Please note that E-bikes rented overnight MUST be kept in a secure, indoor location.
- Reservations must be canceled at least 24 hours before the rental time in order to receive a refund. However, we will provide exceptions for unpleasant/dangerous weather conditions, and other personal emergencies.
Group Rentals
- We strongly recommend that groups make reservations in advance to ensure bikes will be available. Please email [email protected] for assistance with a group reservation.
- Any group with children under 16 needs an appropriate number of adults to accompany the group. Children under 16: Adult (over 18) to child ratio of 1:6
- A waiver signed by a legal guardian is required for each participant under 18 year of age. Documented proof from a group leader that they are able to sign on behalf of the minor's legal guardian is also acceptable. Contact [email protected] for more information, or to request a PDF version of our waiver to distribute to your group.
- We only offer discounts for nonprofit groups renting four or more bikes. This is a 20% discount only available for conventional bikes on weekdays, it does not apply to e-bikes or rentals happening on weekends. Please email [email protected] for assistance.
Navigation!
- We are located at 1 Steele Street in Burlington, Vermont, directly on the Island Line Trail.
- Please note that we do not have a rental location in South Hero, only here in Burlington.
- For all parking info/needs, visit parkburlington.com
- The Trailside Center is located on the Burlington waterfront, directly on the Island Line Trail, one of the premier recreational bike riding destinations in Vermont. Also known as the Burlington Bike Path, it is closed to vehicular traffic and runs along the Lake Champlain shoreline for 14 miles. The northernmost 2.5 miles is the spectacular Colchester Causeway where Local Motion runs a seasonal Bike Ferry transporting riders over to the Champlain Islands.
- Yes! This page has info and maps of cycling routes around Burlington and VT. Use these to your own discretion, it may be tricky to navigate safely by bike if you aren’t super familiar with the area.
- Beyond the Bike Path there’s plenty to discover around Burlington. We have an interactive map that features interesting loops in both the North and South Ends. If you decide to venture further with our bikes, please note that this may be outside of our capacity to provide emergency bike repair/rescue assistance. Reminder, our E-bikes cannot be transported by car to another location to start your ride.
- The Island Line Trail is very flat (it used to be a railroad line!), with only a couple small, gradual hills.
- The Bike Ferry is located 10 miles up the trail from the Trailside Center out on the Colchester Causeway. The seasonal Ferry crosses a 200 foot gap or “cut” on the causeway and connects riders to the Champlain Islands. There are no reservations required, the Ferry runs continuously and the cost is by donation.
- Here is more information about the Bike Ferry.
- The Bike Ferry does NOT bring riders back to Burlington!
- The Colchester Causeway starts 7 miles up from the Trailside Center. At mile 6 you will arrive at Airport Park where there are bathrooms and freshwater. From there you are riding on a packed gravel surface for another mile and a half, until you reach the spectacular Causeway taking you across the lake.
- We do, here is a link to our interactive map. This map will show you where to find restrooms, beaches, parks, food and drink, retail stores, lodging, etc in Burlington and the Champlain Islands.
- Note: If you are not in the Burlington area when you activate the map on your mobile device, the map will show you your current location relative to our Trail. Once in the Burlington area, it will show you where you are relative to Burlington points of interest.
- Not really. Most food options are on the waterfront or throughout Burlington, especially Church Street. Hello Burlington and our interactive map have lots more information on Burlington area restaurants, bars, and businesses.
Picking Up Your Bikes
- Yes, we have locks - just ask!
- Kids and adults helmets are available in a variety of sizes at no cost with your bike rental. Helmets are recommended, but not required.
- Any of our conventional (non-electric) bikes can be transported by car or car rack; however, e-bikes can only be pedaled away from the Trailside Center, and they cannot be transported by vehicle. We do not have bike racks for rent.
- Yes! Here is a link to our interactive map. This map will show you where to find restrooms, beaches, parks, food and drink, retail stores, lodging, etc.
- We sell Local Motion water bottles filled with cold water for $6 each. We also sell hydration mix, snacks, and a few other items in our Trailside Center.
E-Bikes
- An e-bike is a bike with an electric motor, powered by a battery. All of our e-bikes are pedal assist, meaning that you must pedal in order to actuate the motor. If you stop pedaling, the motor assist will turn off.
- E-bikes may be rented by anyone 18 years old or older. 16-17 year olds may rent one with their parent or guardian present.
- Trailers and tag-alongs can not be attached to e-bikes.
- E-bikes rented for multiple days must be stored in an indoor, locked location overnight. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
- You may rent an e-bike to participate in an event happening nearby, but keep in mind that you still can’t transport it by vehicle, it must be stored indoors overnight, and you must be present while it charges.
- Unfortunately no. E-bikes can only be pedaled away from the Trailside Center.
- On the lowest setting (least amount of assistance) our e-bikes have an approximate range of 50-60 miles. On the highest setting our e-bikes have an approximate range of 20 miles. Battery mileage varies depending on usage. Hilly terrain drains the battery more than flat surfaces.
- If you rent an e-bike for more than one day, we will lend you a charger. If your e-bike rental is for one full day, or part of the day, we can not swap out your battery. You will only have one full charge of your battery for that day. Unless you set the bike to a high pedal assist setting, you should have plenty of charge.