the San Diego
#SDBIKEGUIDE
In partnership with the San Diego County Bike Coalition
2018
Uptown Bicycles stops at Panama 66 during a #NoSpandexSaturday ride. THE FUTURE OF CITY BIKING • WOMEN RULE ON BIKES • BIKE-SHARE BREAKDOWNS • TRAILBLAZING ON MOUNTAIN BIKES
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Table of Contents The State of Bicycling in San Diego 6 Sister Cycling 8
ART DIRECTOR Tristan Whitehouse COVER PHOTO Jeff Corrigan EDITOR Seth Combs ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey
Sharing Is Caring 10 Blazing Trails 13 Calendar of Events 16 Advertiser Index 19 the San Diego
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CONTRIBUTORS Andy Hanshaw, Mia Bolton, Jamie Hampton, Kevin Baross, Ryan Bradford, Jim Ingersoll ADVERTISING SALES Jason Noble, Paulina Porter-Tapia Richard Diaz Jr. PUBLISHER Kevin Hellman SAN DIEGO BIKE GUIDE 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 281-7526
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On the Cover Uptown Bicycles stops at Panama 66 during a #NoSpandexSaturday ride, photographed by Jeff Corrigan
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Bike to Work Day 2018 Join thousands of people throughout the San Diego region as we GO by BIKE on Bike to Work Day - Thursday, May 17. With thousands of miles of bikeways in the region, biking gets you where you need to go. When you register for Bike to Work Day 2018 at iCommuteSD.com, you can stop by one of 100 pit stop locations throughout San Diego County on May 17 from 6 – 9 a.m. to pick up a free t-shirt*, snacks, and encouragement.*You must register online to be eligible for a free t-shirt.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEOPLE FOR BIKES
FROM NEW BIKEWAYS TO THE DOWNTOWN MOBILITY PLAN, WE EXPLORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR CITY BIKING by
Andy Hanshaw
MORE BIKES THAN EVER When the City of San Diego recently permitted the operation of the new technology of “dockless” bicycle sharing (see page 12 for more on that) and allowed businesses to bring them into the city, little did they know what would happen. Suddenly, bikes… green, yellow and orange bikes appeared on the streets… everywhere. But what was truly remarkable was the response that the new, convenient and affordable bikes brought and the number of people who hopped on those bikes to get around. San Diego has been lagging behind most major cities for implementing the type of modern bikeways needed to attract new riders and to take up bikes as a primary mode of transportation. However, what it has done is given access to affordable bikes (and scooters) to everyone and ridership has instantly spiked upward. It’s a good move by San Diego that other cities throughout the region and county can look to (Imperial Beach was first to experience similar success of dockless bike sharing).
WHAT’S NEXT? Well, it’s what should have already been done. The build out of a ninemile network of modern, protected bike lanes is called for in the funded and approved Downtown Mobility Plan. There’s also a $200 million investment from SANDAG for regional bikeways including Pershing Drive, Uptown and North Park/Mid-City. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed by 2019 along J Street and 6th and 14th Avenues. Having bike lanes that protect and connect from the heart of downtown to surrounding urban communities is essential in increasing ridership to the levels of the city’s goals, but also for the reduction of car emissions in the Climate Action Plan. In fact, the city’s goal is for those who live within a mile of a transit stop citywide to bike, walk or take public transit to-and-from work by 2035. It’s ambitious but achievable with the right infrastructure.
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San Diego can and should be the example when it comes to healthy, active living in which people choose to walk, bike or take transit not only to their jobs, but to their schools and to local businesses. Unfortunately, progress on our build out of these bike networks has been slow due to decisions that heavily favor a transportation system that prioritizes cars. It’s time to make our streets safer for the thousands of new bike riders who are pedaling on our streets now and for future generations of San Diegans, many of whom are already choosing not to drive, whether it’s because of the high costs (fuel, maintenance and insurance) or out of concern for the environment. Downtown alone is expected to triple in residential population and double in employment population over the next 15 years; we simply cannot add more cars to the area and must improve our bicycling, walking and transit options for residents, employees and visitors. With the addition of dockless bikes, popularity of coastal riding and plans for new bicycle networks citywide, we are set to be a mega bicycling destination.
