Punta Gorda Waterfront - Click for Chartview

Punta Gorda’s FREE loaner bike program, described by Nancy Johnson, CEO of Team Punta Gorda and Lorah Steiner, Director of Tourism, is a real boon to transient cruisers! Bikes are available within easy walking distance of the Punta Gorda Waterfront Anchorage public dinghy dock located just off Gilchrist Park which is between Fishermens Village and the twin Tamiami Bridges.
Biking is a great way to visit nearby attractions and to stretch your legs after several days on the water. Another excellent service-to-boaters provided by the city of Punta Gorda, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

The free loaner bike program had 1700 riders ytd in 2013. It’s very popular and easy to use. Our bikes are also at Fisherman’s Village and the Isles Yacht Club for cruisers that use their docks. This year, our new public floating dinghy docks were installed off of Gilchrist Park making landing much, much easier than before.
Best Wishes,
Nancy

Yes. Absolutely! All they need is a credit card and driver’s license, but they won’t be charged. They can walk about 10 feet from the pier and get their bikes! There are two other locations within walking distance of the pier – the Four Points Sheraton and the Wyvern Hotel. You do NOT need to be a guest of those hotels to use the bikes.
Anyone can take out a FREE bike for the day with helmet and lock included. Almost everything Punta Gorda can be accessed by bicycle. All you need is a credit card and drivers license for security purposes but you won’t be charged if the bike is returned in good condition. I used to take them out all the time. They are a great way to see the town.
I think all of the bikes have baskets as well for transporting small items. I used to love to ride them to the farmer’s markets – one on Saturday and one on Sunday – or to Fisherman’s Village. The more intrepid can bike to Ponce De Leon Park – about a five mile bike ride, I think, to visit the Peace River Wildlife Center – one of my favorite attractions. It’s mostly all flat, easily bike-able terrain with sidewalks and bike paths.
Boat and Bike!!
Lorah Steiner
Director of Tourism

Sharon and I were in Punta Gorda in April and enjoyed these bikes. Its a great biking area and the bikes have pretty good size baskets and locks. If you’re looking for Cannondale’s, you won’t be happy, but if you want a nice piece of fat tire free transportation and an easy terrain to bike in (LOTS of cruiser amenities in range) this is a destination to add.
John Martis

And, here is a map sent to us by our partners in Punta Gorda. Note the diamond shaped symbols which denote where you can pick up the loaner bikes. And so, it looks as if cruisers who dinghy ashore at Gilchrist Park will either need to walk northeast to pick up bikes hard by the Highway 41 bridges, or southwest to Fishermens Village.

 
There is definitely a nice new floating dinghy dock at Gilchrist Park. I used it last month. From the dinghy dock you can walk southwest along the shore to Fisherman’s Village Marina where you can pick up a free loaner bicycle to ride around town.
This link gets you to a chart that is not yet updated but the dinghy dock is between 3 and 9 (closer to 9) on the Welcome Chart.
http://boat2puntagorda.com/WelcomeChart.html
LivingtheDream

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Punta Gorda Waterfront Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fishermen’s Village

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Punta Gorda Waterfront