Bicycles in Bahamas

[Amwasp]

I've been doing searches looking for discussion about bicycles in the Bahamas and didn't find anything specific.
We are heading to the Abacos and maybe Exumas next month for 3-4 months. Our first trip off the continent. We were going to bring our bicycles but from the look of all the cruising guides it seems that everywhere but Freeport and Nassau are small villages with short walks. Can't see why I would haul the bikes around for this trip.
Opinions?

[Vasco]

You don't really ever need bikes in the Bahamas. Also sometimes customs asks if you have bikes aboard. I think they license them there. Everywhere you go is within walking distance. And in the few places where you could ride a bike I wouldn't! The only roads in the Exumas suitable for bicycles would be in Great Exuma but the roads are narrow and hilly and the dink ride in with bikes would be a bit much in Georgetown. Abaco, you could ride in Great Abaco (Marsh Harbour area). I would leave them at home unless you really like cycling. A good dinghy is your transportation.

[Jon D]

Yup - save the room. As said above.

[Amwasp]

Thank you gentlemen. Always nice to have some consensus.

[Strygaldwir]

Not only the room, the things rust!!! I leave mine at home for Bahamas. Maybe if I were headed round the world it would be a different story.

[hanschristian38]

Try not to spend too much time in the big cities - The out islands are the true joy of the Bahamas.

[osirissail]

Bikes must be registered in the Bahamas or they will be taken from you. As others have said walking is the main way of getting around. Or you can rent a car or just catch a ride with a local.

[Bash]

Warning: they drive their bikes on the wrong side of the road in the Bahamas.

[osirissail]

Warning: they drive their bikes on the wrong side of the road in the Bahamas.
Change the word "wrong" to "other" side of the road. To all the people in British lands and islands - we all drive on the "wrong" side of the road. However, bikes tend to "ride" on either side of the road.
- - The real hazard to driving British style is the right hand turn at an intersection, which takes about a year to master without terrifying opposing vehicles. And doubly hazardous is the "round-a-bout" or "traffic circle" in our language. They use them instead of traffic lights and being able to comfortably handle a British round-a-bout can take a couple of years and a few "browned" pants.

[s/v Moondancer]

We discovered why nobody rides bilkes in Nassau...Darwinism in action...they all got run over.

We are have carried bikes for the last 9,000 miles used them twice a month at the most and they are now a piles of rust and are about to go in the dumpster.

If you take them you either need good folding bilkes that can be stored inside or the cheapest and simplest throw-aways...the gears and brakes are the most vulnerable.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Bikes must be registered in the Bahamas or they will be taken from you. As others have said walking is the main way of getting around. Or you can rent a car or just catch a ride with a local.

Or the Jitney bus.

[nautical62]

Those folding two-wheel foot scooter things with handle bars are a more compact option if you don't want to walk. Sorry for the lack of a technical name. Don't know about licensing of those.