Santa Monica and Venice by eBike is a fast way in. In about three hours, you’ll cruise the coast on Pedego bikes, pause under the Santa Monica Pier, glide through the Venice canals area, and hear LA stories from your guide, often Barb. It’s sightseeing with handlebars, not just standing around.

What I really like is the pedal-or-motor control. You get 6 gears and you can switch between pedaling and the assist, so the ride feels doable even if the wind is having a day. I also love the way the route mixes big postcard stops with street-level moments, like the Venice skatepark area and the graffiti-heavy Marvin Braude bike path stretch.

One thing to plan around: beach weather can change fast. This is a coastal ride, so wind is common, and if it rains the tour is canceled for a full refund.

Key highlights worth your attention

• Pedego e-bikes with a simple skills check before you head out
• Santa Monica Pier and Ocean View Park photo stops with real ocean views
• Venice Canals Walkway for calm, pretty bridges and water scenes
• Venice Beach Skatepark area plus people-watching time
• Muscle Beach and Annenberg Community Beach House for iconic LA texture
• Small groups (up to 6) so you’re not lost in a crowd

Start Smart: the bike shop setup and the skills warm-up

Your tour begins at Pedal or Not Electric Bicycle Tours, at 214 Pier Avenue (not inside the pier area). This matters because you’re starting near the action but not wedged into the busiest zone. If you’re driving, there’s parking available about a short block away on Marine & 2nd (around $7 per day).

Before you roll, you do real bike training: a quick skills review plus a test ride. Everyone has to do a simple bike skills evaluation and warm-up, which is a big deal. It means you’re not just handed a bike and told good luck, especially if you’re new to e-bikes or if you’re not confident in traffic-adjacent paths.

The bikes are Pedego electric beach cruisers, and they’re set up for comfort and control:

• Helmets and water are included
• You’ll have disc brakes, which helps your confidence when things get breezy
• The assist is designed so you can still choose how much you do

The practical takeaway: the tour is built for an easy pace, but you’ll still feel like a cyclist, not a passenger.

Santa Monica Coast: pier views, beach-level riding, and that ocean-wind feel

Once you’re checked in and warmed up, you’re on the coastal side of Los Angeles with views that make you forget you’re on a schedule. Santa Monica is the kind of place where the scenery changes every few minutes: wide beach, boardwalk energy, then suddenly you’re under the pier where the angle of light does something special.

You’ll get a photo stop at the Santa Monica Pier and time around Ocean View Park. The value here is less about chasing perfection and more about position. From the bike-friendly vantage points, you’re seeing how Santa Monica is stitched together—beach, boardwalk, and the pier area—without backtracking.

There’s also a “heads up” moment baked into the ride: beach conditions can shift fast. In general, expect wind off the water. One of the guide’s jobs is keeping the group moving smoothly and helping you choose the right amount of pedal power. That’s where the e-bike really earns its keep. You can handle a headwind without white-knuckling every segment.

A small caution

If you’re expecting a quiet, empty beachfront the whole time, temper that. Coastal paths are shared spaces. The good news is that the bikes help you keep distance and flow, so the ride stays calm even when the path is busy.

Venice First Glance: skatepark energy and the coast-to-boardwalk rhythm

As the route moves you toward Venice, you shift from classic beachfront to the louder, stranger, more artsy edge of LA. Venice Beach is its own vibe: murals, boardwalk activity, and that street-scene momentum where people are watching people.

A big stop here is the Venice Beach Skatepark area. You get a short scenic window en route and then a dedicated time for photos and observation. This is one of those moments where you’ll see different generations of LA in one place—skaters, spectators, and random bursts of performance energy.

From there, the ride leans into the Marvin Braude bike path, known as a 26-mile route along the coast. Even if you’re only on a portion of it, the experience feels like you’re riding through the city’s outdoor living room. Graffiti walls and mural stretches appear as you go, and your guide points out what’s behind the art and why it’s there.

In prior rides, guides (including Barb) have highlighted specific murals that people remember—like a Kobe Bryant tribute—so you’ll want to keep your eyes up, not just on the path. It’s the kind of detail you’d never catch if you were rolling solo with headphones in.

Why this part works

This is the section where the e-bike changes the tour from sightseeing into motion. You’re actually covering the distance, but stopping enough to feel present. That balance is hard to get with a walking-only plan.

Secret Photo Stops and Quick Scenic Breaks

You’ll also have short “breather” moments—quick stops where you can take photos and reset. These include at least one brief secret/photo-style stop (about 5 minutes) timed so you get views without losing the ride’s rhythm.

I like these because they prevent the classic tour problem: either you’re constantly moving and you miss the good angles, or you’re stopping so often you get tired of stopping. These quick pauses keep your eyes fresh, and they’re usually placed at spots where the scenery is doing something you can’t capture at speed.

