Bike Commuting San Francisco

August Gala Ride Saturday 8/29 - TENNESSEE VALLEY!

**NEW** -- **[SIGN THE E-WAIVER IN ADVANCE](https://esign.ottersign.com/p/bicycle-trails-council-of-the-east-bay/38iSgRF903)** makes life easier for everybody! The Bicycle Trails Council of East Bay invites you to **JOIN US SATURDAY AUGUST 29th** for a coastal ride to escape the last summer heat! Join us for beautiful coastal scenery (and elevation) **AT** **TENNESSEE VALLEY!** Known for its extended climbs and epic ocean views the scenery is to die for with some groups checking out the beach, the blue whale skeleton or even a bunker or two. Regardless TV makes for a great summer time getaway destination. Meet at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead at 9am. This a popular spot and tight on parking in the lot proper, but there are usually plenty of spots on the side of the road to park as you get closer to the trailhead. Meet at: **[TENNESSEE VALLEY TRAILHEAD](https://maps.app.goo.gl/p2pMT8Gp6f4VYCX38)** 591 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941 We will gather at 9am in the parking lot near the picnic tables across the road from bathrooms and hit the trails promptly at 9:30am. In case you don't know, here's how a Gala ride works: * **[SIGN THE E-WAIVER IN ADVANCE](https://esign.ottersign.com/p/bicycle-trails-council-of-the-east-bay/C1uaaYZHmQ)** makes life easier for everybody! * **MEET UP AT 9AM** in the trailhead parking lot and check-in * **PRE-RIDE** brief org announcements, discussion on the ride, separate into riding groups * **HIT THE TRAILS at 9:30AM** * **POST-RIDE** join us for refreshments, beers, and snacks. * **A well-tuned mountain bike is always a must!** * We offer rides for **ALL SKILL LEVELS**, from novice to advanced. As such we generally self-select into 3 skill levels of riders: the beginner group, group C, will ride around 10 miles and 1900 ft of elevation gain; The intermediate group, group B, will ride around 14 miles and 2300 of elevation gain; the advanced group, group A, will ride around 20 miles and 3500 ft of elevation gain. All rides are ‘no-drop’ rides (we won’t leave you behind or let you get lost) and are fully supported BUT . . . * Please note for this a ride **A NOVICE RIDER SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF 10-12 MILES INCLUDING \~2000ft OF CLIMBING FOR 2.5 HRS**. * **E-bikes are LEGAL** but make sure you bring them fully charged! * **BTCEB (Bicycle Trails Council of East Bay)** mission is to educate cyclists in responsible mountain biking, to advocate for appropriate access and to promote community among trail users so all may fully enjoy and preserve the natural spaces of the East Bay. Membership provides funding for our programs and gives us more influence with land managers in getting more access to more places. We work to get more trails made in the East Bay. We help maintain trails within East Bay parks (like Joaquin Miller and Crockett Hills and even Fernandez Ranch!) and we organize fun rides and events for the mountain bike community. Join us and help the cause! * For more info on the Bicycle Trails Council of East Bay and to join, please visit **[https://www.BTCEB.org/join](http://www.btceb.org/join)** Gala Rides are free and open to the public and led by experienced local mountain bikers familiar with the trails. **Supplementary ride medical coverage is provided to all paid BTCEB members**--one more reason to join! If you are not already a member, visit our web site, **[https://www.BTCEB.org/join](https://www.BTCEB.org/join)** and do the needful! Dont forget to **[sign the e-waiver](https://esign.ottersign.com/p/bicycle-trails-council-of-the-east-bay/C1uaaYZHmQ)**!

