On the market: Homes near bike paths

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To encourage cyclists coast to coast during May, National Bike Month, the League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike to Work Week (May 17-21) and Bike to Work Day (May 21). So dust off your Schwinn and take it for a spin.

Navigating Southland streets on two wheels can be challenging at the best of times. But Google’s recent online bike-direction feature, added in March, makes it easy to find a route for every need and speed. Just select ‘bicycling’ from the drop-down menu when you search for directions.

Whether you’re a Friend of Lance or a slow-paced cruiser with three kids in tow, Google Maps makes it easy to map a route. The site also suggests the best options for cyclists looking to avoid traffic, hilly climbs and bumpy roads. With routes marked in various shades of green, Google’s mapping tool provides route guidance to bikes paths, bike lanes and other great places to bike.

Google’s not the only option for bike-day adventures. Los Angeles Bike Paths offers easy click-through navigation to guided paths and favored bike routes through Los Angeles and Northern Orange County and features photos and comments from riders who have already made the trek. And the Bike Metro site lets riders pick a path based on location and skill level with easy navigation.

So leave the car in the garage. Put on your helmet. Roll up that pant leg. And hit the trail.

Here is a look at what’s on the market near some Southland bike trails.

3412 W. Chandler Blvd., Burbank Facing the Chandler Bike Path, this Magnolia Park single-family cottage is listed at $370,000 on Redfin.com. Built in 1948 with 730 square feet, the home features two bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms and an unpermitted in-law unit in the garage that could be an office with a 3/4 bath.

3608 Pacific Ave., Venice Located close to Venice’s beach, canals, pier and famed coastal bike path, this two-story duplex, built in 1966, is listed at $1.3 million on Redfin and features five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in 2,745 square feet. The lower (3 + 2) unit rents for $3,450 monthly with all utilities paid by tenants. The upstairs (2 + 2) has a large deck overlooking a community vegetable garden and is vacant but has an estimated monthly rent of $2,900.

13600 Marina Pointe Drive, Unit 509, Marina Del Rey Built in 1999 and listed at $875,000 on Redfin as a short sale, this Marina Del Ray luxury condominium is close to the beach and coastal bike paths and features panoramic views of the marina, two balconies, custom lighting and two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in 2,080 square feet.

3354 Nevada Ave., Costa Mesa Located close to the (lower) east access to the famed Santa Ana River Bike Path, a 30-mile trail that winds its way to the sea, this single-family Mesa Verde home is listed at $485,000 ($55,000 less than the original March list price) on Trulia.com. The home was built in 1970 and features four bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,820 square feet. The home last sold for $665,000 on June 10, 2005.

11319 Illinois St., Whittier Located close to the Whittier bike path, this single-family home is listed at $329,900 on Trulia. The home was built in 1942 and features three bedrooms and one bathroom in 996 square feet and has a 200-square-foot family room (built without permit) that is not included in the square footage.

77535 Calle Chihuahua, La Quinta Listed at $649,000 on Redfin.com, this multifamily La Quinta Cove property was built in 1951 and updated this year. La Quinta Cove is popular among cyclists, hikers and equestrians. A 7.2-mile bike loop circles the cove and has a sharp climb to the top that offers training options for bikers and triathletes. The South-facing triple lot features a main house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms in 2,200 square feet. Two guest homes (totaling approximately 1,100 square feet) lend themselves to rental income properties. Each has one bedroom and one bathroom.

-- Michelle Hofmann

Cycling photo: Getty Images