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San Francisco Bay Area pedal & ebike information

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Dealers, Repairs & Incentives

  • SF Bay Area Ebike dealer map - Googlemap of dealers who carry e-bikes in the San Francisco Bay area

  • Berkeley ebike dealer list - List of Berkeley area dealers & repair shops, the brands of e-bikes​ they stock and price ranges.

  • Subsidies & Incentives -  Listing of utilities & cities in the Bay Area that offer discounts on e-bike purchases or lending libraries or other incentives.

If you have an old car you are ready to scrap, you may be able to trade your clunker for $7,500 towards e-bikes & transit

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Bike & scootershare systems & longer term rentals

Short term share systems (rent by the minute for short trips)

  • Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Santa Clara, & San Jose - Veo (standing & sitting e-scooters, ebikes in some areas) 

  • Berkeley, Emeryville, & Oakland - Superpedestrian (standing e-scooters only)

  • Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Francisco, & San Jose - Lyft/BayWheels  (pedal "classic" and ebikes docked and undocked in SF & SJ, docked pedal bikes only in the Berkeley, Emeryville, & Oakland )

  • Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose - Spin (ebikes & e-scooters - download the Spin app) 

  • Emeryville, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose - Lime (e-scooters only)

  • Richmond, Sonoma & Marin - Gotcha by Bolt (all e-bike) appears to have shut down

Many bike & scooter share systems have discounts for low income riders. Check with the operator for details.  

 

Hourly & daily & longer term rentals:​ (rates as of Jan 2023)

  • Sports Basement (multiple locations) rents Bosch powered pedal assist electric bikes from Scott, Kalkhoff, Cannondale, and Felt (in addition to a broad range of pedal bikes). I know they rent ebikes from Berkeley. Call other locations to confirm availability. ebikes $65/day, $110/weekend (2-4 days), $300/week (5-9 days), $500/month, $1000/6 month lease

  • Bay City Bike 2661 Taylor St (Fisherman's Wharf) SF - daily rentals pedal powered $36 , ebikes $75

  • Blazing Saddles, 2715 Hyde (Fisherman's Wharf) SF - ebikes $48/2 hours, $70.40/day

  • REI Bay Area Adventure Center, 1387 Marina Way, Richmond, pedal $10/hour, $30/day, ebikes $30/hour, $95/day (note that rentals do not earn an REI Reward for members)

  • Friend With A, Various locations, ebikes from their owners (like airbnb for houses or or Turo for cars)

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Classes, Events, Local advocacy & Resources

Regional Bay Area bike advocacy organizations offer excellent classes in person and online, fun bike oriented events, and website resources in addition to opportunities to advocate for safer streets. 

 

Local Bike & Walk organizations are great sources for more classes, events and opportunities for advocacy for safer streets for bike riders and pedestrians.   

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Route planning

If you are just starting biking around the Bay area, you may be concerned about tangling with crazy drivers. The key to this is "Don't ride where you drive." Your best low stress route to your destination is likely to be different from the roads you would drive there. There are lots of bike paths and low traffic streets that are great, low stress options in the Bay Area. Explore around. Bike lanes are helpful, but the most relaxed route for you may be a back street that doesn't show up on the maps as a bike route. 

Bike East Bay's Route Planning page has lots of great tips on how to plan your route and a wealth of map sources. 

BART's multi-modal trip planner allows you to mix a bike with BART and buses.

Also check out 511's Biking Maps & Trails for PDFs of bike lane maps around the Bay.

 

Want to go hiking? ... but don't want to ride up on those narrow, winding roads to the parks in the gnarly hills, even with an ebike? Check out Hiking By Transit for an incredible number of trailheads all over the Bay Area that are within a 30 minute walk - or a 10 minute bike ride - from a BART station or other transit stop.

Combine this with our info below on Secure parking to park your bike at BART or near a bus line or our Bikes on transit section to learn the rules to take your bike on the transit line for the last stretch to the trailhead.

