Dr. Sprocket assembled this FAQ to answer your questions about cycling.
To ask your own question, contact us!
Q. How do I get off the island if I live on the West End?
A. Darn, I was hoping nobody would ask this. This is one of the biggest gripes of Alamedans, trying to deal with the getting from West Alameda to Oakland. The only way to ride across is through the Posey Tube (this is the one going to Oakland). The Webster Tube does not have a path and it is illegal to ride on the roadway of either tubes. Although one can technically bike on the sidewalk of the Posey Tube, it is not fun, and it’s not very safe. I would say that only the experienced rider should attempt the tube. This leaves us with a few other options. You can catch an AC Transit bus at Webster Street, and place your bike on the rack on the front of the bus. You can ride east and take one of the bridges off of the island. There’s very limited short hop service from Main Street Ferry Terminal. Bike Walk Alameda is pushing for more alternatives to this situation, specifically a bike and pedestrian bridge and a water shuttle.
Q. What is the best way to get to Jack London Square from east of Park Street?
A. Go over the Park Street Bridge or the Miller-Sweeney Bridge, and head up the Embarcadero in Oakland.
Q. What is the best way to get to downtown San Francisco by bike?
A. There are a number of options, and the best way depends on your schedule and where you live. You can take your bike on the ferry from the the Main Street or Seaplane Lagoon terminals in the West End, or from Harbor Bay. You can take your bike on BART – Fruitvale station is the nearest. You can put your bike on the front rack of an AC Transit bus, though there is only room for two bikes. The best website for researching transit options is 511.org.
Q. I want to start riding, but I need to buy a new bike. What’s the best one for me?
A. There is no pat answer for this question. It depends on the type of riding you will be doing. Decide what best suits your needs and then SHOP AROUND. Alameda has several great shops (note that BWA members get discounts!). Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you are looking for a new or used e-bike, know that Alameda Municipal Power offers rebates for AMP customers.
Q. How do I stay safe on the road?
A. Bike East Bay offers a variety of classes. Check them out!
Q. What do I do about flats?
A. Flats should happen rarely if your tires are in good shape, you stay on well-maintained roads, and as long as your tires aren’t ultra-thin like a racing bike. If the planets have aligned poorly and you do get that rare flat, you have a few options. You can bring a repair kit with you everywhere (be sure to practice beforehand so you won’t panic), or you can walk your bike and hop a bus – most of AC Transit’s routes have bike racks on their buses now. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) are options, as are many automobile roadside assistance services if you are a member, like Better World Club and AAA.
Q. What’s the best thing to do when I get to an intersection and the light never seems to change to green?
A. The problem is that many signals don’t detect bikes. “Loop” detectors embedded in the pavement trigger signals to change, but unfortunately, many only respond to cars. Sometimes you’ll see loop detectors in the pavement specifically for bikes, and they may or may not work. It’s really frustrating. The city is switching over to cameras, and even dedicated bike signals (experience this by crossing Appezzato at 5th northbound from the Cross Alameda Trail). At many intersections though, your choices are to either wait for a car to come by and trigger the light, or stumble over to the pedestrian push-buttons.
You might also submit a See Click Fix ticket to let the city know that a signal needs to work better for people biking.