PROTECTED BIKEWAYS/CYCLETRACKS: BIKE LANES FOR EVERYDAY RIDERS Protected bike lanes are a simple concept, really: they’re like sidewalks for bikes. Because planters, curbs, parked cars or posts separate bike and auto traffic on busy streets, protected lanes are essential in building a full network of bike-friendly routes. Once that network is built, riding a bike becomes a pleasant and practical way for many more people to make trips of a mile or two. Why do these better lanes matter? Academic research shows that the many people who would like to bike more, but don’t, are particularly concerned about safety. Protected lanes create the sense of “subjective safety” which helps change that behavior.
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Protected bikeways are coming to San Diego. With the funded $200 Million SANDAG Early Action Program Projects and the Downtown Mobility Plan, we can expect to see complete, connected and protected cycletracks connecting downtown with surrounding urban neighborhoods in the next two to four years. This will change many people’s habits for moving around our city by providing a safer option to travel by bike and will ultimately make our streets safer and more welcoming to all.
RIDE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME The San Diego Padres and the East Village Association are offering free bicycle valet parking during daytime home games this season. Roll on up and leave your bike checked with on-site security at the intersection of Park Boulevard and Tony Gwynn Drive by the main entrance gate at Petco Park. We applaud and thank the Padres for encouraging more people to bike the ballgames.
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WELCOME TO BIKE MONTH 2018 There will be dozens of new events and activities to look forward to this May during 2018 National Bike Month. Start it all off by joining the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, sdbbikecoalition.org, at the annual Bike Month Celebration Ride and Kickoff Party on May 3 at 6 p.m. at the newly relocated and reopened Quartyard at 13th Avenue and Market Street. After the ride, there will be live music, food, cash bar and free bike valet. You can also learn more about upcoming events and register for the Annual Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 17. Learn more about events taking place during Bike Month at icommutesd. com/events/bike-month â—†
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FOR WOMEN WANTING TO COMMUTE BY BICYCLE, GETTING STARTED IS EASY by
Mia Bolton
I
magine a world where you never have to pay for parking and you always get the best spot. Imagine exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise. Imagine getting a tan on your commute (I didn’t say it would be a cute tan). After a year and a half without a car in San Diego, I can vouch for all of the above as benefits of commuting by bike. I’ve distilled a list of learned lessons and how-to tips below for anyone looking for more two-wheeled time. Whether it’s 15 minutes every other weekend or to-and-from work every day, let’s get it started.
HELP! WHERE DO I START? First, let’s get you a bike. There are great shops in San Diego that sell already-loved bikes including North Park Bikes, Ye Old Bike Shop and more. (For a list of local bike shops, see page 20.) Have a bike and just need it tuned up? They can do that too.
I GOT A BIKE… NOW WHAT? You don’t need a lot to be a daily bike commuter. Here are the essentials, compiled from a substantial amount of trial and error: ➤ Water bottle (with water). Don’t set out for a ride in sunny San Diego without water. Just don’t. ➤ Tools to change a tire. You never know when you’ll need to change a tire. Always carry a portable bike pump, at least two tubes and those cute little levers that can rip your tire clean off the rim. ➤ Lock it up. If you’re going somewhere where they allow bikes inside, that’s great, but most times, you’ll have to lock your bike outside. Don’t 8 | San Diego
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ever assume your bike will be fine for “just a few minutes.” Lock your baby up. ➤ Rechargeable lights. Even if you only plan to ride during daylight hours, life (and daylight savings) happens. Always carry rechargeable front and rear lights and the charger. ➤ Helmet. It goes without saying, right? Don’t commute without a brain bucket. ➤ Bonus tip: Rear rack and panniers. I’d love to tell you that you won’t get sweaty, but you will. It’s just part of the gig. To reduce your sexy back sweat, consider panniers—the bags that hang off a rack over your rear wheel. Once you get a taste of commuting without a backpack, you’ll never go back.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? ➤ Remember: You live in San Diego. It’s sunny all PHOTO BY MIA BOLTON the time, and it will get the best of you if you’re not prepared. Protect your skin and your eyeballs with sunglasses and sunscreen (preferably a sheer sunblock that won’t sting your eyes too much).