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Secure parking & bike registration

Secure bike parking is offered at many transit stations throughout the Bay area (all BART stations, most Caltrain,  SMART, and Amtrak stations, plus many bus transit hubs, parking decks, libraries, community centers, hospitals, parks, and other places around the Bay area and beyond. You may use these whether you are using transit or just shopping or meeting in the area.

Locker use is very cheap - 3-5 cents  per hour (some entities subsidize the first hours, including Fremont & Oakland (first 5 hours free), Santa Clara (first 9 hours free), San Jose (many lockers up to 10 hours free)), and Caltrain (100 free hours when you sign up with Clipper). Most require a BikeLink card or app or a Clipper card to access.

Some of the BikeHub locations are attended, providing free parking that can be used walk up without a card or app.

  • BikeLink electronic bike lockers and controlled access group parking facilities are located throughout the Bay area, plus locations in Davis, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Tahoe Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Las Vegas, Utah, St Louis, & Burlington VT. The website and app maps include real time info on number of parking spaces available at each station. You can also find locations through search for "BikeLink" in GoogleMaps but not all locker hubs are listed on Googlemaps yet. Opening a locker requires a BikeLink access card or the BikeLink app (Download the BikeLink app on iOS or Android). BikeLink app access to BART's bike station group parking facilities -- available at Ashby, Berryessa, Civic Center, Downtown Berkeley, Embarcadero, MacArthur, Milpitas and Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre stations -- will be rolled out early 2023. A more limited number of lockers can be opened with a Clipper card.

  • BikeHub for Bart, Caltrain, LA Express & Sacramento - These locations variously offer unreserved walk up valet bike parking (Bike Stations) or controlled access group parking or secure smart racks. Valet parking is generally available weekdays and may also provide fast turnaround repair services, accessory sales and bike rentals at select stations. 

  • UC Berkeley offers three secure and covered bicycle parking facilities and many more cages throughout campus, for use by UC affiliates. Registration is free on a first come, first served basis. There are also a couple of BikeLink facilities available to the public on campus and at University Village as well as the nearby downtown Berkeley BART Bike Station.

Register your bike! - For all those times when you can't lock up in a secure a facility, make sure your bike is registered  in both of these free databases to increase the chances of return if stolen: 

Register your bike in both databases and see Security - Don't lose that new bike for tips on getting the best lock and other theft-proofing for your bike.

Return to list of contents  --  Direct URL for this section: www.climateaction.center/ebike-sfbay#route-planning

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Where can I ride?

 

City streets, bike lanes and separated bike paths are all usually open to Class I, II & III ebikes as well as pedal bikes. In many areas, e-bikes can go wherever regular bikes are allowed. Parks, however, sometimes have more restrictions.

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Bay Trail: The Bay Trail is generally open to all bicycles throughout, but local restrictions may apply in certain parks. Always, always, be a good ambassador for ebikes when you ride on the Bay Trail. Slow way down around pedestrians and when passing pedal cyclists. Use your bell or call out when approaching. Check out Bay Trail Confidential to learn much more about  fun places to go on the Bay Trail.. 

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Bridges & Tunnels: Six of the region’s toll bridge spans have bicycle and pedestrian paths, and no toll is charged for these users. Check out the Bay Trail FAQ on bridges and 511 Bicycles on Bridges & in Tunnels to learn more.

  • Antioch Bridge: CA-160. Technically bikes and pedestrians are allowed on this bridge "on a bike lane adjacent to the vehicle travel lane" however, the lane is very narrow and there is no shoulder. Check it out on google street view before attempting it.

  • Baker Barry Tunnel: Bunker Rd in the Marin Headlands. Car traffic is one way, controlled by a 5 minute traffic light. Bicycles, however have their own lanes in both directions and do not need to wait for the light. Use head and tail lights in the tunnel.

