Northern California - Bike to Work Day 2011

BTWD (http://www.ebbc.org/btwd) is a little more than two weeks away. Thursday May 12th. Some of you lucky folks can do this daily, for me it is a 65 mile round trip. And there were no stations on my route until I was almost done (Danville.) But at least I got my damn musette bag. This year I think I will have to decide on a) longer or b) more climbing, because coming back on Crow Canyon at 4:30 in the afternoon was no fun. My ride is Walnut Creek to Alameda, the shortest route has me riding on High Street, thus the longer route.

So who else is planning of Biking to Work this year?

I am, though it's only 28 miles round trip.

If it makes you feel better, my commute would be 75 miles each way by bike (taking the shortest route).

By car, it takes about 15-20 minutes on the quickest route. By bike, I would expect about 6-8 hours each way (I have not tried it).

But Bike to Transit Day doesn't have the same ring to it...

I have a similar case. I commute twice a week from Castro Valley to South Bay along Palomares Rd, about 67 miles roundtrip, since about a year ago. I think it's just a little too long (2 hours each way) and tiresome to do it everyday. But yeah, I'll do it on BTWD.

I ride to work every day, so Bike to Work day isn't any different for me. But I am having my Graphics class design posters that I'll post around campus. I got my college involved and now the student government has taken over the energizer station on campus for the day.

Here's a poster from last year:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/4599997775_824a356fb6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/4599997775/)
JSaito Bike to Work Poster FLOWERS (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/4599997775/) by losmedanosart (http://www.flickr.com/people/15966979@N04/), on Flickr

I'm definitely going to, but don't know if any bikestations will be set up that early. I normally get to the office by 7 am.

I'm riding, but it doesn't really count, since that's how I get to work every day.

mmm 15 miles each way.. making sure to avoid the ghetto area in the afternoon.. not sure on a route yet. have to get from downtown Mountain View to Redwood Shores. Maybe San Antonio to Middlefield to Industrial...

I'm definitely going to, but don't know if any bikestations will be set up that early. I normally get to the office by 7 am.

I have to roll at 4:50, and I am still late. Most bike stations open after 7, I am hitting the Bay Trail in San Leandro by then. At least the bike bridge is open so I can bypass the Davis St landfill.

mmm 15 miles each way.. making sure to avoid the ghetto area in the afternoon.. not sure on a route yet. have to get from downtown Mountain View to Redwood Shores. Maybe San Antonio to Middlefield to Industrial...

I used to ride Santa Clara to Redwood Shores. Your stretch, I'd do middlefield to Rengstorff, over to the east side by Google, ride up along east bayshore all the way thru EPA, then out to 84 (on University I think) where the new Facebook HQ is gonna be, north, ride by the trailer parks on east bayshore, when the road dead-ends at the RWC police station, hang a left, cross over the freeway, go behind the shops, up to Whipple, cross back over the freeway, and ride the trail on the east side of 101 to RWS.

Now I live in Belmont so it'll be a nice 5 mile r/t commute.

I'm riding, but it doesn't really count, since that's how I get to work every day.

Me too.

I used to commute two days a week, but got lazy and decided to sleep in more. Not sure if I want to do it just for the bike to work day. Seems kind of like cheating or something.

Now that the weather is getting better I'm going to start riding regularly. I may do my first commute in a couple months on Thursday, and start doing so more regularly in the coming weeks.

I missed last year because I had to accompany my wife into surgery (I know, who schedules surgery for BTWD?!). But I ride every day, so this will be pretty anticlimactic for me. :)

I think I pass 3 stations on my route.

Since BART is bike friendly in the AM, I think I am going to BART it into work and then ride home. Gives me a little more time and I can get to work on time. I will then be riding home via the Bay Trail, A St in Hayward/Castro Valley, Dublin Cyn, then the "blvd" back to Walnut Creek. 10 miles of AM riding, 40 on the return.

Thinking about it....can someone recommend the best way over/under/through the Caldicott? I'm coming from Concord....