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➤ Carry a personal bag. Find a zippable, durable pouch and make it your personal bag. Deodorant, a travel pack of wet wipes and tampons are strongly recommended. Nothing is worse than getting your period on your bike and being unprepared. ➤ Fight hanger. Pack snacks. Clif Bars never fail. ➤ Plan your route. Figuring out which route to go the first time can feel intimidating. Use the interactive map on icommutesd.com, or put your start and end point into Google maps and click the adorable little person on a bike for a suggested route. Ultimately, you won’t know which route you’ll prefer until you try. ➤ Follow the rules. If you want respect on the road, you have to show respect on the road. Stop at red lights and stop signs just like a car would. Use hands signals to communicate what you’re doing and never ride within door-opening distance of parked cars. ➤ Function > fashion. Some days it’s jeans, a sweater and sandals. Somedays its leggings, keds and a tank top. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you’re comfortable.
WHERE MY FELLOW BIKE COMMUTERS AT? ➤ Let’s talk about it. The more you talk about riding your bike, the more you’ll inspire other people and build your community.
➤ Find other women. Organize a bike train or join one that already exists. Ask your bike shop what rides they host or sign up for the San Diego Bike Coalition to join casual and inclusive events countywide—from how to change a tire, take care of your bike and bike tour along the coast. ➤ Love thy bicycle shop. Bring your bike in for a check up every three months and build a relationship with your local bike shop. They’ll take good care of you, and you’ll roll away knowing you’re in reliable hands.
ANY OTHER ADVICE? ➤ Get groovy. One of the best parts of any commute is arguably the soundtrack. Consider investing in cord-free headphones made specifically for bike commuters. Or consider a bluetooth speaker that attaches to your bike. (Important note: This will make you feel like you’re in a musical). To avoid fiddling with your music as you ride, make a playlist beforehand. ➤ Express yo’self. Bells. Pins. Stickers. Fun socks. Customize your ride and show off your style. It makes it more fun. ➤ Take it inside if you can. Fact: Bikes get rusty and stolen in San Diego. ➤ Enjoy. You’re doing something wonderful for yourself, your community and your planet. Feel good about that, and enjoy the freedom that comes with your decision. ◆
THE BUSINESS OF BEING BIKE-FRIENDLY by Jamie Hampton I caught the biking bug from Ian. Ian rode daily to our office in the northwest corner of Portland, Ore. He met me at my house and bicycled to and from work with me, showing me how to navigate and use essential signals. Fifteen years later his influence has powered my company, Mixte Communications, to earn the county’s highest marks for our commuter program. How can more companies in San Diego be bicycle friendly? Try these tips to take your company from four wheels to two.
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1. Lead by example. You’re the CEO, so show how it’s done. Plan team bonding adventures riding bicycles in places like Coronado and Mission Trails. 2. Make it a part of the culture. North County’s Watkins Wellness includes information in new hire packets and onboarding, coordinates events to inform employees about trip planning and offers pre-tax commuter benefits. 3. Celebrate those who ride. Try high fives in the hallways, show interest by asking them about their commutes and recognize them at staff meetings. 4. Allow bicycles in. Prevent theft by letting staff park bikes in cubicles, a back closet or from a hook in the ceiling. 5. Participate in Bike to Work Day. This one-day, countywide event comes with support and lots of free goodies. 6. Gamify your ride. In Sorrento Valley, Dexcom employees earn points for commuting by carpool, vanpool, transit, bike and on foot. Employees redeem points for company swag. 7. Offer classes. Host bike maintenance and Smart Cycling classes. Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Golden Triangle leads an annual bike 101 seminar for neighboring companies. 8. Consider incentives. Provide a COASTER pass to encourage transit integration. 9. Connect with iCommute. Take the free, 30-minute needs assessment to help you design a commuter program for your company.