  • Benicia-Martinez Bridge: (also known as the George Miller Jr. Bridge) I-680. A two-way 12-foot path for bicyclists and pedestrians on the west side of the bridge is open 24 hours a day.

  • Carquinez Bridge: (also known as the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge) I-80 between Vallejo & Crockett. Open 24 hours a day.

  • Dumbarton Bridge: Route 84 between Newark & East Palo Alto. Open 24 hours a day.

  • Golden Gate Bridge: Pedal and e-bikes are allowed but not e-scooters. Cyclists have 24 hour access except occasionally for special construction. Check website for special closures, routes and pedestrian hours.

  • Posey/Webster Tunnels Oakland to Alameda: Possible, but awful. There is no pedestrian or bicycle access in the Webster Tube. There is a ped/bike path in the Posey Tube but it is a very unpleasant experience.

  • There are plenty of other ways to get to & from Alameda by bike

  • Richmond-San Rafael Bridge: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This path is open under a pilot program through 2024. Keeping the bike and pedestrian path will depend on how many people use it (and politics). Connect with the Bike East Bay RSR campaign to ensure it stays open.

  • San Mateo-Hayward Bridge: NO bike or pedestrian access.

  • SF-Oakland Bay Bridge: The East Span bike and pedestrian path between Oakland & Treasure Island/Yerba Buena is open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Funding is being sought for a West Span to connect to SF. In the meantime, you can get a a quick 10 minute ride between Treasure Island & SF on either the SF Muni 25 bus or the Treasure Island Ferry. There are lots of ways to get you and your bike or ebike between Oakland & SF: including BART, AC Transit, the SF Bay Ferry from Jack London Square, Alameda & Richmond, and the Bay Bridge Bike Shuttle (a van with multiple bike trailer) during weekday rush hours between MacArthur BART & downtown SF.

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Parks: While pedal and ebikes may travel on any park road open to cars, not all trails are open to bikes and not all trails open to regular pedal bikes are open to e-bikes. These rules are evolving. Check with the park before you ride.  Always, always, always be a good ambassador for bikes and e-bikes when you ride on trails. Keep it slow - drop to less than 10 mph when approaching pedestrians or horses and use your bell or call out as you approach.  

  • East Bay Regional Parks - In September 2023, the Park District Board of Directors voted to allow Class I e-Bikes on all trails where regular bikes are allowed, and Class II e-Bikes on all paved Regional Trails. Each park brochure has a trail map that shows where biking is permitted. All e-Bikes must follow the 15 mile-per-hour bike speed limit. Bikers should also remember to slow down around others, call out or ring their bell when passing, and stay on designated trails only. Check the EBPRD Biking webpage for more detailed info on where you can and can not ride.

  • Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Ocean Beach, Presidio, Ft Mason, Lands End, Marin Headlands, Muir Beach, Sweeney Ridge, etc, There is no webpage listing the policies, but the 2023 Superintendent's Compendium has an extensive section Bicycles & Electric Bicycles starting on page 31, setting a speed limit of 15 mph in developed areas (5 mph on blind curves & in certain crowded pedestrian areas) and listing which trails are open to bikes & e-bikes. Check the list in the compendium before your plan a trip in the parks on trails or paths.

  • Muir Woods National Monument - no bikes

  • Pt Reyes National Seashore - bikes and class 1 ebikes allowed on some trails. Check fo the list

  • MCBC E-bike policies in Marin County - listing of parks and their ​restricpenisula parks bikes

  • tion

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Bikes on transit

Most (but not all) buses & trains & ferries allow both pedal and ebikes. If the agency allows bikes and does not explicitly disallow ebikes, we assume they allow ebikes.

Racks and station elevators are often not big enough for longer cargo bikes, tricycles, recumbents, trailers, or tandems. Note that BART has an Elevator Dimensions guide to help you determine if your longer bike will fit.  