Roundabout #4 of 4: 11-mile Golden Gate Route (San Francisco)

Angel Island Adventure: Hiking & Biking Escape 🏝️🚲

The Bay Ride

## **How It All Started** In 2014, three friends had a crazy idea: bike around the entire Bay Area. What started with 3 riders has grown to 1,000 participants annually. ## **The Adventure** Not for the faint of heart! Ride 135 miles around the beautiful San Francisco Bay, while raising money to improve local cycling infrastructure. 65% of “first timers” set a Distance PR (shorter 35-mile route also available). "*You are capable of more than you believe."* We've sold out every year for 11 years in a row—spots are limited! For more info and to register, visit - [The Bay Ride](https://www.thebayride.com/).

Fort Funston / Lake Merced Hike (Dogs Very Welcome)

In the south west corner of San Francisco lies Fort Funston part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It features 200-foot high sandy bluffs over-looking the coast where the winds blow reliably wildly. One of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country. Dog Heaven, you will see hundreds of dogs through the trails and on the beach and owners will can take leashes off here. It is also home to the Fort Funston Native Plant Nursery. Sand Dunes: Plants with deep roots and a tolerance for harsh conditions are uniquely adapted to growing on a constantly shifting sand-dune landscape. The San Francisco peninsula was once covered with sand dunes, and today the peninsula's largest remaining dune field can be found at Fort Funston. Bank swallows (Riparian riparian) once migrated through California in great numbers, but today they are listed as a state threatened species; their only known coastal nesting sites are at Fort Funston and Año Nuevo. **Level:** Intermediate plus (steep areas and chain climb down-must be approved) **Total Distance:** 9+miles loop **Hiking Time:** 3-3.5 hours **Elevation:** 221 hill & 200 feet sand ladder, Total elevation 700 feet **Information:** Free Parking, Dogs off leash, Restrooms & Water at trailhead and at Observation Deck. **GPS Coordinates for Trailhead:** **Latitude:** N 37. 726534° **Longitude:** W -122.502378° **Map:** https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/fort-funston **NPS Map:** https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/GOGA_X3-web_sm3-2.pdf **Directions:** From 80 South or North, take John Daly Blvd, go west until you reach Skyline Drive, Right on Skyline Drive, then Right into Lake Merced; Harding Road, Boat House Parking is shortly through the entrance. **Meeting Point / Trailhead: Lake Merced:** Harding Road, Boat house Parking Lot, 1 Harding Road San Francisco, CA 94132, we will meet by the logs in front of the Boat House. **Hike Route: Starting point,** Harding Road, Boat house Parking Lot, take Harding road Right, continue on path over bridge left after statue around Lake Merced path, cross street left around zoo, cross hwy 1, Left on bluff above beach, then uphill into Fort Funston, Right on the path - Coastal Trail, continue left, then at fork at Bench, Right uphill on Bunker Trail, stop observation deck (Group Photo), then continue Right on the Coastal trail up and down through the sand dunes along, at thorton beach up the hill to lookout break, then continue trail, down steep hill by chain, Right on Thorton bluffs then merge Right on horse trail down to Ocean Beach, Right on Ocean Beach, Lunch break at Logs on the beach, then continue Right on Ocean Beach, up the sand Ladder, then Left Horse trail, at Fork Short Right on path then off path on the left onto sand trail, downhill to Skyline, then cross skyline, Left Merced Path, Right Harding Road, and return to Boat house Parking Lot starting point. **Carpooling Link: (Sign up here)** https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/fyioeq **Carpooling Procedures:** No carpool discussion in the comments, join the carpool link and contact the driver or rider directly. **Thank you .......** **Legal Disclaimer:** Under what we are about Section [https://www.meetup.com/Urban-and-Bay-Hikers/](https://www.meetup.com/Urban-and-Bay-Hikers/)