Find your Ian. You’ll never look back. ◆ San Diego
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FROM LIMES AND DECOS, TO OFOS AND MOS, HERE’S A QUICK GUIDE TO SAN DIEGO’S VARIOUS BIKE-SHARE COMPANIES by
Kevin Baross
Bike-share is not meant to replace your own bike. It’s meant to help when you don’t have that bike. More people in San Diego are using bike-share programs for the last mile of their trips. This is a good thing, but it’s important to do bike-share the right way. As more people use bike-share and the number of bikes on the street levels out, active abuse of the bikes will go down. But improper parking of the bicycles is a valid complaint. Take the extra time to move the bike to the side when you park it. Don’t be afraid to pick up and move a bike that’s blocking the sidewalk when you’re walking. And follow all the rules and responsibilities required of the driver of a bicycle. These are easy steps that will keep the perception of bike-share positive. DecoBike: First, it’s docked. Get it from a dock, bring it back to a dock. This is limiting. But the bikes are in the same place every time, and there are no complaints about them blocking anything. The app works great, and the bikes are reliable. The quick trips of bike-share make this point the most important. LimeBike: Points for being first. Their introduction in Imperial Beach showed the others that this was possible. The app is intuitive, and it’s easy to report issues with bikes. Their customer service is fast to respond. The bikes themselves are a bit heavy, as is the trend with bikeshare, but otherwise there’s not much downside here. LimeBike E-Bike: The goal of the motor is not to make you go fast, but to make it easier to go at all. The motor is “pedal assist” which means there is no throttle. This is not a scooter. The motor helps with hills and with starting from a stop, but riders still need to do some work. And yes, you’ll be less sweaty when you get there as well. LimeBike E-Scooter: Lime scooters are distinctive for their more gradual speed and acceleration. Lime scooters seem to speed up in 10 | San Diego
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stages, almost as though they’re changing gears. This is a positive for some, as it can feel more comfortable. But when starting from a stop while in the traffic lane, we appreciate the more on/off style of acceleration. This is personal preference. The speedometer is a good reminder that this is something closer to a vehicle than a skateboard. Ofo: If you’re over 6 feet tall, it’s hard to get the seat high enough so this may be something to consider. The bikes have a nice upright riding position and are reliable. The app has a points system which we’ve yet to see mentioned much in the media. The idea is to reward riders for good behavior and punish those who park the bikes in improper areas. MoBike: The difference in the ride between Ofo and MoBike is negligible. The method for showing bikes in app is different than its competitors and takes some getting used to. MoBike allows the reservation of the bike before you get to it. Especially as bike-share gets more popular, this feature may be one that helps it stand out. Bird: Scooters that feel fast enough to be comfortable riding with traffic. They’ve got some kick, accelerating quick enough to keep up with the vehicles around you from a dead stop. This scooter feels too powerful for the sidewalk, and this is a good thing. To paraphrase the law, electric scooters should never drive on the sidewalk and only drive on streets rated at less than 25 mph, or in the bike lane. The speed makes the rider feel safe and increases responsibility to act as if we’re operating a vehicle. Green, yellow or orange, all bike-share do the most basic thing well. Download all five apps (six if you’re counting Spin, the UCSD exclusive bike-share) and use whichever suits you. This can also help distribute your various promo codes that you’re sure to receive on your first few rides. Be a good example, and ride like you belong. Because you do. ◆
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A SUPER-COOL GUIDE TO DOCKLESS BIKES
CityBeat’s resident chill guy tests out Ofo, LimeBike and Bird Ryan Bradford
by