Bikes with large fat tires or very small wheels or long cargo or tandem wheelbases or that are very heavy will not work in many bus racks. For example: AC Transit Bike racks are "designed to accommodate two-wheeled bicycles (no tandems) with a wheelbase of up to 44 inches and a wheel size of at least 16 inches, weighing up to approximately 75 pounds, with a maximum tire width of 3.2 inches". Check with the agency for size limitations. 

Clipper Card: Many, but not all, systems accept the Clipper Card for fares. Some have a discounted Clipper fare.

Confirm before your ride: Always follow the blue hotlink which will lead you to the transit system's bike page if I could find one. There you can learn the specific rules for each agency before you ride, including weight and size limits on some systems.  See also the Bike East Bay Bikes on Transit guide and 511 Bicycles on Transit  

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Trains & BART: Learn which stop precedes your stop. Watch for it and start unhooking your bike soon after the train leaves the preceding station. It will take some extra time to unhook your bike from tie downs and you need to be ready to roll off when the train stops or risk missing your chance and going on to the next stop.

  • ACE: Yes. Does not accept Clipper.

  • Amtrak: Yes on trains, although there is technically a 50 pound limit and 2" maximum tire width. There is frequently a significant gap between the platform and the train to lift your bike up & over. Some trains have vertical racks that require swinging your front wheel up and lifting your bike up a few inches (e.g. all Capital Corridor). This takes some muscle. Longer cargo bikes and fat tires will not fit. My tires that measure 2.5" from inside of rim to bottom of tread were a snug fit. If you have trouble getting them in and out try approaching it from an angle.

    • Capital Corridor - This route from San Jose to Richmond to Sacramento is more bike friendly than most of Amtrak. It has bike racks in many cars, does not require a bike reservation to bring a bike, allows ebikes, and attempts to accommodate all riders even if the racks fill up. Look for the cars with a bicycle symbol. See the Capital Corridor Bike page for more info

    • San Joaquin - This route from San Jose to Bakersfield also accepts bikes with no fee. Unlike the Cap Corridor, they want bikes in a locked luggage car, which is usually either at the back ... or the front ... of the train. Ask an Amtrak agent at track side where the luggage car will be and go there to get a conductor's assistance to put your bike in the locked luggage area and help you get it back out at your destination. If you cannot find a conductor to help, look for a bicycle symbol on the first or last car if you can, get on board with your bike and sort out where it should go with the conductor when they come through for tickets. The use of a luggage car instead of racks, may mean some more flexibility on tire size, weight & length than Cap Corridor but beware. See the San Joaquin Bicycle Policies page for more info. 

    • Other rail routes: Policies vary widely with other routes. Many other Amtrak trains are either reservation-only or FCFS. For other routes, check out Bring your bike onboard and the Bike FAQs. 

    • Amtrak connection buses - some accept bikes, others don't. An increasing number have bike racks on the rear. If they do, you will need to store it in the baggage storage compartment underneath the bus. Some will take bikes without boxes. I've always been able to store my bike underneath without a box on buses out of Bakersfield. Bring a bungee to lash your bike to a wall so it doesn't slide around. On others you may need a box.  Call Amtrak or check with the station to confirm.

    • Platform access - Platforms vary widely from station to station. Some are easy roll on-roll off. More have a significant gap between the train and the platform and varying amounts of height difference Some require carrying your bike up and down steep stairs to get to or on and off the train. Some smaller stations do not have a platform that stretches the entire length of the train Once in Berkeley, my train door opened off platform to a significant drop to the gravel and clamber over tracks. Check with a conductor for which cars to be in, if your destination station doesn't have a full platform.

    • Clipper - No. Amtrak does not accept Clipper.

    • Feedback: Have you already had experience taking your bike on Amtrak and have a gripe or suggestion? Take the Bikes on Amtrak survey.

