Seven Awesome Bike Rides In San Francisco

Heather Jacks
Jan 27, 2016
7 min read

Now for our bike loving friends: Biking is HUGE in San Francisco. Our 7 x 7 city boasts over 87 miles of designated biking paths within the city limits. There is so much you can see and do from a bike, that I thought I would share some tips I have picked up, while living and biking in the city, from where to rent a bike, safety and some of my favorite rides.

The first thing you need to know, which may seem obvious, is that San Francisco has a lot of hills and traffic. I do my best to avoid both of these, because there’s so much to see, anything else can be a distraction.

The first stop you should make on the web is the non-profit San Francisco Bike Coalition. They have printable maps, routes, bikes on public transit, bicycling laws, how to use the bike parking racks, etc.…Here is their link: https://www.sfbike.org

A couple of quick tips:

Although helmets are not required by law, you should always wear one anyway.
If you get tired, have a flat tire or one too many cocktails; no worries. There are bike racks on the front of MUNI buses.

Or you can chain it to a parking meter. One thing to note, bikes are a HIGH theft item, so chain at your own risk and most business’ post notices to this effect.
A key to enjoying San Francisco, via bike—(or not)—is layering your clothing. The moment Karl fog drifts in, the temperatures drop dramatically. Also, microclimates are no joke. The Mission is always 10+ degrees warmer than anywhere else in the city; the oceans are always gusty and the temperatures can drop from one side of the street to the other.

Where to Rent A Bike: If you’re just out for a brief foray on a bike, then, any rental will probably do; however, if you plan to spend more time biking the city, you will need to rent a decent bike. I used to work at Blazing Saddles, so, I might be biased, but, their bikes are fantastic. I logged quite a few miles on them, and they were awesome. My butt never hurt, my back never ached and I am not a biking monster. However, Blazing Saddles is NOT cheap. The bikes range from $76.00 up for a day, and that’s not even a literal day. You are heavily penalized, if you drop your bike off after hours, etc.… A cool thing about Blazing Saddles, is they give you a little safety course, show you how to use the bikes, give you maps and a video tutorial of some of the best routes in the city. They also have electric bikes and Segways for rent, although I have never done either of those options.

Bike and Roll, is the other great option with four locations, including Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, and the Embarcadero.

No matter where you rent, here are a couple of moneysaving tips:

Check out Groupon. Bike rental companies, including Blazing Saddles often offer great discounts here.
The Tix Booth, located in Union Square, is a MUST STOP for tourist attractions. I will mention this time and time again. It is located on the corner by Westin St. Francis and is open 7 days a week from 10AM to 6PM. Much like the TKTS booth in New York City, they offer discounted tickets on tons of SF attractions, including bike rentals.

You have a couple of options when choosing a bike ride in San Francisco; Guided Tours or Self-Guided Tours.

Since I used to work for Blazing Saddles, I can vouch for their guided tours. They are great. The guides are really fantastic, the routes are beautiful and if you want to ‘bike the bridge’; this is a great way to go. They’ve been doing it for years, and they know their stuff. ‘Biking the Bridge’ is an 8.1 mile excursion from the Pier 39 to Sausalito. There are two hills, one at the beginning and one getting onto the bridge. On this tour, you cruise along the waterfront, through Chrissy Field, by Fort Mason, the Palace of Fine Arts, learn some history and have scheduled photo opportunities along the way; key term here is SCHEDULED photo opportunities. Once you cruise over the bridge, you glide into Sausalito, which is a beautiful coastal town with great food and cocktails. You will be given a ferry ticket for your ride back, with specific instructions on departure times, etc.…This ride is about 2 hours long. If you decide to continue beyond Sausalito, you are provided with a map and detailed path instructions.

You are certainly free to bike the bridge on your own; however, I am a huge fan of guided tours. Later, I will be dedicating an entire post to some of my favorite guided tours in the city.

If you opt for renting a bike and trekking around the city, here are a few of my favorite places to bike, in no particular order, both on city streets and nature-filled rides. I am what you call a ‘casual cyclist’; meaning all these rides are easy, with few hills. They are perfect for the person who wants to meander, stop, people watch and take in some sights.

THE WIGGLE

This is one of my favorite rides on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is flat, flat, flat with curves and twists through Duboce Triangle and the Lower Haight—(a neighborhood, I love). There are bright green arrows painted on the ground, for you to follow. This one mile bike route, from Market Street to Golden Gate Park, traverses a very cool neighborhood with tree lined streets, awesome coffee shops, record stores and it comes with a chill SF vibe, that makes you feel like part of a sacred San Francisco tribe; the Wiggle Club. So come on, and do the Wiggle with us San Franciscans. You won’t regret it. The following PSA about the Wiggle, says it all.