Imagine my absolute befuddlement—befuddlement!—when a legion of multicolored, dockless bikes suddenly appeared in North Park, Downtown and [checks Nextdoor complaint threads]... everywhere. Are we, as a society, finally moving away from walking? Dope. However, the appearance of these bikes did concern me. Again, as a Southern Californian, I have a natural aversion to things on the road that are not cars. For the sake of journalism, I decided to suppress my SoCal prejudices and give each new service a spin. Here are the results: Ofo: I don’t think the bright-yellow coloring of these bikes is coincidental, because these bikes have appeared with wasp-like aggression. One day, we North Parkers were just chillaxin’ to the max, and then the next minute we couldn’t even get to our IPAs without tripping over one of these things. Ofo bikes are the most basic of the dockless bikes, but they’re also the cheapest. At $1 per hour, I could easily waste an afternoon for less than the cost of a California burrito. The app is pretty simple. On the homescreen, there’s a map that shows all the bikes in the surrounding area. It sort of reminded me of Pokémon GO but for bikes. I strapped on a helmet, unlocked one of those babies and took off. And it was fun. Pedaling around made me realize that perhaps I don’t need a car to feel complete, and I briefly forgot all the hurt and anger that I will forever hold against the Chargers for their decision to move out of San Diego. But the thing I didn’t realize is that sometimes I’d have to go uphill on a bike. And these bikes—beach cruisers, essentially—are not super conducive to riding up an incline. There are three gears on Ofos so I spent a good 20 minutes sweating while pedaling up a slight incline.
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LimeBike: These bikes seem pretty much the same as Ofo, except... green? They’re also a little more expensive—$1 per half hour, which is still affordable to most. The rad thing about LimeBike is that they offer electric-augmented bikes, which are placed randomly among the regular bikes and designated on the app by a little lightning bolt. To ride these bikes is as delightful and refreshing as an ice-cold sour beer. Each pedal activates an electric boost, which makes inclines as easy as the waves in Ocean Beach. It’s as close to being a car that a bike will ever get. More like SublimeBikes, amiright? Bird: Okay, so these aren’t bikes, but electrically-motorized scooters. However, the sudden appearance of these coincided with the bikes, and when things happen fast and suddenly, my hella laid-back brain can’t comprehend, so I put them in the same category. I was definitely stoked to try the Birds out, because from what I saw, they required the least amount of effort—just hop on and go. And due to the sideways stance, it pretty much feels like I’m surfing on asphalt, which makes me look really cool (can we all agree that the rigid, nerdy posture required to ride a Segway is the least chill?). These scooters can get up to between 15 and 20 mph, which is like whoa, and they definitely satisfied my desire for convenience. The scooters say that helmets are required, but I’ve not seen one scooterer wearing a helmet. Gotta protect those domes, bros! Birds cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents every 10 minutes, which makes it the most expensive of the options. Verdict: Listen, I love driving around in my car just as much as the next duder, after testing these three dockless options, I saw even more options: Mobikes and Lime-scooters. But if I—a chill-blooded San Diegan—can accept the need for alternative methods of transportation, so can you. Namaste. ◆
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GROUP RIDES MEAN GOOD TRAIL TIMES FOR LOCAL MOUNTAIN BIKERS by
Tim Ingersoll
Getting out on the trails to mountain bike in San Diego can be an intimidating experience. Between not knowing where to start rides—and which trails to take once you get there—making the most of your mountain bike can be harder than you’d think. Fortunately, San Diego has an incredibly active and inclusive cycling community, with plenty of group rides open to riders of all levels. There are dozens of year-round, consistent group trail rides all over the county, both big and small, that happily welcome new faces. Why group rides? Well, mountain biking is always more fun with friends. From learning new locations and routes to ride, to watching how a faster rider flows around and over obstacles in the trail, group rides can help riders take their mountain biking to the next level and maybe even introduce them to some new Strava followers on the way. Here’s a partial list of free group rides in the region at a variety of levels that generally ride for several hours. Contact the hosts for more info, as
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most will have updates or more information on their websites or Facebook pages. As always, practice good trail etiquette, observe closed trail rules and don’t forget to join the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (sdmba. com), the advocates working to ensure trail access for cyclists all around the region.