Venice Canals Walkway: the calmer side of Venice

Then you get to one of the most photogenic contrasts in the whole area: the Venice Canals Walkway. This is the part of Venice that feels less like a boardwalk and more like a small world. You’ll be riding past and stopping for snapshots around the canal area, including the bridges and calmer water views.

Why it’s worth putting energy into: this section gives your brain a reset. You go from skatepark chaos-adjacent scenes to something quieter and more architectural. If Santa Monica feels open and big, Venice canals feel shaped and intimate.

Your guide adds context here, especially around local art and architecture. In rides led by Barb, the storytelling tends to connect the look of a place to the people who shaped it, which makes the canal area feel like more than a photo background.

Photo tip

Bring your patience for photos, not just your camera. The canal zone rewards slow looking, even if you’re only stopping briefly.

Muscle Beach and the Annenberg Community Beach House: iconic LA, up close

As the tour continues back through Santa Monica and the beach corridor, you’ll hit the headline LA moments: Muscle Beach Venice and the Annenberg Community Beach House.

The Muscle Beach stop is short but memorable. You get the familiar view and the sense of history wrapped into the idea of body culture and Hollywood-era beach life. You’re not forced to linger like a museum visit; you can take a couple of photos and move on with the group. That makes it feel like an authentic “pass-through” moment rather than a rigid stop.

Then comes Annenberg Community Beach House, which gives the ride a cleaner, community-focused angle on the shoreline. Even if you’re not spending time inside (food isn’t included on the tour), the exterior and beach-house presence give you a sense of how the coast is used beyond just tourism.

If you care about seeing variety instead of doing the same beach photo over and over, these two stops help a lot.

The price question: is $89 worth it for 3 hours?

At $89 per person for a 3-hour small-group ride (up to 6 participants), this is priced like a premium activity—but the value is pretty clear when you break it down.

Here’s what you’re getting that you normally pay extra for:

• A guided route that saves you from guessing where to ride and where to stop
• Pedego e-bikes, plus a helmet and water
• Time at major landmarks (Santa Monica Pier, canals area, Muscle Beach, Annenberg)
• The pedal-or-motor option, so you don’t lose the trip to exhaustion
• A real safety and readiness check with a skills evaluation

If you were to do this as a DIY bike rental, you’d still face the same planning problem. And coastal routes can be intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with shared paths and crowds. This tour turns that uncertainty into a managed ride.

In short: if your goal is to see the highlights of Santa Monica and Venice without burning half a day on transit or map anxiety, $89 can feel like a fair trade.

Who this tour is best for (and who should skip it)

This is a strong fit if you:

• Want a fun, scenic way to cover Santa Monica and Venice without breaking a sweat
• Like photo stops, street art details, and a guide who tells stories along the way
• Want to ride at your own level—pedal more if you’re feeling good, or lean on the motor when you need help

It also helps if you’re new to e-bikes. The training and test ride reduce the learning curve, and the e-bike assist helps you keep confidence when the path gets crowded.

But the tour isn’t for everyone. It’s not suitable if you:

• Can’t ride a bike
• Are pregnant
• Are under 13
• Are outside weight limits (under 99 lbs / 45 kg or over 250 lbs / 113 kg)
• Are over 70
• Need to travel with an unaccompanied minor (unaccompanied minors aren’t allowed)

Practical do’s and don’ts for a smoother ride

I’d plan like this, even before you show up:

Bring:

• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• A jacket (coastal air can feel cooler than you expect)
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Closed-toe shoes

Wear/ride mindset:

• Expect wind along the beach. The e-bike helps, but you still ride the real elements.
• Do the warm-up seriously. It’s short, but it makes the rest of the tour feel easy.

Weather reality:

• If it rains, the tour is canceled for a full refund. That means you can’t rely on this as your one hard-fixed coastal plan no matter what the forecast says.

My booking advice: should you ride this one?

Book this tour if you want a guided, comfortable way to see the coast highlights without turning your day into a workout grind or a navigation project. The combo of Santa Monica Pier + Venice canals + Muscle Beach hits the big landmarks, and the ride style keeps you moving enough to feel you actually covered ground.

Skip it if:

• You can’t ride a bike confidently and don’t want to do the skills evaluation/test ride
• You’re sensitive to windy coastal conditions
• You’re looking for a food-focused experience (food isn’t included)

FAQ

How long is the Los Angeles: Santa Monica and Venice eBike Tour?

It runs for about 3 hours.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at 214 Pier Avenue, just off Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (Pier Ave is about 1.3 miles south of the Santa Monica Pier).

What’s included in the price?

Included are the Pedego electric beach cruiser, helmet, and water.

Can I pedal or use the electric motor?

Yes. You can pedal using the 6 gears, use the electric motor, or combine both depending on what feels comfortable.

Do I need a driver’s license to ride?

No driver’s license is required.

What happens if it rains?

If it rains, the tour is canceled for a full refund.