One great thing about cycling is that it can be enjoyed in both a recreational and utilitarian way. Today’s post is about my recent recreational adventures.

Many people told me that I would get to enjoy all the great cycling that the Bay Area has to offer. The promise of perfect weather and beautiful landscapes had me incredibly excited. In Montreal, I lived a two minute bike ride from the Lachine Canal, 10 car-free miles of cycling and walking stretching from the western tip of the island, through parks and waterways all the way to the old port and finally to my work place.

I lived right in the middle which meant I could enjoy both commutes and recreation from my home base: Going west towards the park for recreation and going east towards the city for work. During the summers it would provide energy and during the winters it would provide a safe place to walk and get some fresh air.

While I knew I'd miss Montreal, the Bay Area held its own allure: forests, creeks, coasts, and vistas.I was excited to explore!

While I have found a few beautiful rides, I quickly came to the realization that much of the cycling the Bay Area promised was not of the recreational nature I had in mind: I was looking for slow, safe riding with beautiful nature and views. Instead I was greeted by too many sharrows and bike lanes along state highways.

When a mostly car-free path exists, for example the Half Moon Bay California Coastal Trail and Cross Marin Trail access is restricted to those willing to bike on highways, deal with stressful intersections or take multiple bus rides (See my recent bus trip below).

The reality is that I don’t want to ride beside a highway designed for cars. It is loud, stressful and frankly unpleasant. It’s also dangerous to both sports cyclists and motorists ride slow.  What I seem to be looking for is the “Anti-Spandex Social Club”.

The Bay Trail dilemma 

In my new life, The San Francisco Bay Trail almost serves as a drop in replacement for the Lachine Canal. The Bay Trail is part of my ride to/from work and it offers many miles of car-free riding. Unfortunately, accessing it is about a 15 minute ride along some residential streets, unprotected intersections and tight pedestrian overpasses over Highway 101.

The trail has some picturesque areas but is disconnected and relies on riding near highways and in industrial areas to connect to the more beautiful areas. For example, riding from Palo Alto to Redwood City will take you along the Bayfront Expressway, an industrial park and the 101. It would have been a joy to ride to RWC, grab a coffee or a meal and then Caltrain back. So much missed potential!

Ongoing efforts aim to close gaps in the Bay Trail, including a recent project addressing the gap around SFO, where public input is welcome.

The Promise of the Alpine Trail

A few weekends ago, I explored the Alpine Trail which runs south along Alpine Road from Page Mill/Santa Cruz Road. While Alpine Road is a 35-50 mph highway with unprotected bike lanes with tight corners and climbs there was a silver lining: A multi-use trail along Alpine Road.  It was (mostly) car-free, would take me into the mountains and allow me to grab a bite at a popular restaurant, Rosotti’s Alpine Inn, on the way. It was also an (albeit roundabout)  way to access Palo Alto’s Pearson-Arastradero Preserve. I was excited!!

“All cyclists are the same”... right?

My experience was thoroughly mixed. Most of the trail is along the road, filled with high speed traffic. Sometimes the trail ends, leading you to bike against the flow of traffic.

The paths narrowness in some spots also led to interesting encounters with pedestrians. Despite always dismounting when approaching others, I had two separate instances where people insisted I should be riding on the bike lane on the high-speed road, seemingly unaware they were on a multi-use path. When I explained I was simply seeking a leisurely ride, one person couldn't grasp the stress of highway cycling. It seems those idyllic car commercials have convinced some that anyone cruising on a highway must be having a blast!

The multi-use path eventually ended, forcing me onto a narrower, isolated road with a 35mph speed limit, “share the roads” signs, and fast-moving traffic. This filled me with dread.

I was a bit stunned at this situation: clearly this multi-use path was meant to provide pedestrian access to a neighbourhood designed and built around the convenience offered by high speed cars. The road's designation as a bike route felt misleading, catering exclusively to lycra-clad cyclists, not casual riders seeking a peaceful escape. It's like gatekeeping beautiful scenery, accessible only by car or athletic cyclists. Once again such a missed opportunity!

Looking back, I actually realized that I didn’t take a single photo from my Alpine trail ride. That’s probably all you need to know about how much I enjoyed this. I may try riding the trail again, there seem to be some other destinations I can go, or different routes I can take, but I am not sure my experience is going to get better. If you have any recommended safe and slow routes starting from near Stanford I would love to hear them!

In conclusion, I'm strategizing my next adventures. I might utilize Caltrain and VTA light-rail to reach more scenic trails. Probably Riding's use of South Korea's inter-city buses to access the coast also inspired me. I'll explore similar options with Amtrak and my Brompton.