Bike, Pensacola!

Slow Rides & Local Biking Initiatives

by Nicole Willis

With perfect weather, scenic views and historic landmarks, Pensacola has become a hub for bicycle enthusiasts. Newly constructed bike lanes, trails and multi-use pathways have transformed the city landscape, supporting the strong cycling culture within the Pensacola community.

The City of Pensacola was recently recognized as a “Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. This prestigious designation is awarded to cities that have made notable progress in creating safer and more accessible biking environments through infrastructure, education, enforcement and community support. The award acknowledges Pensacola’s ongoing commitment to creating a more bikeable and accessible city.

From newly completed and ongoing projects to funding already secured for future improvements, the city’s dedication to creating a more bike-friendly community goes far beyond its recent award designation.

Some of the more recent efforts to enhance bikability include the SUN Trail—a state-funded, non-motorized trail network. In 2023, $8.6 million in funding was secured to construct a portion of the SUN Trail, which included the addition of a 12-foot-wide multi-use bike and walking path along Bayfront Parkway.

With construction on the new multi-use pathway set to begin next year, Pensacola is now gearing up for the addition of two other SUN Trail segments to connect the entire city waterfront.

In April, the city was awarded a $441,023 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to fund the design of two additional segments of the SUN Trail Network, though the City Council must still vote to officially accept the funding.

Preliminary project plans show one segment extending from Bayfront down Main Street, turning onto Cedar Street to reach Community Maritime Park. The second proposed segment would run from Pace Boulevard, follow Cypress Street, go through Sanders Beach, continue along E Street and connect to Main Street in downtown Pensacola.

The Cedar Street section would overlap with the long-planned Hashtag Connector project. This project has been on pause due to its costs. It is possible that these new sections, if constructed, could reduce some of the costs of the Hashtag Project.

These two segments are still in the planning stage, with final decisions to be determined during the design process. If approved, construction on the new segments is expected to begin in 2026.

Much of the city’s progress in making biking a safe and accessible mode of transport can be credited to Bike Pensacola—a coalition of bicyclists, bike clubs, bike shops and like organizations working to improve conditions for bicycling in Pensacola. Established in 2015, the group champions a range of bike-friendly initiatives across the city.

“We try to build support for making the city more bikeable and more walkable,” Bike Pensacola Executive Director Christian Wagley explained.

One of Bike Pensacola’s most notable initiatives includes hosting group Slow Rides through different parts of the community throughout the year. Slow Rides are just that—slow bicycle rides through Pensacola’s historic streets and neighborhoods.

These events allow bikers to gather and enjoy each other’s company while taking a scenic stroll through a bikeable area in downtown. Bike Pensacola has hosted Slow Rides since its establishment.

“I think it was like May or June of 2015 when we started the Slow Rides. They started small, with only around 30 people. The next month, 45 or 50 people attended, and I think in the third or fourth month, it blew up to over 100 people, and that’s when we knew we were on to something,” Wagley said.

Today, Bike Pensacola’s Slow Rides continue to serve as a popular community event, drawing anywhere from 200 to 300 people for each ride.

The next Slow Ride is scheduled for July 11 at 6 pm. The ride will begin and end at End of the Line Café at 610 E. Wright St. in downtown Pensacola. The route will take cyclists through the historic Old East Hill and BelmontDeVilliers neighborhoods.

Each Slow Ride takes about an hour and ten minutes to complete, and is roughly six miles. The rides are designed to be enjoyable for all skill levels, including beginners. The pace is relatively slow, at about 6 miles per hour, and all riders travel together as a group to ensure no one is left behind.

“It’s very chill. We describe it as a social ride. You get to go at this slow pace through these neighborhoods, and, a lot of times, people come out and wave at us. All the while, we’re just getting people more comfortable about being out on their bikes and moving around the city,” Wagley said.

During Slow Rides, roads are not closed. However, the group will be joined by police escorts who will temporarily hold an intersection for cyclists to safely pass through.

Following this month’s Slow Ride, cyclists are invited to enjoy an after-party at End of the Line featuring bike films, bike trivia with prizes and refreshments.

“The Slow Ride afterparties vary. This is definitely going to be a special one, because we’re going to be showing bike films after the ride. End of the Line will have some specials for the slow riders to come back and enjoy. We’re going to make it feel like a festival on the street with some displays and a little bit of DJ music playing. End of the Line will bring a beverage cart outside and serve cold beverages, so it’ll be a great space to hang out after the ride,” Wagley said.

Individuals ages 10 and up are welcome to participate in Bike Pensacola’s Slow Rides. Children ages 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult and are required to wear helmets. There is no formal sign-up or registration process to participate in rides; you simply show up with your bike, trike or e-bike at the designated time and starting place.

“There’s no sign up. That’s part of the beauty of it; we just keep it simple— just show up and ride,” Wagley said.

If you are interested in participating in the upcoming July Slow Ride, there are a few rules to ensure the safety of riders. Riders must be able to maintain a leisurely pace of 6 miles per hour for an hour. Consuming alcohol during the ride is prohibited. No pets are allowed to participate in the ride.

Self-propelled or electric-assist bicycles are allowed, as well as trikes and ElliptiGOs. Segways, skateboards, scooters or gasoline-powered motorized bicycles are not allowed.

For more information on the upcoming July Slow Ride, visit facebook.com/share/197cSrmVZh.

To learn more about Bike Pensacola and future Slow Ride events, visit bikepensacola.org.

To stay up to date with all things biking in Pensacola, check out @bikepensacola on Facebook and Instagram.