Alameda Water Shuttle and Wave Oculus

**Start Location: San Leandro Marina, North Parking Lot (close to the intersection of Fairway Drive and Monarch Bay Drive, 3-way stop)** **MEET 8:30am** **ROLL 8:45am** Ridewithgps - stay tuned ... Let's explore the Alameda Islands again, stay near the shorelines, and take the Alameda Water Shuttle to Jack London Square! We'll take a short rest at Bicycle Coffee, and then head back south, stopping for a quick look at the Wave Oculus. Other POI along the way: Coast Guard Island and several marinas. **\*\*Bring your helmet, tube, and water. We anticipate 'clothing adjustment stops' along the way. Restrooms are available at the start.** **\*\*The Ride Sweep will ensure that the group remains together. This is a "NO DROP" ride and is e-bike friendly. Cycling etiquette is essential. No SAG cars provided.**

Let's see what is blooming in GG park photography hike loop

We meet at 10:30 at the Conservatory, leaving at 10:45. We will walk through the park, checking out what is in bloom, such as the Dahlias. Mallard lake, North lake, Blue Heron lake, (formerly called Stow Lake) for lunch. We will go to the Rose 🌹 garden and the return back to the Conservatory to end our hike. Bring water, lunch, clipper card. Fulton bus #5 will take you to 6th Ave and the park. It will take you back to downtown.

A Walk Through Oakland's Best Flower Gardens & Great Views Too!

THIS WALK USED TO BE A HARD ONE, BUT I TOOK IT AND FOR 3 WALKS IN A ROW I IMPROVED IT BY TURNING IT INTO A WALK OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND LOVELY SIGHTS. OUR LAST VERSION WAS PERFECTED ENOUGH TO GIVE US 2 HOURS TO EXPLORE LAKE MERRITT'S 13 FLOWER GARDENS. HOWEVER, AT THE 13 GARDENS WE WERE HIT WITH A HEAT WAVE. THEN OUR GROUP WANTED TO LEAVE AFTER ONLY ONE HOUR. ONE REASON I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN IS BECAUSE THE HOT WEATHER WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR OAKLAND WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS MILD. THE CHANCES OF ANOTHER HEAT WAVE IS VERY UNLIKELY. BELOW IS A LINK ABOUT THE 13 GARDENS; [https://gardensatlakemerritt.org/](https://gardensatlakemerritt.org/) TO SHOW HOW GREAT THIS WALK IS NOW HERE ARE LINKS TO THE PHOTOS TAKEN THE LAST 3 TIMES WE DID THIS WALK: OUR JUNE 20TH WALK HAS 60 PHOTOS: https://www.meetup.com/walking-in-sf/photos/36041892/534856033/ OUR JULY 11TH WALK HAS 43 PHOTOS: https://www.meetup.com/walking-in-sf/photos/36073605/535197837/ OUR AUGUST 1ST WALK HAS 25 PHOTOS: [A Walk Through Oakland's Best Flower Gardens & Great Views Too! (Aug 1, 2026) Photos](https://www.meetup.com/walking-in-sf/photos/36105588/) FREE WALK. Now open for RSVPs. All of the flower gardens are free too!. We will meet at 10:30 AM in front of a cafe called Tierra Mia Coffee, on the corner of Broadway & 20th Street, so people on BART should go to the 19th Street BART Station and then they should exit at the 20th Street exit and our starting point is right across the street. One may bring a sack lunch or buy one at Tierra Mia Coffee. We won't have time for the group to buy lunches after we have started walking. It would be good if our attendees buy drinks or something at our starting point (Tierra Mia Coffee) &/or give tips so they will like us. Attendance limit is 70. Below is a link about Tierra Mia Coffee: http://www.tierramiacoffee.com/ At 10:40 AM we begin a 20-minute walk to the local Whole Foods Market for a restroom break. We plan to eat lunch about Noon at Oakland's Morcom Rose Garden. I encourage all to take BART or other public transportation to be safer. I expect to come in a bus. Everyone should bring water, paper towels and a map. I love it when attendees bring cameras and upload their photos of the walk on our webpage. Dogs and other pets are not welcome. After Whole Foods Market we will walk to the Morcom Rose Garden to eat our sack lunches. This walk used to be a hard one and now it is easier and full of beautiful flowers in the Morcom Rose Garden and the Lake Merritt Gardens. We expect to end at our starting point, the 19th Street BART Station at 4:00 PM. Some legal disclaimers: By joining us for any event you hereby RELEASE and DISCHARGE it's organizers, hosts and participants from any and all liability, claims, demands or causes of action that you now have, or may have in the future, for injuries, damages, death and/or economic loss of any kind or nature, arising in whole or in part out of the activities, advice or information contained herein. You further agree that if you or someone under your supervision uses the information on this website you assume all risks of injury, damage, and economic loss, without limitation, and release providers from all liability therefore. It is advisable to consult a doctor before you begin any strenuous physical activity. The organizer is not trained for emergency medical procedures and no doctors, nurses or ambulances are provided on the walks.

