Getting around by bicycle
Moving around Florence on a bike can be an adventure! There are many Florentines who use bikes as their sole means of transportation, so you would not be alone. However, you do have to be very careful as it is the motorists the ones who can cause problems/accidents as they try to pass you or cut you off to make a right turn. If you will be in the downtown area, getting around by bicycle is often very practical as many areas are closed off to motor traffic. As long as you're willing to take the challenge of sharing the road with cars and scooters, then you should try renting a bike while you are here!
There aren't any bike paths within the historical center, so if you intend to move outside of the center, it would be convenient for you to first check out the map of the bike paths from the Florence City Council's website: http://www.comune.firenze.it/
"Mille e una bici" Bike Rentals
"Mille e una bici" is a scheme run by the Florence City Council to encourage the use of bicycles in Florence. For details, visit the council's website here. Details are only in Italian but it cost/locations are pretty clear to understand.
Bikes can be hired at the following points:
Central railway station (Firenze SMN)
Summer opening hours: Monday-Saturday 7.30-19; Sunday 9-19
Winter opening hours: Monday-Saturday 7.30-19
Parterre and Piazza Tasso
Summer opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-20
Winter opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-18
Piazza V. Veneto
Summer opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-20; Sunday 10-19
Winter opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-18
Campo di Marte and Rifredi railway stations
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 7.30-9.30 / 17-19
Piazza Ghiberti
Summer opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-19
Winter opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8-18
Piazza
Cestello
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8-9
RATES
Tourists: 1 hour - € 1.50; 5 hours - € 4.00; 1 day - € 8.00
Residents in Florence and province (as well as Customers of public car parks)
1 hour - € 0.50; 1 day - € 1.00; 1 month - € 15 (Monday-Friday)
Getting around by motorbike
We strongly recommend to consider renting a scooter or a motorbike only if you have prior experience. If you wish to visit the city center, we recommend a bicycle rental as Florence's city center is mainly a pedestrian area and scooters/motorbikes are not allowed.
Scooters and motorbikes are perfect for visiting the areas outside the city center and the surrounding hills in Florence. In order to rent a motorbike or scooter for a day or two, you will need to show your passport, a valid driver's license and provide a credit card. A helmet is obligatory.