GOLDEN GATE PARK

Next up: Golden Gate Park. The only way to see our 1,017 acre Golden Gate Park is via bike. You can spend a day cruising this space, past lakes, buffalo—(yes, buffalo), the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Gardens, from the Panhandle to the Ocean, where there is a fantastic windmill; this is a spectacular ride. Best news? Golden Gate Park is closed to vehicular traffic half the day on Saturdays and ALL day on Sundays; making Sunday the BEST biking day in the Park; which also makes Sunday, the WORST day to take one of the guided bus tours of Golden Gate Park. Trust me, the tour operators won’t tell you that the park is closed to cars, but will take your money and then drive you AROUND the park. Trust me; it’s NOT the same!

VALENCIA STREET CRUISE

For better or worse, the Mission District is becoming—(or has become)—hipster heaven; in true Williamsburg style. And nobody does hip, like those bicyclists cruising Valencia Street. They weave in and out of traffic, satchel slung over their shoulders, handlebar moustache firmly affixed to their alabaster skin, man buns neatly tucked under their cool bicycle helmets—(yes, they even make bicycle helmets look cool).

Here’s the lowdown; Valencia Street is a must bike. It’s flat and has a designated bike corridor from 14th to 25th. It is lined with hip, trendy shops, boutiques, bars and more. I really do love this area. One thing I dig about it is once you hit 25th Street, you are really ready to explore, by leaving Valencia Street. Go towards Mission Street, which is the next major block over, and a different world altogether. It will get gritty and colorful in a way that you will either love or hate. The Mission District is a Hispanic area. With the Internet boom, gentrification has laid a heavy hand on this area, but some things are surviving. It is filled with the amazing Mexican food; taquerias, pupuserias, produce markets, Salvadoran bakeries and thrift shops. Two of my favorite thrift stores in the city are here; Thrift Town and City Thrift. If you like graffiti and/or street art; you will get your fill here.

Make sure to stop at Precita Eyes, for a map, history and explanation of some of the most famous murals on display in this area. There is also a fantastic book, called San Francisco Street Art, which I recently purchased and would recommend.

Treat Street boasts some of the most simple and authentic Mexican food around.

One note: If you are NOT on Valencia Street, do NOT chain, lock or in any way, leave your bike unattended in this area. ‘Nuff said.

After exploring the Mission District, it is an easy bike ride to The Castro, or towards Union Square, depending on your pleasure.

BAKER BEACH

I like Baker Beach, for a few reasons, not the least of which is, it’s in my neighborhood. It may feel like a schlep getting there, because it is in The Avenues, after all; which to some, is akin to visiting the moon. However, the views are well worth it. For an easy option, from the Wiggle, take a right directly after you enter the park; this is called Conservatory Drive E; follow this to Arguello, where you will turn left. Head up Arguello; this is a bit of a hill, bAnut, it will run into Lake Street, where you will turn left. This is a beautiful bike path with tree lined streets and amazing homes. Take Lake to 25th Avenue, turn right and then right again to the entrance of the Baker Beach parking lot. From here, follow the signs and trails for ocean breezes and stunning views.

(This stunning photo was taken by Benjamin Benoit, who is the Director of Photography for our upcoming SF Sisters book.)

THE EMBARCADERO

I myself, am not a fan of biking down near the wharf or in the heavily populated areas. However, the Ferry Building should be on every visitor’s ‘to do’ list; and if you’re going to do it by bike, you will be doing it on the Embarcadero.

A ride that I do love in this area, is AWAY from the Ferry Building AWAY from Fisherman’s Wharf, aka: Pier 39, towards AT&T ballpark. It’s flat, goes along the waterfront and has a couple of very chill dive bars along the way; Hi Dive and Red’s Java Hut. Red’s is cheap and chill, with an amazing outside deck/view. It used to be the pier that Hill’s Brothers coffee beans were delivered to, then taken across the street to their roasting plant; hence the name. Although Anthony Bourdain visited here, it still remains obscure enough to feel local.

Hi Dive is a very local hangout, filled with SF Giants loving, beer swilling fans. Both of these bars give an authentic experience, with great people, cold brew and a relaxed vibe.

THE PRESIDIO

A final suggestion is The Presidio, which is also in my neighborhood. It’s a big park, with very winding rides, medium hills, unique views and best of all, because it is out here in The Avenues, it is hardly ever crowded.