May is National Bike Month, a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more individuals to give biking a try. Not only is biking a great form of exercise and fun way to explore the great outdoors; it’s also an environmentally friendly way to get around town. The City of Norfolk has taken great strides in recent years to evolve into a bike-friendly city. With nearly 60 miles of dedicated bike lanes and shared lane markings, Norfolk has many options for bringing more power to the pedal.
2026 marks the 15th Annual Norfolk Bike Month, and the city will celebrate with 31 days of rides and plenty of opportunities to get the wheels rolling. This city-wide community celebration is sponsored by Lime and organized by the City of Norfolk, Downtown Norfolk Council, Hampton Roads Transit, GoCommute, the Elizabeth River Trail and others. Whether you’re riding for fun, fitness or with family, biking means taking part in a movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet and happier people. No matter if you’re a local or visiting Norfolk during the month of May, we encourage you to park the car, grab a helmet and navigate on two wheels during National Bike Month and beyond.
Where to Bike
Bike Lanes
Norfolk currently has 35.8 miles of bike lanes, 31.8 miles of sharrows (lanes dedicated for vehicles and bikers to share) and 11.1 miles of off-road shared use paths. This map of Norfolk’s bike lanes can help you chart your course before your journey to ensure you’re traveling on the safest bike-friendly routes.
Elizabeth River Trail
This 10.5-mile urban biking and pedestrian trail is an enjoyable way to explore Norfolk on two wheels. The trail journeys steadily along the Elizabeth River connecting the neighborhoods of Downtown, Freemason, Chelsea, Ghent, Larchmont and Lochhaven. Along the way, you’ll encounter many attractions and restaurants worth taking a break for.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Pedal through the petals during Norfolk Botanical Garden’s bike nights held April 1–Oct. 15 from 4–7 p.m. With 175 acres and 14 miles of paved and unpaved paths, the garden is a safe and scenic option for getting exercise while immersing yourself in a lush world of botanical beauty.
Northside Park
Norfolk may not have been on your radar for places to mountain bike, but perhaps it should be. Northside Park is a 62-acre public park featuring a skate park, tennis courts and ball fields. In recent years, volunteers from a volunteer organization Bike Norfolk have worked to develop access to mountain biking trails within the park, resulting in three separate but connecting trails for a total of 2.2 miles of single track.
Norfolk’s Bike Shops and Rentals
East Coast Bicycles
Time for a new ride? East Coast Bicycles sells a fantastic assortment of road bikes, mountain bikes, comfort bikes, cruisers, hybrids and recumbents, plus electric bikes. Their knowledgeable and professional team will go above and beyond to help you select the best bike for your needs. Plus, they’ve got all the accessories, clothing, parts and safety gear to keep you cruising in style. Check out their social media pages to keep up with group ride events.
Norfolk Recycle Factory
Giving new meaning to the term recycle, the Norfolk Recycle Factory breathes new life into old bikes by recycling, reusing and rearranging the parts to create custom rides. In addition to used bikes, they can help you find a new bike you love by placing orders from some of their favorite brands. They also have a team of experienced cyclists and repair techs who can help you repair or restore the bike you currently own.
Lime
Perhaps you’re familiar with the Lime scooter share program that provides on-demand transportation solutions to help people seamlessly move throughout their neighborhoods and across the community to meet their daily needs. Did you know that you can also rent bicycles through Lime? Simply download the app, view nearby rentals, scan the QR code or enter a number to unlock, then enjoy the ride. Don’t forget to lock up safely when finished and park curbside or at any public bike rack.
Slow and Steady Bikes and Goods
Occupying the recently vacated Colley Ave. location of Local Bike Shop NFK, Slow and Steady is brand new, but ready to repair your bikes within less than a week. According to its website, the shop is, “A community driven, bicycle oriented marketplace meant to foster a healthier and more sustainable Norfolk by combining the love for cycling with access to thoughtfully curated goods. We aim to create a unique and inclusive space that serves as a hub for bike enthusiasts and the community, offering not only unique bicycles and cycling accessories but also a shared space for bike education, events, and service.”
OV Bicycle Shop
Head to Ocean View to find your perfect two-wheeled match at OV Bicycle Shop. They have a variety of bikes available for test rides and purchase, whether you’re looking for a beach cruiser, mountain bike or road bike. Their team is also equipped to provide maintenance, repairs or a free 21-point checkup.
E-Bike Alley (Formerly Pedego Electric Bikes)
Does your biking need a little boost? Head Downtown to E-Bike Alley. The electric-assist empowers peddlers to go farther and faster, allowing you to see more in less time. You can certainly purchase your own electric cike to go, but if you just want to try it out, E-Bike Alley offers rentals for a full day, half day or 24 hours. Locals and helmets are included with every rental, and delivery service is available for full day and weekly rentals. You can even rent a kids’ trailer to bring the littles along on your smooth journey.
Siren Skate Shop
Whether you’re rolling on skates, boards or bikes, Siren is here to keep you on your wheels. Conveniently located across from Northside Park, Siren carries an assortment of bikes, plus standout accessories like colorful tires, pedals, handlebars, seats and more to keep you on cycles and in style.
