More visitors renting cycles would substantially improve Bermuda tourism, if only locals would stop warning tourists against them, a livery cycle owner has insisted.

The number of visitors who opt for cycle rentals has declined considerably since the heyday of Bermuda tourism.

Businessman Nick Thomson, who bought Elbow Beach Cycles in Paget two years ago, claimed: “Many Bermudians are telling tourists to rent mini electric cars, instead.”

He said: “Rental cycles are the best way to unlock Bermuda’s essence. Renting a cycle can be the most exhilarating part of a Bermuda vacation.”

He has a fleet of 350 rental cycles in Paget and Dockyard, and sees a direct correlation between cycle rental and repeat tourism.

“Some of our customers have rented a cycle 50 or 60 times,” he said.

He felt visitors forged a deeper connection with the island while exploring independently on a scooter.

“They find some little bay and think it is their own,” he said. “Renting a cycle is a novel experience. It is great to be riding with the wind in your face.”

Some of the reviews of Elbow Beach Cycles on the Tripadvisor website may add credence to his claim.

This month, Ruth H wrote: “We enjoyed the five-day rental enormously. More freedom to come and go, as we wished.”

Dana B posted: “Having a scooter for the entire week made the trip much better than my last visit.”

Mr Thomson thought some Bermudians were against rental cycles due to safety concerns, but he likened it to scuba diving or even driving a car.

“Everything has some danger,” he said. “Cars are dangerous, too.”

In fact, he thought it was the element of risk that made things more fun.

However, he said his firm was very concerned with ensuring the safety of customers.

“We have scooters with 16-inch tires because they are safer,” he said.

The company also provides other options such as electric bicycles.

“Sometimes people find the weight of those much easier to manage,” Mr Thomson said.

He said the introduction of electric rental cars has impacted cycle rentals.

“Our cycle rental industry has changed a lot,” he said. “In the 1980s we would have had four times the number of people renting scooters.”

This year’s tourism season is shaping up to be a busy one for Elbow Beach Cycles.

“Let us hope the weather is better this year,” Mr Thomson said. “Last year, we really took a hit. Nobody wants to rent a cycle when it is raining, and there was a lot of rain last year.”

Bad weather caused them to shut down their Dockyard location for most of last August and several weeks in September.

“We survived,” said Mr Thomson, who also owns the cycle sales business Scooter Mart.

“There are a lot of synergies between cycle rental and cycle sales, but cycle rental is a tough business.”

When he first took over Elbow Beach Cycles, the operation had 50 cycles. It has grown substantially since the addition of the Dockyard location.

“I enjoy seeing the business growing and maturing,” he said. “Often, when you are in the start of a new venture, things are chaotic, and you do not know everything. I am now honing in on the trade and making order out of chaos.”