EASY Who: Bicycle Warehouse Pacific Beach shop ride (bicyclewarehouse.com) Where: Los Peñasquitos Canyon (PQ) from Canyonside Park at Black Mountain Road When: Saturdays, 8 a.m. What: This is a no-drop group ride open to all levels going through various trails around PQ. How: Meet at the parking lot west of the baseball fields continued on page 14
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Who: Bonita Performance Bike shop ride (performancebike.com) Where: Southbay trails from the shop at 3901 Bonita Road When: Saturdays, 9 a.m. What: Open group trail ride on local trails; routes decided based on who shows up, common areas include Rock House and Tiki Hut. How: Meet at the shop 10 minutes early to determine abilities and routes. Who: Girlz Gone Riding San Diego chapter ride (girlzgoneriding.com) Where: Location varies, but recent rides include PQ with Lake Hodges, Southbay and Daley Ranch rides planned. When: Second Sunday of the month but can vary What: Open group rides for all levels, catering to and led by women. “These are no drop rides—there is no shame in going slow and no one gets left behind,” says Kamala Slight, director of the San Diego chapter. How: Join the Girlz Gone Riding San Diego chapter on Facebook (facebook.com/groups/GGRSD).
MEDIUM Host: Eminent Cycles Demo Ride Where: Rancho La Costa from Corte Romero Road in Carlsbad When: Wednesdays, 7 a.m. What: New local bike company hosts an informal, pre-work weekday ride in North County. How: Contact Paul at Eminent (paul@eminentcycles.com) to confirm your spot, as new bike demos may be available.
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Who: Trek Women’s Team Group Ride Where: Location varies, check “SD Trek Girls Club Group Ride” on Facebook. When: Third Saturday of every month, 8 a.m. What: Multi-level group ride open to men and women, led by the Trek San Diego Mountain Bike Women’s team of professional riders. How: Check the SD Trek Girls Club Group Ride Facebook group for more details.
HARD Who: North of the Border shop ride. Where: Los Peñasquitos Canyon (PQ) from the shop at 4204 Sorrento Valley Blvd. When: 8 a.m., Saturdays What: Local racers and chasers rip around PQ. “You’ll know in the first eight minutes of riding if you should be there,” says shop owner Doug Wolkon. How: Check with the shop on Fridays. If you really want to push it, the San Diego region is home to more than 50 cycling-related companies, including bike manufacturers like Intense, Turner, Ellsworth, BMC and Canyon and clothing companies like Zoic, Canari and 100%. Many of them will have industry rides or even their own mountain bike race teams that regularly put in more miles than you can imagine–if riders think they can keep up. If readers have a group mountain bike ride you want to invite more people to, comment on our website with times, location, levels and contact info for riders interested in joining. And get out on those trails! ◆
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PHOTO BY TRISTAN WHITEHOUSE
MAY 10: BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY
Getting back on the old two-wheeler may seem a little nerve wracking, especially for those of us whose bikes have been collecting dust somewhere in our garage. Sure, there are plenty of events in May for National Bike Month, but with over 1,000 miles of bikeways in San Diego and tons of exciting events happening throughout the year, it’s about time we shake off the dust and go for a ride. For more info on bike events, visit
The seventh annual Bike to School Day will unite thousands of students as they make their way to school on two wheels. Kids can practice the environmental and physical benefits of riding a bike to school as well as enjoy the small token of independence that comes with it.
icommutesd.com/events.
