Leave your car behind! Bike, Hike, or Cart on Sanibel Island.
Before we became full-time residents on Sanibel, we spent a few years coming here seasonally, and before that, as vacation homeowners who dropped in for a month here and a holiday there. In those days, traffic on the island never bothered us — it seemed mild by comparison to the traffic misery of our hometown (Washington, DC), and we relished having enough time on our hands to bike or walk instead of driving.
In fact we did our best not to set foot in our cars unless we absolutely had to. With Sanibel’s extensive shared use pathways and beautiful weather, it is usually possible to bike and leave the car behind. There are times, obviously, when a car is the best option — like when there are children or seniors in our group, or when traveling at night, which can be hazardous by bicycle on our pitch-black island.
For these occasions, a street-legal golf cart is the best way to go. We have had nearly 250 groups of families, friends, and couples travel around our islands securely and joyfully, and with a 100% safety record. We love it when our Carts enable the entire family — children, seniors, the disabled — to enjoy our islands in the open air.
Now that we live here, and have fallen into the slower rhythm of island living, traffic can seem unbearable, especially during “season” when the number of cars and trucks on our roadways multiply. For that reason we would like to highlight the City of Sanibel’s “Leave Your Car Behind” campaign. We heartily endorse the idea of visitors to our sanctuary island leaving their cars behind.
If you are planning to visit, please consider taking a shuttle from the airport from Island Taxi or Double D Designated Drivers, and, of course, renting a bicycle, surrey or Segway from Billy’s Bikes — and when you need wheels, renting a street-legal golf cart from us, Sanibel Carts
