A:
No. There's no bike lane on the Strip.
The Strip is too crowded with cars, trucks, tour buses, public-transportation buses, stretch limos, billboards on wheels, cabbies in a perpetual hurry, motorcycles, and motorcycle police -- many drivers rubbernecking, snapping photos and text messaging on cell phones, and tipsy on free booze – for there to be any room for bike lanes. There aren’t even any shoulders or "sharrows" (shared lanes with arrows), which makes it tough when a car breaks down on the Boulevard.
However, since the Strip is flat as a mackerel, cyclists can, when traffic isn’t stalled or backed up, maintain cruising speeds. With all the traffic lights, even aggressive drivers can’t get going much faster than a cyclist can, so drivers tend to merge with cyclists who keep up with traffic. Indeed, police patrol the Strip on bicycles safely (though drivers tend to pay attention to cops more than civilians, no matter what kind of wheels they’re riding); if they can do it safely, so can visitors.
That said, however, expert cyclists of our acquaintance strongly recommend against riding on the Strip in heavy city traffic. Some admit that you can ride relatively safely at first light, before the Strip gets congested. But you still take your life in your hands. At around 6:30 a.m. in March 2009, a 32-year-old Las Vegas woman hit and killed a 55-year-old cyclist on the Strip around Russell Road; she was drunk at the time and fled the scene, but was quickly arrested. (Her case has been continued several times, so there hasn’t been a resolution yet.)
If you do ride on the Strip, here’s the rest of what you need to know. Riding on sidewalks is against the law. Helmets are mandatory. Cyclists are advised to wear bright reflective strips or patches on backs, arms and legs. And carrying water is a must any time of year; it’s so dry year-round that dehydration can set in quickly.
Update 03 October 2010
Many thanks to the
LVA reader who wrote in with the following personal perspective on this. We'd add one point, which is that Palazzo, which went to great lengths to obtain LEED certification and promotes alternative modes of transportation, offers both valet bicycle parking and bike racks for both guests and staff.
Steve writes:
"I bicycle the strip frequently, in addition to other LV streets. Because motor vehicle speeds on the Strip are generally low, Las Vegas Boulevard between downtown LV and Mandalay Bay is relatively safe during daylight hours for people who cycle. This recommendation only applies if you bicycle regularly and are comfortable in heavy traffic. If you feel comfortable traveling in the same lanes with cars, trucks, and buses, I do recommend biking the Strip (adults only). If you seldom cycle or bike only on quiet residential streets, take the CAT bus.
"One other consideration: What are you going to do with your bike when you arrive at your casino of choice? The vast majority of strip casinos are hostile to those who bike. Most bike racks are ONLY for employees. During September 2010, I got into it with security at one casino because I dared to park my bike in the employee parking garage. I pointed out to them that I utilized the
only bike rack on the entire property (a huge strip casino). They shut up because they could not dispute that fact. Also in September, at another strip casino, I asked a bicycle security person for the location of the bike rack. He scratched his head and told me that there is no rack for customers. I believed him, because I go to this megaresort all the time and I have never been able to locate a real bike rack(as contrasted with fastening my bike to a pole or rail).
"At the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, they feature one bike rack which is ALWAYS full. Their security staff's a bunch of Nazis. They go crazy if a cyclist fastens his bike to a pole or similar. My reaction: I avoid the Premium Outlets and shake my head re the stupidity of the people who run complexes and shopping centers around Las Vegas. The Premium Outlets management is so stupid that they don't realize that I would rather bike down to Belz Mall than shop at their bike-unfriendly-center (so, I spend my money elsewhere).
"P.S.: If you can't find a place to chain your bike, the automobile valet (at some megaresorts) will accept bikes.
"P.P.S.: A little known fact: Most megaresorts do not cater to bikers because the porn slappers ride bikes."
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