*Tim Oey leads a parade of lights at the Sunnyvale Holiday Lights Ride. Photo by Andrew Yee.*

Embracing the spirit of our biking community, SVBC's local teams are at the forefront of fostering “bike joy” throughout Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. These dedicated groups of biketivists gather regularly to pedal through the streets, discuss crucial bike-related issues, and actively participate in local advocacy.

We’re entering this new year celebrating the ongoing success of our ten dedicated SVBC local teams – our trusted, ambitious biketivists working to make their communities safer for people who walk and bike. What sets our local teams apart is their commitment to year-round engagement, including a variety of rides that cater to diverse tastes. Picture yourself on the Ice Cream Ride down El Camino Real, where 100+ cyclists glide down the corridor toward sweet treats from Pints of Joy in Sunnyvale. Or perhaps you'd prefer the “boba and grinds” ride in South San Francisco, or a scenic adventure along the Bay Shore Trail with the Mountain View team.

*A group of biketivists line up to refuel at Pints of Joy during the 2023 El Camino Real Ride, hosted by the Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale Local Teams.*

Our most recent achievement in community engagement was a series of Holiday Lights Rides that lit up the Peninsula cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. With the participation of over 150 community members, these rides featured festive outfits and bikes decorated with twinkling lights. Led by local bicycle champions including Mountain View Active Transportation Planner Brandon Whyte, these rides included kids and even dogs riding lit-up trailers down multi-mile routes through illuminated streets. It was more than just a ride - it was an opportunity to come together and celebrate the holiday season as bike-loving community.

These rides not only showcase the beauty of our local neighborhoods but also provide a platform for biketivists to discuss new bicycle/pedestrian road design, city/regional policies, and emerging transportation plans. They go beyond the joy of bicycling; a local ride is a vehicle for advocacy. As a local team member, you play a crucial role in showcasing to local government officials that there is a growing community passionate about safe cycling and supportive policies.

Our local teams provide a platform for you to contribute your local knowledge, helping SVBC staff make informed decisions and take positions that resonate with the community. By participating, you actively shape the policies that influence the cycling landscape in your city or region.

If you're eager to meet your neighbors by bike, explore your local streets, and be a driving force for positive change, we invite you to join us. Your community needs you, and together, we can pedal towards safe, accessible, and enjoyable streets for all!

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