MAY 13: CYCLOFEMME
MAY 3: BIKE MONTH KICKOFF RIDE AND PARTY
Starting at 6 p.m. at the new Quartyard in East Village, Councilmembers David Alvarez and Chris Ward will lead bike aficionados on a leisurely, family-friendly ride to Barrio Logan and back. For the rest of the evening, partygoers can enjoy craft beverages while enjoying live music from local Latin-fusion band, Elrio. sdbikecoalition.org MAY 5: MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE WITH A MTRP RANGER
Set the gears on your mountain bike for a ride on the wild side through Mission Trails Regional Park. Volunteers from the San Diego Mountain Biking Association will be assisting participants with making adjustments on their bikes prior to the tour. Be sure to bring a helmet, plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks. If you can’t make this one, these rides are held the first Saturday of the month except for July through September.
walkbiketoschool.org
Women around the world take to the streets with their bikes in a self-led movement honoring women’s past, present and future. Held on Mother’s Day weekend, bring out your bike and enjoy a ride, whether cycling with friends in your neighborhood or parading through the community. cyclofemme.com MAY 17: BIKE TO WORK DAY
Thousands of commuters countywide will ditch the car and ride two wheels on Bike to Work Day. Registered bikers can enjoy one of the 100 pit stops set up throughout San Diego whether for a quick bite or relaxing break. Don’t have a bike? No problem. Discover Bike, LimeBike, Mobike and Ofo will all offer free bike rides for up to one hour to the first 100 people from 6 to 9 a.m. icommutesd.com MAY 19: SAN DIEGO CENTURY
The 12th annual ride from Lake Hodges to the San Elijo Lagoon provides the perfect backdrop for cyclists as they cruise through the scenery of MAY 6: TEAM NPF CYCLE North County. Whether riders choose a challenging path or something Charity and cycling go hand-in-hand at this event, which works to raise more relaxed, food, drinks and a sports expo await participants at the money and awareness for psoriatic disease. Participants will ride through finish line. sandiegocentury.eventmediainc.com Silver Strand Beach in Coronado and afterwards, they can enjoy some JUNE 3-9: AIDS/LIFECYCLE well-earned food, beer and music. Team NPF hold events throughout the Seven days of riding down the California coast from San Francisco to Los year so be sure to check the website for upcoming events in places like Angeles might sound intimidating, but this AIDS fundraiser and awareCarlsbad and even a bingo and beer event at AleSmith Brewing. ness ride is suitable for seasoned cyclists and recent riders. Each day’s npf.donordrive.com route averages around 80 miles and differs greatly in topography from strawberry fields to foothills. aidslifecycle.org mtrp.org
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JUNE 16: LOW TIDE RIDE AND STRIDE
Timed to the lowest tide of the month, this beach ride allows cyclists to pedal down Navy-owned stretches of Coronado’s coast usually closed to the public apart from this event. At the finish line, a family-friendly party welcomes participants with games, music and medals. lowtiderideandstride.org
OCTOBER 28: GIRO DI SAN DIEGO
Cyclists are taken through the hills and valleys of backcountry Escondido in this celebration of Italy, food and San Diego’s coast. The course includes the intense south grade of Mount Palomar, which is famed to be one of the toughest bike climbs in San Diego. girodisandiego.com
JUNE 21-23: SDCBC REGIONAL BIKE SUMMIT
For the first time, the San Diego Bike Coalition will host a Regional Bike Summit to uncover strategies to improve bicycling in all communities of the San Diego region. Highlights include a summer solstice bike ride, panel discussions and workshops at the Museum of Photographic Arts, and a costume-friendly “Velobration” closing party (held at the Velodrome, naturally). sdbikecoalition.org
NOVEMBER 3: BIKE THE COAST
Highway 101 sets the scene for a ride along North County’s beaches. At dawn, participants begin the course at the Oceanside Pier, cruise down to Solana Beach and finally circle back up to Oceanside where they can enjoy the sunset along with food and refreshments. spectrumsportsevents.com/bike-the-coast
JULY 4: 4TH OF JULY BIKE RIDES
NOVEMBER 10: RIDE THE POINT
The Old Pros of Scripps Ranch hosts a patriotic run and ride event that features three running courses and three bike courses, each taking participants into the heart of Northeast San Diego. Afterwards, cyclists and runners can enjoy a craft beer garden.