  • BART: Yes. Check rules for which cars you can ride in and other guidance. Watch for a bike logo near doors to find tiedown bars you can lean your bike against. The supplied tiedowns are only large enough to strap one bike. Bring a bungee to strap your bike to the tiedown bar in case you need to lean against another bike so you don't have to hold your bike for the entire ride.  Gas powered bikes not allowed, No restriction on e-bikes.​ Clipper discount.

    • Elevators: *** Many BART stations are elevated or below ground and require using an elevator or carrying your bike on stairs. As of January 2024, bikes are allowed on escalators, except for a few narrow ones.  Check the BART Elevator Status website as they frequently break down. Cargo bike or tandem? Check the Elevator Dimensions guide to see which elevators your bike will fit in.

  • Caltrain: Yes. You must carry your bike up and down a short flight of very steep stairs to get on and off Caltrain cars.  Look for cars with “Bike Car” label near the door. There is ample for room for multiple bikes. Check Caltrain website for instructions for adding a suggested yellow hangtag with your station name so your bike doesn’t get buried behind other bikes going to farther stations. Clipper discount.

  • SMART: Yes. Easy platform level roll on/roll off the train. Ample room for multiple bikes. Clipper daily pass discount.

Return to list of contents - Direct URL for this section: www.climateaction.center/ebike-sfbay/#where-can-i-ride

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Ferries: Use the indoor storage on the boat if available to keep corrosive salt spray off your bike. Most are easy same level roll on- roll off, but watch for multi level where you need to carry bikes on a stairway (e.g. Larkspur)

  • Angel Island Tiburon Ferry: Yes. $1 additional fee for bikes. No Clipper

  • Golden Gate Ferry: (SF, Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island) Yes. Roll on access at some docks, but you may have to carry the bike up or down a stairway between some terminals. Larkspur is the only one that I know has an elevated boarding platform that goes to the second level of the boat, requiring carrying bike on stairs to access lower level for SF docks. LMK if you experience this on other docks. Clipper discount.

  • Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle: Wednesday-Sunday, Jack London Square to Alameda Landing. Free! ADA-accessible &can accommodate recumbent trikes and probably bike trailers. 2 year pilot started July 2024

  • SF Bay Ferry: (SF, Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, Vallejo) Yes. Gas powered bikes not allowed, No restriction on e-bikes.​ Roll on-roll off on all runs I have tried (Jack London-SF and Richmond-SF). Clipper discount.

  • Treasure Island SF Ferry: Yes. Roll on access.  Small boat. Operator said they had taken 8 bikes on already and "can probably fit more. We don't want to leave anyone behind." Another said they can jam 16. No Clipper ticket service yet. 

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Bus & Light Rail: Bus racks usually only hold either 2 or 3 bikes, usually on the front. Rack space is first come first served so have a back up plan. Some bus systems will allow an additional bike or two in the bus in the wheelchair area if it is not needed by a disabled person, depending on passenger loads.  Some light rail (e.g. VTA) have bike racks in the cars, others (e.g. SF Muni) do not. Check the individual system for bike rules.

Bikes with front mounted horizontal racks will not work in most bus front racks. Rear racks, baskets, and child seats are generally fine, though you should remove panniers and bring them in the bus with you for security and to allow other bikes to fit..

Some large buses on regional commuter routes have rear hanging racks of make room for bikes in the luggage area underneath. Many will not allow ebikes below. Reverse commute direction is easiest of course. Trains, BART and the ferries, generally accommodate many more bikes than buses & light rail

On a bus, you will have to be able to fold down the rack, lift your bike on and off the rack and fold the rack back up without help from the driver. Communicate with the driver, particularly to notify her before you get off the bus that you will be pulling a bike off the rack. Always fold the rack back up after removing your bike if it is empty. 

You generally cannot lock your bike

All of the bus systems listed below accept Clipper Cards (or are free)

  • AC Transit: Yes. Clipper discount.