Roaming South of the Slot

Last up for the month, on the 29th, is another roam that I have been thinking about for a while, but have been postponing, around SOMA - South of the Slot as it used to be known. This month the [Gene Friend Rec Center](https://sfrecpark.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/2990) has re-opened, so we will certainly stop by there. The germ for this one was actually a real estate listing that mentioned a street I had never heard of. We may or may not make it to that particular block, but there are any numbers of alleys and half-block streets in this area, which wears several layers of history on its sleeve. These days it is fairly well-known for those who live precariously, inside or out, and we may encounter folks like this on the way round; best not to come if this makes you nervous or uncomfortable, and of course I will do my best to navigate around potential hazards. This urban roam is as flat as they come in the city. *Bringing water, snacks, and layers for all the microclimates is the way to go.* *These roams are offered by donation. They are one way I am able to pay my rent in San Francisco.* *Punctuality is always appreciated, for the sake of everybody's time. Please send a message on the app before the start if you are running late, and we will either wait (up to ten minutes) of I will direct you on how to catch up. Once we get underway I have to focus on those who are there, and most likely won't respond.* *Generally half the people who sign up don't actually show up on the day. I do track flakiness and remove people who have a poor attendance record. It is discourteous to those on the waitlist who would like to attend.* *Sending me a message explaining that you can't make it is always appreciated.*

SFVS Bike the Bay trail

**We will meet along the Bay trail in Berkeley at Seabreeze Market & Deli, which is right off of 580 on the Bay side.** **The trail is a flat, easy, 9-mile out and back route (total of 18 miles). We will ride to the cute town of Point Richmond, eat our lunch, and ride back.** **Bring:** * **Your own bag lunch, which should be** **vegan** (as we are a vegan group) * **Water bottle** * **Layers (it can get windy and/or be hot)** **Please arrive on time (11am) and we will take off shortly after. If you’re running late, please comment on the Meetup link and we’ll accommodate within reason.** **Looking forward to riding with you!**

Brisk Walk & Shop--SW corner Ordway & Marin, Albany, 11a

We are a warm and friendly group of walkers who like to get a really good cardio workout. We meet at the South West corner of Ordway and Marin. We walk briskly up to Marin circle, and then continue at a moderately fast pace, as far as the top of Marin. If there's a garage sale along the route, we may stop for a few minutes to take a breather and check it out. We welcome newcomers, and often have walkers who walk just part of the route. Over a number of weeks, you can build up the stamina to get to the top of Marin!

Monday 9am Pt. Isabel Walk - Richmond

COVID NOTE - Please be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Masking is optional. We meet at the west side of the circular parking lot and take an 80 minute energizing walk. Some turn back halfway, for a 40 minute walk. Please show up a bit early as we leave promptly at 9:00 am. The walk has both paved and gravel trails. We walk about 20 minutes and pause at a bridge -- and some turn back. Weather permitting, some stay for coffee, etc., at a picnic table near the Sit & Stay Cafe (on the east side of the circular parking lot). Optional: arrive early for unsupervised stretching. Reminder: no dogs. Questions? Please call or e-mail. Mark 510-684-4092 mhe943-meetup@yahoo.com