Get Your Motorino Running...

Getting around Rome, Italy, by bicycle or motorino (scooter)

Traffic is very heavy on the streets of Rome,

and the rules and norms of driving are much different from our own. From our point of view, Romans drive like maniacs.

(This is not strictly true. Actually, Romans tend to be far more attentive behind the wheel than most Americans, which, when combined with a Italian's innate surfeit of confidence, leads to the aggressive Italian driving style. Once you get used to it, it's not bad, and it even makes sense. That said, I've lived in both Rome and New York City, and I'll take driving in New York traffic over Roman chaos anyday.)

All that by way of saying that riding a bike in Rome should be attempted only if you’re used to biking in city traffic.

On Sundays,

though, when traffic is relatively light, renting a bike or a Vespa can actually be pleasant. In particular, I enjoy biking the Appian Way on Sundays, when its closed to traffic (though you'll want a mountain bike for this, given the massive ancient flagstones).

There are three places to get a great deal on a rental bike or scooter:

Treno e Scooter, at Track 1 inside Stazione Termini (tel. 06-4890-5823; www.trenoescooter.191.it)—pick up the bike outside the station on the right. Bikes are on the expensive side, but scooters are cheaper than most.
Bici e Baci, Via del Viminale 5 (tel. 06-482-8443, www.bicibaci.co). Bikes are cheaper, scooters are a bit pricier.
Happy Rent, Via Piave 49 (tel. 06-4202-0675; www.happyrent.com), rents bikes, Vespas, and vintage Italian mini-cars, like an Alfa Romeo Spider and everyone's favorite cute-as-a-bug (and about the same shape and size) Fiat 500.

Rates for renting a bike or scooter

The prices for renting a bicycle or scooter in Rome are pretty standard across most companies.

Road bikes

rent for about €3–€5 per hour or €9–€10 per day.

Mountain bikes

cost €4 per hour or €11 per day.

Motorini and Vespas (scooters)

cost from €6–€10 per hour and €19–€45 per day for a 50cc model, up to €13–€15 per hour and €60–€70 per day for a 125cc, and €80 per day for a 150cc model.

Note: If you arrive in Rome by train on the same day you rent, bring your canceled rail ticket to Treno e Scooter for a 10% discount on bike or scooter rental for your first day.