Inspired by cycling enthusiast Jim Krause, this fundraiser for pancreatic cancer research takes participants through the ins-and-outs of Point Loma. The majority of proceeds are donated to the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. ridethepoint.org
srop.org
NOVEMBER 17: PADRES PEDAL THE CAUSE
AUGUST 26: BIKE THE BAY
Keep the support going for cancer research at this annual ride and walk starting at Petco Park. For cyclists, the ride will head over the Coronado Bridge and onto Silver Strand. There’s also a 5K option that weaves through the Embarcadero. Either way, the ride ends at centerfield in Petco Park with funds raised for local cancer charities. gopedal.org
Take a spin around the scenic San Diego Bay and surrounding areas beside bikers of all abilities. This 25-mile cruise provides the only opportunity of the year to ride your bike over the Coronado Bay Bridge. The course includes rejuvenating rest stops along the way and a post-ride festival. bikethebay.net SEPTEMBER 23: WOMEN RIDE IB
The second annual ride is designed to inspire and engage female riders who are both new to riding or experts. There’s a casual road or trail ride and a post ride festival and wine-tasting featuring regional women owned and operated wines. sdbikecoalition.org
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Adams Avenue Bicycles 2602 Adams Avenue, San Diego (619) 295-8500 aabikes.net
Bike the Bay Community Bike Ride
Sunday, August 26, 2018 11th Annual Ride the Coronado Bridge bikethebay.net
Bike the Coast
Saturday, November 3, 2018 Experience a gorgeous ride on the Southern California Coast bikethecoastsd.com
Bluefoot Bar and Lounge 3404 30th Street, North Park (619) 756-7981 bluefootsd.com
Cal Coast Bicycles
3020 Adams Ave., Normal Heights (619) 281-7433 calcoastbicycles.com
Discover Bikes
100 Stations throughout San Diego (619) 297-0433 discoverbikesandiego.com
Electric Bike Central
1851 San Diego Ave., Ste 100B, San Diego (619) 564-7028 electricbikecentral.com
LunchBOX WAX 1040 University Ave., Suite B205, Hillcrest (619) 269-9770 lunchboxwax.com
Mitch’s Seafood
1403 Scott Street, Point Loma (619) 222-8787 mitchsseafood.com
Pedal for the Padres
Saturday, November 17, 2018 Ride, spin, walk, raise & cure cancer. gopedal.org
Pizzeria Luigi
1137 25th Street, Golden Hill (619) 233-3309 2121 El Cajon Blvd., North Park (619) 294-9417 717 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach (619) 271-3477 pizzerialuigi.com
Ride the Point
Saturday, November 10, 2018 Ride the Hidden, Unridden & Forbidden Point Loma ridethepoint.org
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) sandag.org
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition 1111 6th Ave., San Diego, CA (858) 487-6063 sdbikecoalition.org
San Diego Mountain Bike Association San Diego’s Hub for Multi-Use Trails and Trail Advocacy sdmba.com info@sdmba.com
San Diego Regional Bike Summit
June 21st - June 23rd Bringing together advocates, local and national leaders foro biclying. At the Museum of Photographic Arts
Tern Bicycles
5 local dealers to serve you: Black Mountain Bicycles, San Diego UC Cyclery, La Jolla Uptown Bicycles, Bankers Hill & Normal Heights San Diego Fly Rides, La Jolla Holland’s Bicycles (Electric Only), Coronado ternbicycles.com
Uptown Bicycles
3437 Adams Ave, Normal Heights (619) 283-1926 2665 Fifth Ave #103, Bankers Hill (619) 795-7222 uptownbicycles.com