Free, family-friendly, outdoor activities are an essential part of a healthy community. Click here to join us on a ride!

Hey, I’m Eleni – bike geek, reader of nonfiction, and a big-hearted SVBC Program Manager. Halfway through my third year coordinating SVBC’s group rides, I believe more strongly than ever that free activities for people to connect with others and their environments are essential to thriving communities.

We deserve abundant chances to meet and bond with others, and nothing offers you as much in one short afternoon as a group bike ride.

Our hope is to nurture the love of riding for everyday purposes.

The north star description guiding these rides is simple: "We're here for a fun time, not a fast time." Our rides program has evolved to prioritize inclusivity, focusing on short and slow rides designed to strengthen skills and confidence for beginner riders. The vision for these group rides is to hold space for:

Meeting friends new and old to strengthen social bonds
Exploring our region in a fun and casual way and build connection to our cities
Practicing transportation riding skills in supportive group environments
Learning some basic bicycle and helmet technical skills
Gaining awareness of current events and urban design

Coasting into 2024, I encourage everyone to join some exciting rides on the horizon.

The third annual King Tide Ride in February will showcase the beauty of our shoreline, the history of the town of Alviso, and the importance of our natural marshland ecosystems in fighting sea level rise and climate change.
In April, for those interested in rolling up their sleeves and beautifying our local waterways, the third Creek Cleanup Ride in partnership with the San Jose Conservation Corps will be a day dedicated to stewarding San Jose’s river trails and bike paths.
In May, we invite you to Pledge to Ride on any of the group rides, or on one you can host yourself, including the fourth annual El Camino Real Ride, an activist event to draw attention to the need for El Camino Real as a thoroughfare that serves all users.
In June, the family-friendliest ride to look forward to is our second annual Dads and Dogs Ride, a Father's Day event in collaboration with Independent Therapy Dogs. This ride from downtown Mountain View to nearby Cuesta Park offers a brief, safe route along city streets and a chance to enjoy a day of fun in the park, including visiting with trained, licensed therapy dogs.

What makes these upcoming rides so special is how many are repeats of successful past events, illustrating the development of the program as we’ve followed the community’s energy. This year, we are proud to bring you the best of the best ideas that have flourished from experiments resulting from our vision in 2021.

We hope our program offers something for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned rider or new to the world of cycling, come along for the ride and see how exploring by bike strengthens our bodies, hearts, and minds in unexpected and unforgettable ways.

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) is the ONLY non-profit working for safer bicycling and a stronger bike culture in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

SVBC does this by:

Engaging in local-level efforts to advocate for safer streets, bike trails, and lanes.
Hosting year-round, complimentary, captivating, and informative events aimed at both educating and drawing in new bicyclists.

Your contributions make it possible to host social rides, advocate for safe streets and access, and provide riding skill and bike maintenance programs for children and adults of all levels.

We believe that one simple tool – the humble bicycle – can combat such regional challenges as high transportation and housing costs, growing inequities based on race and income, climate disruption, a lack of physical activity, and growing health problems while making our communities greener and healthier.

Support SVBC