A Sunday Bike Ride in a Bike-Friendly Community
SVBC partnered with the City of San Mateo and Bikes Make Life Better to host the first-ever Bay Bikes Sunday Social ride on December 4. This was a great way to try out Bay Bikes at no cost, courtesy of a coupon provided by the City of San Mateo.It was a sunny morning with a hint of a crisp winter chill, making it perfect for a leisurely 2-hour ride. The group rode Bay Bikes that they checked out from the San Mateo Caltrain station and rode them along a scenic route that traveled through downtown San Mateo. Upon reaching Central Park, the ride continued along the path near the ice skating rink and the Japanese Tea Garden. It was fun to check out the bear, giraffe, and dog statues in the park, too!Being a social ride, a coffee break was in order. Everyone enjoyed a stop at the San Mateo Coffee Company on 25th Avenue, which just happens to be across the street from another Bay Bikes hub. They’re everywhere you want to be! Besides scenery and coffee, the route traveled past errand-oriented destinations such as grocery stores, transit centers, and the various shops and restaurants in the Bay Meadows community.All along the way, passersby gave many a thumbs-up to the bright-blue Bay Bikes. They’re nicely equipped with a large basket, have 3 gears, and adjustable seat posts that are marked with numbers so the rider can easily adjust the seat without measuring every time a bike is checked out. If there’s not a hub nearby to return the bike, you can simply lock it to any rack to end your ride.For more information about Bay Bikes, check out the website here. You’re also invited to learn about this bike share system, along with some helpful advice about using bikes for daily tasks, at our Urban Bicycling workshop on February 16 (6:30 – 7:30pm) at the San Mateo Public Library located at 55 West 3rd Avenue.Another Sunday Social ride will be scheduled for the spring, so be sure to like SVBC on Facebook so you’ll get advance notice!
