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This page last updated on: November 1,2026
By David May
Transporting Your Bicycle by Bus, Air or Car in Europe
For a discussion of how to transport a bicycle on a train, refer to the subsequent page of this Internet site. How to Transport Your Bicycle by Train in Europe. Here I note that in Europe, trains are generally as fast, and often much faster, than automobiles or even planes. They are normally clean, comfortable, on time (except perhaps in southern Italy and now Germany), flexible, and economical. While riding the train you have time to look at the countryside. Trains are generally relatively inexpensive, and in some countries very inexpensive.
Take your bicycle by bus?
Only rarely can you put your bicycle in the passenger section of a bus. Normally you will have to put it in the cargo area underneath, on its side. Bus companies can refuse to carry your bicycle—and would probably do so if the cargo area were filled—but this has never happened to me. If the bike handlebars are wide, it may be necessary to turn them fit in the baggage compartment, and sometimes these areas are so short that it might be necessary to remove a pedal. I have had to help the bus driver to fit the bicycle in, but never actually had to remove parts.
A bus ride can be somewhat rough, and your bicycle that has traveled on its side in a bus baggage compartment may need some re-regulation or repairs after a bus trip. Of course, if you are coming from the airport and have your bicycle properly packed in a box, this should not be a problem.
By taking the bus you will have a good view of the countryside, and you will not break your budget.
(From England, there is a bus service that transports riders and their bicycles to western France, Spain and northern Italy. Information is available at http://www.bike-express.co.uk. or by phone at (44) 1642-251440.)
Take your bicycle by air?
Transporting a bicycle by air within Europe can present problems: Airlines usually have a 20 kilo (44 pound) baggage allowance, and charge extra for transporting bicycles. You will need to ride or your bicycle(s) to the airport or hire a taxi or take a bus, which may be more difficult or expensive than riding to a railroad station; and, usually, you will have to to box your bike. If you are returning from a different city than the one you arrive at, or, if you can not specify ahead of time the exact date and time of your return, airfares could be quite costly.
Inner-European flights are best used in conjunction with your international air ticket, since the bike will already be boxed and there is not an extra charge for carrying the bicycle. However, this can considerably limit your flexibility. Easyjet, which has a large network of flights throughout Europe, and which, depending upon the time of booking, can be inexpensive, will carry bicycle in a box or bag (handlebars turned and pedals removed).
Take your bicycle by car?
With two or more persons travelling together, rental of a station wagon or SUV can be relatively economical, providing that you are starting your tour in a major town or airport. You would have to remove the front wheels of the bikes and lay them on their side. While not ideal, this can work on the mainly smooth European roads. An alternative, if you are starting from a city, is to rent a cheaper car and purchase a bike rack for that car. In stores such as Decathlon, you can obrain a bike rack for about €100.
However, if you have been thinking of renting an automobile to carry your bike to or from a tour, check out the total costs carefully. Toll fees for similar distances may be double to triple those of the United States; these can be avoided by staying off the toll roads, but then the time of travel between points may be up to 50% more. Gasoline and diesel prices are two to three times more in Europe than in the USA.
Renting a car in one country and returning in another is still very costly (and not always possible). Car rental days can be combined with most rail passes. One way to reduce the cost of car rental is to book on the Internet from the USA and to use an airline discount or other code. These can be found on the Web for various rental companies and airlines or affinity groups. Be careful in selecting a code: some codes actually result in a higher rental price. The best practice is to test several alternatives with each of several auto rental companies.
How to Transport Your Bicycle by Train in Europe.