  • CityCoach (Vacaville): Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • Commute.org San Mateo Shuttles: Assume yes. No bike policy found. Shuttles have bike racks. Free.

  • County Connection (CCCTA): Yes. Clipper discount.

  • Dumbarton Express: Assume yes. No bike policy found. Shuttles have bike racks. Accepts Clipper.

  • FAST: (Fairfield): Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • Golden Gate Transit Bus: Yes, but... ebikes (e-bikes) are only allowed on GGT buses that are equipped with front-mounted bike racks :-( GGT does allow pedal bikes on the underbelly bike racks found on some buses. Note the underbelly racks cannot be used by any bike at certain SF stops. The Pantograph app (iPhone IOS only) can help you determine which type of bus is currently on the route you seek to use. Alternately, you can call Customer Service weekdays 7-6 at 511 or 415-455-2000 to learn which buses will have the front racks on your route today.

  • Clipper discount.

  • Marin Transit: YesÖ«. Max weight 55 pounds. Batteries must stay on the bike on the rack. No bikes in the bus. Clipper discount.

  • Petaluma Transit: Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • SamTrans: Yes. When the racks are filled, up to two pedal (no electric) bicycles will be allowed inside buses subject to the driver's discretion when passenger loadsÖ«Clipper discount.

  • Santa Rosa CityBus: Yes. Two wheeled pedal and sealed dry cell ebikes are allowed. Recumbent, tandems, motorized, three-wheeled, muddy, dirty, or greasy bikes are not allowed. Accepts Clipper.

  • SF Muni: Yes w/limits on some vehicle types and small wheel sizes. All bikes are allowed on buses. Only folding bikes are allowed on Muni Metro & Light Rail and historic vehicles. No bikes are allowed on cable cars. Clipper discount.

  • SolTran Solano Express: Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • Sonoma County Transit: Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • TriDelta Transit: Yes. Accepts Clipper.

  • TriValley Wheels (Livermore Amador Valley): Yes. Accepts Clipper.
  • Union City Transit: Yes. Folding bikes (e or otherwise) may be brought into a bus but must fit under the seat. (Per email communication. See Rules of the Road printed brochure. Accepts Clipper.
  • Valley Transportation Authority (VTA - Santa Clara County): Yes. When the racks are filled, up to two bicycles will be allowed inside buses subject to the driver's discretion when passenger loads are light. Light rail have bike racks in the center of the train (where it bends) Accepts Clipper.
  • Vine (NapaCounty): Yes. If racks are full, at least one pedal bike (but not ebike) can be brought in the wheelchair area if it isn't needed by a disabled person. Check website for weight and size limits on racks. Accepts Clipper.
  • WestCAT: Yes. Accepts Clipper

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Report road hazards

Do potholes make your bicycling miserable? You can get them fixed! Report hazards to the government and get them fixed - sometimes within days.  Tire grabbing holes and cracks, missing manhole covers,  glass in the bike lane, traffic signals that aren’t detecting bikes, flooding, broken or missing signs - basically any hazard -  are all fair game. Don't assume that the City already knows about it. Your eyes on the street are valuable to them. Report these problems so the City can get them fixed, and prevent accidents for everyone who bikes in that area.

For immediate life threatening emergencies, such as a downed power line, of course you should call 911, but for everything else, use the resources here.

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Use SeeClickFix on the web or by the mobile app (Android, Apple) for reporting issues if the city uses it. These reports are mapped, visible to the public, and you can include a photo. The highlighted city links below lead to the city's SeeClickFix web reporting page. Or you can use the SeeClickFix app to report to any of these cities on your phone.

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Make your report effective! Read Bike East Bay's report guidelines for tips on how to submit your report and what information to include to make sure the City understands it and acts on it.​ Bike East Bay also regularly holds a one hour online webinar on hazard reporting. Check their schedule

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Use www.climateaction.center/ebike-sfbay#report-road-hazards to link directly to this Hazard Reporting section

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