Venice, Italy with a Tandem

You can lug a box anywhere you want, including the airport shuttle bus (luggage went under the bus, if I remember correctly), or (expensive) water taxi, or a crowded public vaporetto (luggage space near the entrance/exit, along with lots of people). If you take the airport bus to Piazzale Roma, then you can walk across the new bridge (which has stairs, but they're very gentle) and leave the box at the left-luggage office of Venezia S. Lucia train station (11 euros per 24 hours).

I am surprised by answer above, and equally surprised that nobody in 3 days has challenged the facts in it.

I would be astonished if the vaporetto captain allowed either a tandem bike or its box on his boat. They are very crowded at most times, sardine cans at others, and the maximum size of luggage permitted, direct from the ACTV website is "Included in the price is the transport of one luggage item of up to 150 cm as the sum of its three dimensions." I've never seen a tandem that small.

I would also be astonished if the either the ATVO or ACTV bus from the airport would allow such a big box and bike under the bus. It might be worth asking them. On ATVO, the size limit is 85 x 45 x 25 cm and their rule for bicycles is "on payment of the passenger ticket, for the same route bicycles can be transported with a maximum of two per bus and depending on availability determined by the driver." I would wonder how the availability would be determined by the driver for a tandem.

For the ACTV bus, and for vaporetti, from the FAQ on the ACTV website "Is it possible to carry bicycles on Actv boats/buses?
In the Waterborne sector generally yes, but not on all boats, and in any case subject to the captain's decisions.
On ferry boats there may be some problems, especially in the winter months, while up to 10 bicycles can be carried on motor vessels.
On waterbuses and motorboats transport is more challenging and the decision is up to, as mentioned before, the captain who makes such decision based on the inflow of passengers and safety.
On buses, on the contrary, it is not possible to carry bicycles"

But, ALL IS NOT LOST. There is a company -actually a cooperative - which moves freight items and bulk baggage around Venice and has two left luggage areas, one at Piazzale Roma and one at Marco Polo Airport. The website is http://www.trasbagagli.it/en/index.shtml?services and you will see their distinctive boats all over Venice. My suggestion would be to leave the tandem at the airport and collect it and start your ride to Croatia from there. I can suggest 2 good fish restaurants a few km further towards Trieste near Quarto d'Altino if you would like to stop by at dinner time.

Leaving the bike at the airport will also save the risky business of riding on the causeway between Mestre and the islands - even if it is permitted (dunno but I've never seen anybody riding) it would be very dangerous.

Venice does not have streets. It has very narrow alleys and narrower ones where people pass shoulder to shoulder, or sometimes have to stand in a gap so people can come the other way. As a cyclist I can say it is no place for a bike. You say you have heard bikes are banned. Maybe, maybe not. I have never seen an adult with a bike - there are the narrow calles and very tight corners, and steps up and over dozens of bridges to go most places; but in the outer residential campos far away from tourists I have seen small children on small bikes playing sometimes.

If you were able to get your bike and box to your hotel, have you spoken with them about storing it, and getting it up the steep narrow stairs found in many Venetian hotels? Even those with lifts often only have lifts (elevators) big enough for one or two people and small luggage.

I hope that you have a wonderful bike ride, and that armed with correct information you LOVE Venice. I do, I go every year and often more than once.

Buon viaggio.

Thanks all for your comments and input...(and a special thanks to you Nigel for such good detailed information).

I am sorry to be so long in responding, however, I am new to posting on forums and learning etiquette as I go (with the help of my husband).

Now, with the input from you all, we plan to leave the tandem by the airport. Yet, we need to catch the ferry to Croatia at the San Basilio dock. This still requires getting a fully assembled tandem to this point. I've seen where some people have ridden on a pedestrian path on the causeway from Mestre to Venice (although tricky to find the start of the path), so this is one option. Are there other ways to get the bike (now 8 feet long) from the airport to the ferry terminal?
Many thanks,
Nancy
P.S. Nigel, I would like the names of the fish restaurants you refer to. Do you also have a recommendation for classic Italian as well (there is a lot of fish I don't eat.)?

Just curious, why are you taking the bike? You can rent, or even buy a used one when you get to a place you want to ride. It seems like a ton of work and huge expense to take your own. As one who travels with a single tiny suitcase plus a small bag for the plane, it seems like a massive amount of work to take a box that large through airports, customs, hotels, and what would you do with it to get from an airport to a hotel? I am an avid biker, but would never consider taking my own bike unless I was a serious racer, which I am not. Perhaps you are? Inquiring minds want to know... :-)

Jan B

Jan -
I am sorry, I guess I didn't make myself clear.... we are going on a three week, self supported bike tour, but meeting with some friends in Venice before beginning the trip. Yes, bringing our own tandem is a lot of work. I would love to rent one there, but tandems are rare in Europe, much less a quality tandem for rent. We rented a tandem last year in Seattle, WA, for about eight days, which turned out to be stiff, uncomfortable, and we were sore at the end of each day. (Not a good fit.) We ride a Santana tandem (a quality road tandem...not an old beach cruiser bike ) No, we don't race either. We are more "smell the roses" type. We also will be traveling light. We will each have one pannier (my husband is trying to turn me into a "minimalist") for our belongings for three weeks. To give you an idea of size, both panniers can fit into a large carry-on bag.

I am assuming that you have checked with the airline about the size limitations. I just happened upon that information this morning. American Airlines has a limit of 126" total and if your bicycle is 8 feet long you must be removing the wheels or something because otherwise I don't think you can fit within their perimeters. And they charge $150. Once you get all the logistics figured out, sounds like a fun trip. Hope it all goes well for you! Have fun!