Bike sharing in Kona 🚲 How to use bike share stations on the Big Island 🌴 Hawaii travel blog

ALOHA!

 

There a few ways to get around Kona, including by bus or by trolley.

These services are generally infrequent, though!

And, if you’re not venturing too far away from the main area of Kona town, you can also use a bike for going up and down the Kona coast! (At least, a little bit!)

There’s a bike share program on the Big Island.

There’s a bike sharing program in Waikiki and Honolulu too if you’ll be headed to Oahu.

It seems there’s one both in Kona and in Hilo.

This will focus mostly on bike sharing in Kona, since that’s where I used it.

 

 

Bike rental vs bike sharing in Kona

So…

What’s the difference?!

 

Bicycle rental

 

With a typical bicycle rental, you’ll rent a bike on an hour-by-hour, half day, or all day basis, and the bike is your responsibility for that entire time.

You’ll need to find a place to lock it up when you’re not using it, and you’ll need to return it back to where you picked it up.

But with a bicycle rental, you’re also not as limited to where you can go, and you have the potential of getting a better bike more suitable for going longer distances for cycling along the Kona coast!

 

 

Bike sharing

 

With biking sharing in Kona, you can use a bike for as little amount of time as you want, and among the best part about it can be that you don’t need to return it to where you picked up the bike.

This can make it ideal for short trips along the Kona coast when you’re looking to simply get from point A to point B.

 

More below about how to do bike sharing on the Big Island!

 

🌴

 

 

 

So…

How does bike sharing in Kona work?!

 

How to do bike sharing in Kona:

• You rent a bike at one bike station
• You ride your bike down the street to another part of town
• You return the bike at another bike station at your destination
• Then you are DONE!

 

For the longer version…

 

1. Go to the payment stand at a bike rental station

 

 

2. Activate the screen

 

 

3. Follow the prompts given

 

This will include:

• How many bikes you want to rent
• What kind of bike pass you want (30 minute pass or multi-ride pass)
• Accepting terms and conditions
• Inserting your credit card (no cash)
• Entering your phone number and zip code

 

 

4. Receive the code to unlock a bike

 

Once your credit card has been approved, a code with numbers will be displayed.

This code is used to unlock your bike.

You have the option of printing off this code.

 

 

Even if you think you have a good memory, consider printing it off just in case! (Or take a picture of it if you want to be more environmentally friendly.)

The code expires in 5 minutes, and that’s how long you have to unlock your bike.

You’re located right next to a bike, so this is enough time.

 

 

5. Go over to the bike you want to take

 

There’s a keypad with 3 numbers in a column on the left side.

 

 

This is where you enter the code.

 

 

6. Once the button turns green, YANK the bike out

 

Okay, maybe not that hard, but you do need a little bit of force to pull it out.

If you fail at pulling it out, just enter the code again, and try again.

 

 

 

7. Start biking in Kona!

 

 

8. When you’re ready to return your bike, go to a bike rental station – any bike station!

 

Then just lock the bike back into position!

It doesn’t need to be the same station that you got your bike at, but it can be.

But it does need to be a station with an open bike slot!

 

 

If you do find that the first station you get to is full, simply go down the street to find the next bike station.

And…

You are DONE!

 

 

Adjusting the bike seat

 

At some point, you may want to adjust the bike seat.

In order to maximize the 30 minutes you have, consider adjusting this before you start the payment process at the bike station.

 

 

Bike with traffic, not against

When you are biking on the street, whether there’s a bike lane or not, always be on the side of the street so you are going in the same direction as the cars.

Don’t bike against traffic! This is a general biking thing anywhere in the US (and probably world).

So, in Hawaii this means biking on the right side of the road.

 

 

 

Bike station locations

 

Another one of the best parts is that you can pick up a bike from convenient places near Kona town!

You can check this map for bike sharing station in Kona (and Hilo).

How much does bike sharing in Kona cost?

 

You can pay for rides individually and in 30 minute segments.

With bike sharing in Kona, each 30 minute bike ride costs $3.50. Confirm the prices.

That would be whether your bike ride is 5 minutes, or 29 minutes.

 

 

Age requirement for bike sharing bikes

 

To use a bike sharing bike in Kona, kids need to be at least 16.

And if your child is 16 or 17, you the parent need to be renting the bike with them.

 

 

Now…

Where to go in Kona by bike?!

 

 

Magic Sands Beach

 

This is a popular beach near Kona town.

It’s known for boogie boarding.

There’s a bike station basically right in front of the beach, on the other side of the coastal road, in front of the parking lot.

 

 

Kahaluu Beach

 

This is one of the best spots for snorkeling in Kona.

When coming from Kona town, there’s a bike station just past Kahaluu Beach, on the left side.

 

 

Alii Drive oceanfront restaurant

 

Biking to get views while you eat!

For reference, you can look for Huggo’s or On the Rocks on Google Maps.

There’s a bike station right near here on Alii Drive.

 

Or…

Just bike along the Kona coast for a scenic ride with no particular destination!

 

Be sure to see things to do in Kona!

 

HAPPY BIKING IN KONA!