Northern California - Benicia Bridge Bicycle/Walking Path

I moved closer to my job in Martinez about 5 years ago. About a month after moving to Vallejo, the bike shuttle from Benicia to Martinez was discontinued due to low ridership.

I intend to start commuting next week or earlier if they finish before the official opening on August 29, 2009. I biked across this morning. They have done a real nice job on the path.

Wow! I'm thinking about going to the opening. I didn't realize it was really open already.
Was it windy? How did it feel up there?

It is not open yet. Monday-Saturday they are working on the outer railing. I saw many cyclists this morning. Only the Martinez side says road closed. Well the Benicia side has 3 openings to the path and one says road closed. It was a little windy this morning not bad. The wind picks-up in the afternoon 20knots and sometimes 35kt+ gusts. I figure I would just walk my bike when it gets too bad on the way home. What I really noticed this morning was the speed of cars when returning to Benicia maybe 70mph.

It is easy pedaling Benicia to Martinez. I braked a lot near the Martinez end since I was not familiar and just in case any construction debris.

The return was not too bad. Uphill the first part. Not too much exhaust fumes like the Carquinez bridge.

It was very nice stopping and looking out into the Suisun Bay. You can really see the current flowing under the bridge. Tide must have been going out. There were sailboats and fishing boats. The water looked pretty muddy.

I'm thinking a BFNorCal group ride is called for.

REB might be up there Saturday for the opening. I'll be delivering mail, but maybe you'll see them. The nice thing about a recumbent is the wind is blocked a bit by the concrete walls.

I'm thinking a BFNorCal group ride is called for.

+1
I plan to work the opening into a ride on the 29th. A group would be nice. Here is the Bay Area Ridge Trailer flyer, http://www.ridgetrail.org/calendar/detail.cfm?ID=715

Cheers,
Geary

Quite a few bike clubs are planning rides across the bridge that day. I just finished putting together the route for a Valley Spokesmen ride. We'll start at the Martinez Marina at 9, cross the bridge to attend the 10 am opening ceremony, and then continue on to the Zampa bridge in Vallejo and return via Carquinez Scenic Dr.

I'm excited this is finally about to open. I spent 6 years working on the new Benicia Bridge. The entire time I had the bike path in mind. I grew up in Vallejo and still spend a lot of time down that way. Actually, I said to myself I would ride from Davis to the top of Diablo when it opens, so..... guess I'll have to do that soon. :D

Grand Opening Saturday August 29, 2009

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Event flyer:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/info/2009/Benicia_Martinez_invitation.pdf

More Information on Event:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/info/benicia_bike-ped.htm

This will be my first time commuting by bicycle since 1986.

I have been commuting across the Benicia bridge this week. I was initially concerned about the heavy truck traffic in Martinez near the path and on Shell Rd. It seems that the roadway in this area is cleaned regularly. Junk dumped on the roadway such as wood or a tire rim that I see in the morning is cleaned up when I go home in the evening. Also it is obvious that street sweepers clean this roadway more frequently. This is a sign describing the Bay Trail and Ridge Trail

I have been thinking about commuting from benicia to martinez BART. I used google maps for this route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=North+Concord%2FMartinez+BART,+Concord,+CA&daddr=941+Elane+Way,+Benicia,+CA+94510&hl=en&geocode=FZHfQwIdbgu6-CkxfdLQDmeFgDGXFD3MHIatoQ%3BFcqwRAId6eG3-ClnOdixI26FgDFK_DnDFUUeDA&mra=mrv&mrcr=0&dirflg=b&sll=38.023991,-122.112908&sspn=0.025761,0.038581&ie=UTF8&ll=38.025106,-122.095871&spn=0.103041,0.154324&z=13&lci=bike).

It uses Shell Road. Is this road heavily laden with trucks during commute hours? I tried moving my route a bit east onto other roads but I wasn't sure if they were public nor if they were actually any better (or rather safer). One road is called "refinery road" which makes me think it is full of trucks if not a private road. Does anyone have experience with these roads and this route in general?

Ajit

You'll be fine on Shell Ave.. not many trucks but moderate traffic. I'd be careful with the stretch of Pacheco between Arthur and Blum though.

thank you rydaddy

thank you rydaddy

Other than the last part on PCH to BART I've done this route a few times, included rush hour; no issues.

I also noticed that after crossing the bridge if I road the other way on marina vista (east) which becomes waterfront, I can head south on Waterbirdway/Arthur Roads. Using the Google satellite image, click on my route link above, I can see this deadends very near Valley Ave. The satellite image of the dead end looks merely like a car guard rail that I could ride around. From Valley Ave I can ride to Central and take Central south until it dead ends. Again, even though the map indicates this is not a road, the satellite image indicates this dead end is actually a parking lot. At the other end of this parking lot is a road that takes me to Imoff and close to MTZ BART. Is anyone familiar with these options? This may be too arcane and I look forward to exploring this in any event.

I am not sure. I can ride out to Arthur and see what it looks like at Valley Ave on the way home today. I work at the sewage treatment plant on Imhoff Pl. The only bad stretch for me is Pacheco Blvd. between Arthur and Blum.

I think many of the roads around Central are raise gravel roads with chain link fence gates. The general public may not allowed on some of the levees/access roads.

The road that dead ends onto Arthur at Valley has a guard rail and 3-4' boulders. The road is overgrown with weeds. I talked to some neighbors, but they did not know how far it went. It looks like a blocked off disused alley behind the homes.

thank you for the reconnaissance.

What are some good meeting places on the Martinez side of the bridge with parking for those who drive to the start? I've been using the Martinez marina area for rides that'll go across the bridge into Benicia, but sometimes road construction in downtown Martinez has made the marina less than optimal. Any good alternate sites that are close to the bridge?

What are some good meeting places on the Martinez side of the bridge with parking for those who drive to the start? I've been using the Martinez marina area for rides that'll go across the bridge into Benicia, but sometimes road construction in downtown Martinez has made the marina less than optimal. Any good alternate sites that are close to the bridge?

Check out Bridgehead Road. It's serves some industrial businesses but there is a gravel parking area on the right side of the road as you get close to the gate. I'm pretty sure you'd be fine parking there, but check it out for yourself first.