I have not been on that path lately because I live in Sacramento now. Anytime there is a holiday there are people on the bike paths that are not, to put it nicely, experienced trail users. So keep an eye out and give a little more room when passing. I've had several close calls on the American River pathway on Holiday weekends although a lot of that would be because of the rafters that you won't have to deal with. I really like the ride up Pinehurst and usually take a right on SkyLine and ride the ridge to grizzly peak and come back down into North Orinda on Soutpark dr next to the steam trains. A couple of weeks ago I was reading someones blog where they commute that way. I think they were one of the Diablo cyclists.