Bikenomics: Bike-friendly hotels

Photo courtesy of Kimpton Hotels.

With protected bike lanes, bike share and more people riding, sightseeing by bike is becoming the best way to experience Seattle.

A few hotels in Seattle have caught on to this trend and are helping their guests see Seattle on two wheels. Hotel Manager Lucas Lee of Hotel Five said their service started in 2013 and sets them apart.

Not everyone might think to go for a ride in Seattle in December but “even on the cold winter days, [the bikes] are a hot commodity,” Lee said.

Kimpton Hotels’ Regional Director of Public Relations Brandyn Hull agreed, saying that offering bikes is not only a “nice perk,” but a way for Kimpton to show their “commitment to healthy travel and cater to that guest who wants to see the city in a different way.”

It certainly helps that an increasing number of guests are coming via train from Portland or Vancouver.

Kimpton Hotels started offering a bike service back in 2011 at their Hotel Monaco in Portland. Today, that Portland hotel has 18 bikes available. Other Kimpton hotels have since caught on, and you can now find complimentary bicycles in all of Kimpton’s 65 hotels across the country.

“It’s been a slam-dunk ever since it launched,” said Hull.

Here’s a breakdown of what a handful of Seattle Hotels have to offer:

Kimpton Hotels have four locations in Seattle including: Hotel Monaco, Hotel Vintage, Hotel Palladian (coming soon) and the Alexis Hotel.

• Complimentary bikes for guests 
  • Locks and helmets included
  • Bike specs: 8-speed mixte Public Bikes
  • Each hotel has at least 2 bikes—if it is nice weather you better snag one early!
• Valet bike parking available in parking garage
• Guests can roll bikes in rooms

Pineapple Hospitality manages six properties on the West Coast, including four in Seattle, one in San Francisco and one in Portland. All of their properties offer bicycles to guests. In Seattle, their hotels include: Hotel Five, Maxwell, Watertown and University Inn.

• Complimentary bikes for guests
  • Locks and helmets included 
  • Bike specs: Single-speed “Pineapple” beach cruisers
  • 10 bikes are currently available for guests at each property
• Bikes can be stored in secure luggage storage room
• ​Guests can roll bikes into their rooms

​Bike beyond Seattle

Borrow a bike from your bike-friendly hotel and hop on the ferry downtown to explore nearby islands by bike.

Know a bike-friendly business we should highlight? Email Briana at brianao@cascade.org.