Thinking about it....can someone recommend the best way over/under/through the Caldicott? I'm coming from Concord....
Ouch. Well, you can ride onto 24 at Orinda and then enjoy a leisurely climb up Fish Ranch - double trouble - riding on the freeway and then a ridiculously steep hill. Or head into Moraga and do Canyon and Pinehurst. What is your Final Destination?

Children's Hospital Oakland. I may just have to take BART from Orinda to McArthur.

BTWD is May 19 in Sac Region. FYI.

My students made posters! Here's a slide show of the 6 I liked best.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/sets/72157626640145592/show/

Too lazy to click? Well there, here's one for you:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5684727970_90038902e7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/)
eddief (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/) by losmedanosart (http://www.flickr.com/people/15966979@N04/), on Flickr

Very nice posters. Liked them all.

My students made posters! Here's a slide show of the 6 I liked best.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/sets/72157626640145592/show/

Too lazy to click? Well there, here's one for you:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5684727970_90038902e7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/)
eddief (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/) by losmedanosart (http://www.flickr.com/people/15966979@N04/), on Flickr

... or your head will explode?

... or your head will explode?

Some students are.. unusual. Then again, I'm not risking my head exploding.

I ride to work every day, so Bike to Work day isn't any different for me. But I am having my Graphics class design posters that I'll post around campus. I got my college involved and now the student government has taken over the energizer station on campus for the day.

Here's a poster from last year:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/4599997775_824a356fb6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/4599997775/)
JSaito Bike to Work Poster FLOWERS (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/4599997775/) by losmedanosart (http://www.flickr.com/people/15966979@N04/), on Flickr

spokes are bent, what happened to the other crank arm? Is this a chainless bike? there's ninja stars on your hubs, spokes are outside of the fork.

My students made posters! Here's a slide show of the 6 I liked best.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/sets/72157626640145592/show/

Too lazy to click? Well there, here's one for you:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5684727970_90038902e7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/)
eddief (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15966979@N04/5684727970/) by losmedanosart (http://www.flickr.com/people/15966979@N04/), on Flickr

Looks like they are promoting a bicycle rave party.

Thursday is usually bike to work day for me anyways. Sweet. Only difference is I moved from one part of the city to another so now i get to try a new route. Even sweeter! Now all I need is a bike lane on the bay bridge...

Thinking about it....can someone recommend the best way over/under/through the Caldicott? I'm coming from Concord....

From Concord how about taking Reliez Valley to Alhambra (doing Pig farm in reverse) then Castro Ranch to San Pablo Dam Rd, hang a right up Wildcat through to Grizzly Peak and down Claremont. Many, many variations possible there, but not sure how much mileage you'd entertain?

I ride every day so nothing new for me.

Bike to work day got me over the fear of riding to work a few years ago now I commute in on my bike (an hour each way) 90% of the time rain or shine.

I am lucky enough to be able to bike to work most days and I'll be riding in on May 12th. The only difference will be that I get free breakfast provided by my work! Nice to get a little something for my efforts.

Curtis: nice posters. Thanks for sharing. You have some very creative students!

Oh damn, BTWD is on the same day as the day Giants game I'm going to ... I guess I'm going to have to pass on BTWD this year.

Another one here who bikes to work every day - Don't have a car!

I just did a practice ride today, a whopping 7 miles from home to work (and back!) LOL

I may ride my motorcycle - does that count?? :~)

Actually, it's 18 miles each way for me over the Monterey-Salinas Highway - Rte 68. Ugly road, lots of traffic, and then there is that (%$@#!!!) Salinas River Bridge, on which a cyclist is a moving target for cars and trucks traveling over 70MPH and no shoulder for the cyclist to hide on! Further on in the route (I work at the airport), I'd have to contend with the Airport Blvd interchange, which is under construction, and populated by HUGE big rigs (the produce packing plants are off that exit of 101) - can anyone say "road pizza"?

None the less, I might give it a try!

Oh damn, BTWD is on the same day as the day Giants game I'm going to ... I guess I'm going to have to pass on BTWD this year.

The irony is not lost on me.

