The Marvin Braude Bike Trail — universally called the Strand — runs 22 miles along the coast from Pacific Palisades in the north to Torrance Beach in the south, passing through Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, and Manhattan Beach. It is flat, paved, and car-free, and represents one of the genuinely excellent pieces of cycling infrastructure in the Los Angeles area.
In Santa Monica, the Strand runs along the beach between the PCH and the water. Bike rentals are available near the pier from multiple operators for around $15–25 per hour. Early morning is the best time to ride — the light is good, the path is clear, and the beach has a different, quieter character. By 10am on summer weekends the Strand is busy with cyclists, inline skaters, joggers, and pedestrians who didn't read the lane markings.