Celebrate Sustainably
Want to know how your personal bicycling journeys are positively impacting the environment? Download the GoCommute app by Hampton Roads Transit, available for Apple or Android devices. Participants see how much money they’re saving in commuting expenses, how many calories they’re burning by not driving and how much they’re helping to reduce CO2 emissions. You can earn rewards and receive real-time data on your progress.
2026 Bike Month Events
DowntownNorfolk.org has begun compiling a list of Bike Month events. So far, here’s what’s on tap:
| Bike Expo Thursday, April 30 from 5:00-7:00pm at The Slover Library This FREE, public event features local bike shops, cycling groups, trail advocates, and community organizations – all in one place. Tour de ORF Sunday, May 3 at 2:45 pm at Benchtop Brewing Company A leisurely Sunday bike ride through Norfolk! The group ride will begin at 3 PM. The ride uses the ERT and Norfolk bike lanes and should take approximately one (1) hour. We’ll return for a post-ride cool down! All skill levels are welcome! Some bike rides may have a fun theme to correlate with the seasons and the time of the year! National Ride a Bike Day Sunday, May 3 Let’s spend the first Sunday of Bike Month rediscovering that simple joy of riding a bike! You are part of the movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people. Bicycling, Pedestrian and Active Transportation Commission Thursday, May 7 from 4:00-5:00pm at City Hall Attend the City of Norfolk’s monthly public meeting to learn more about cycling and walking improvements, advocacy and local events. Bike Night at the Virginia Zoo Friday, May 8 from 5:00-8:00pm at Virginia Zoo Cruise through the Zoo on designated paths, listen to our DJ spin dance-worthy tracks, take a break to walk the animal trails, and meet local bike vendors that can help you repair or trick out your ride with wheel-y cool accessories. Electric scooters are not permitted for this event. Bike to Work Day Friday, May 15 from 7:00-9:00am – Locations Vary Join goCommute at Pit Stops around Hampton Roads for Bike to Work Day! Norfolk Waterside Ferry Dock | 333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA or Norfolk EVMC/Ft. Norfolk Light Rail Station | Corner of Brambleton Ave & Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA ERT Botanical Bike Tour Saturday, May 23 from 9:00-10:30am at Elizabeth River Trail Join us for a FREE guided bike tour exploring the thriving world of urban agriculture right here in Norfolk! This leisurely ride will take you through a series of community gardens where you’ll discover how local residents, and the Norfolk Master Gardeners, are transforming small plots into productive, healthy growing spaces. Glow Ride X Friday, May 29 from 8:00-10:00pm at The Plot Let’s show Norfolk how NEON celebrates Bike Month! Get on your bike for the one and only nighttime ride in the NEON District! Meet at 8:00pm at The Plot in your best glow in the dark clothes, bike gear, gloves or shoes, with flashing lights and glow sticks. Free Bike Month t-shirts to riders. We roll at 8:30! No registration required. |
| Recurring Events in May |
| Norfolk Botanical Garden Bike Nights Every day in May from 4:00-7:00pm at Norfolk Botanical GardensExplore the Garden’s 7 miles of paved pathways. It’s a great way to enjoy the landscape and get some exercise. Free with Garden Admission Monday Night Adventures Every Monday in May at 5:45pm at East Coast BicyclesMeet us at East Coast Bicycles for our weekly adventure. Cruise along with us as we take over the streets of Norfolk. Routes and ride themes will be changed frequently. Tuesday Night Road Ride Every Tuesday in May at 5:45pm at East Coast Bicycles Tuesday night ride is group ride for the roadie in all of us. Paces start with an A pace from 20+ mph and distance of 30 miles. The B pace is 18 to 20 mph and distance of 30 miles. Super Casual Wednesday Ride Every Wednesday in May at 6:30pm at Slow & Steady Bike Goods Super casual doesn’t mean we ride super slow- but also we ride very not fast. Join us and see if our rides are a good fit for your riding style. No drop. We ride 10-12 mph launching from Slow & Steady Bikes and Goods at 630pm with the ride ending around 8pm or so. Food and drinks to follow usually. Please bring charged bike lights and a bike helmet because things happen. Thursday Community Road Ride Every Thursday in May at 5:45pm at East Coast Bicycles Our Thursday night ride is a 15-17mph road ride with a distance of 20 miles. Saturday Rides Every Saturday in May at 6:45 am at East Coast BicyclesOne group 19-21mph 55 miles at 7am leaving from East Coast Bicycles. Join us as we head south and ride the smooth Chesapeake roads. Boom Box Ride Every Saturday in May at 10:30am at Newport Plaza on 35th Street 8-mile casual ride on the ERT and bike lanes hosted by Freshtopia, leaving from the corner of Freemason and Monticello. Slow & Steady Sundays Every Sunday in May at 10:30am at Slow & Steady Bikes and Goods A casual, party pace group ride leaving from the bike shop at 10:30. Varying in length from 8-12 miles in distance and 8-12 miles per hour. This is a no drop ride and we try to stay together if anybody has any mechanical issues during the ride. Norfolk Bike Polo Pickup Every Sunday in May at 3:00pm – Locations Vary Join us after the social ride for some more bike stuff. New player friendly. Skills, drills, and hanging out. We will have equipment to loan. Location disclosed on Instagram. Follow us @nfkbikepolo for more updates. |