I'm in...I'd do it more often but I can't just tell my buyers to "ride this bike to the next house on the list." I have a couple cycling buyers who'd be down with that, but most can't fathom riding at all. Sad.

But I'm making an exception (again) and hope to convince my other riding Realtors (R) to join me.

I'm in...I'd do it more often but I can't just tell my buyers to "ride this bike to the next house on the list." I have a couple cycling buyers who'd be down with that, but most can't fathom riding at all. Sad.

But I'm making an exception (again) and hope to convince my other riding Realtors (R) to join me.

Just focus on the down town area and provide cruisers - maybe that could be your niche? :)

I booked out my calendar for "meetings" so I could make BTWD. Stretch goal is riding from Berkeley to Jack London to catch the 8:10 ferry to SF. Otherwise, it's at Ashby BART for the 6:47 ride in. Either way, it's the ferry back in the afternoon, and maybe even get to take my son home from preschool.

My normal commute is a great 25 mile roundtrip. Richmond to Berkeley along the Bay Trail.

For Bike to Work day, I usually (and will this year) take the day off work, and ride as support for folks who don't usually commute. Last year I think I logged about 65 miles, and hit about 10 different refuel stations!

And, although I dislike riding the Ohlone Trail in El Cerrito, on BTWD those stations seem to offer the best stuff: (Peet's coffee, water bottles, fresh baked pastries, patch kits, energy bars/beans for later rides, etc.)

Oakley to Stockton on Highway 4?! NO WAY. Driving that road is dangerous enough. Now with all the road construction as well, death trap.

Wish I was able to bike to work. :(

hit about 10 different refuel stations!...(Peet's coffee, water bottles, fresh baked pastries, patch kits, energy bars/beans for later rides, etc.)
I got a rock :)
My route home from Alameda had no stations, stumbled on one 2 miles from home after 30 miles. This year looks no better.

Just focus on the down town area and provide cruisers - maybe that could be your niche? :)

Cute idea. Then I'd get that stable of bikes I want.

It's tomorrow? Probably gonna pass... I'll do it Friday instead.

I'm going to see how many stations I can hit tomorrow. What kind of freebies do they give away?

Taking the Stevens Creek Trail up to Shoreline Park is a good run with NO CARS. You also can get through on teh East side of 101 all the way to Redwood Shores, the connector and little bridge to Maple was just repaved this past weekend. Did RWS to Santa Clara this afternoon using just that route :)


I used to ride Santa Clara to Redwood Shores. Your stretch [MV to RWC], I'd do middlefield to Rengstorff, over to the east side by Google, ride up along east bayshore all the way thru EPA, then out to 84 (on University I think) where the new Facebook HQ is gonna be, north, ride by the trailer parks on east bayshore, when the road dead-ends at the RWC police station, hang a left, cross over the freeway, go behind the shops, up to Whipple, cross back over the freeway, and ride the trail on the east side of 101 to RWS.

Now I live in Belmont so it'll be a nice 5 mile r/t commute.

Phase One is in the books - the easy part. 10 miles riding, 30 minute BART ride. Phase Two is all riding, 37 miles.
201634

EDIT:
I have been looking for viable bike commute options for daily operations. The WC BART to Fruitvale is pretty easy, I have to get up at 4:30 (which sucks) but there it is. It is the return that is the problem, as much as I would love the ride I need to be home sooner. However I can ride BART from Fruitvale to MacArthur at any time in the afternoon, that gets me to a 24 mile ride from that point - and a "nice" daily climb up Tunnel. Not much of a "city" rider, but that would get me 24 (+10 easy miles) each day and save about $50 in gas a month. Might have to demo that route tomorrow...

BTWD swag scored at Foothill & Arastradero.

201684

However, I was hoping for a car.

Took the most direct route this morning, 4.9 mi.

Took a longer route home, 10.9 mi. home.

I should do that more often.

I got a bag hand-off at University and Bryant (?) - same spot and probably same guy as last year. made me feel like a pro in a feed zone

Three "energizer stations" in my 8 mile ride from Antioch to Los Medanos College.
I got a flat, and I think it was when I wheeled into the station to say hi. Ironic, considering I ride every day.