AC Transit’s unions and officials were able to negotiate a deal last night at 10pm to avoid a strike (Full story via SF Gate). If this week’s two strike scares made you want to explore options other than transit, here are some tips to get your bike commute started!
•Tips for New Bike Commuters
•Secure Bike Parking
•East Bay Transit
•Transbay Travel
Get Started:
If you don’t regularly commute by bike, here are some resources to get you rolling quickly:
- Find your local bike shop. Bring your old bike in for a tune-up, or make a good investment!
- Reviewing the information on our New Cyclists page, and then signing up for our free Bike Buddy mentor program.
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Picking up an EBBC map at your local bike shop, or one of the many free bike maps produced by cities around the East Bay.
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Mapping out your bike commute online at bicycling.511.org.
- Attending a free EBBC bike skills and safety class to get tips from certified instructors and free safety gear.
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Joining the East Bay Bicycle Coalition to help create better biking conditions in the East Bay, and to get all the latest news on what’s happening in your city.
Secure Bike Parking Options:
Make sure your bike is still there for your commute home at the end of the day with these parking tips:
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Ask if you can bring your bike inside your workplace. Your employer may even provide a bike room for extra secure parking.
- If you do lock up outside make sure you do so securely. Use a quality U-lock and cable, and follow these instructions on our website.
- Sign up for a BikeLink card to get access to all the secure bike lockers and bike rooms all around the East Bay for just 3-5¢ per hour! The BikeLink secure bike rooms at the Ashby and Embarcadero stations, as well as the Bike Stations in Downtown Berkeley and Fruitvale BART will still be open throughout the strike.
East Bay Bike/Transit Options:
- AC Transit: All service would be disrupted if the strike takes place.
- Amtrak Capitol Corridor: Just roll your bike on board these trains with stops at Martinez all the way down to Fremont. Buy tickets in advance to avoid crowds at the station, board on the car with the bike symbol next to the door, and be prepared to stand during the trip if all of the bike parking hooks are taken. If you do stow your bike on a hook make sure to lock it up and take any valuables with you to your seat.
- BART: BART will be running as normal due to Governor Brown’s intervention.
- Contra Costa County Connection Buses: Serving Central Contra Costa County the CCC will be providing additional stops at BART stations throughout the strike. Each bus can accomodate two bicycles via front racks.
- Tri-Valley Wheels Buses: These Dublin/Pleasanton/Livermore buses can take two bikes each on the front racks, and inside the bus if space allows. Some Wheels service changes due to the potential strike are detailed here.
- WestCAT Buses: This West Contra Costa County transit service will be providing additional service to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station during the strike. Buses can accomodate two bikes each on the front racks.
- Alameda/Oakland Estuary Crossing Shuttle: This free shuttle takes passengers and bikes of all sizes from Lake Merritt BART to the College of Alameda and back during commute hours on weekdays.
- Additional transit operators include Union City Transit, the West Berkeley Shuttle, and various other shuttles which provide service from East Bay BART stations (many for free, and many of which provide bike access!).
Transbay Bike/Transit Options:
- Oakland/Alameda/SF Ferry. This ferry allows passengers with bikes on board for no additional fee beyond the normal ticket price. Carry a bungee cord to secure your bike to the rear railing as the racks are likely to be jam-packed. Ferry terminals are in Alameda at Harbor Bay and Main Street, in Oakland at Jack London Square, and in SF at Pier 41, the Ferry Building, AT&T Park, and South San Francisco. Valet bike parking will be provided 7am-7pm at Alameda’s Main Street Ferry Terminal, and the ferries will be making additional stops around Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island during commute hours. Additional transbay ferry service will be provided throughout the strike, beyond the normal schedule.
- BART: Bikes are alllowed at all times on BART. During rush hour, use common sense in entering BART cars. Bikes are not allowed in the first three cars during rush hour, and in the first car during non-peak hours.
- Caltrans Bay Bridge Bicycle Shuttle: This shuttle takes 16 riders and bikes at a time between MacArthur BART to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco for just $1 each way. The shuttle runs both directions during commute hours only, is first-come first-served, and is only available to passengers with bikes.
- Amtrak Capitol Corridor Transbay Buses: Amtrak provides service from the Emeryville Station into San Francisco by charter bus. Bikes can be locked up at station racks or stowed in the bus luggage compartment (no charge) if there is room available. Buy your ticket in advance to avoid crowds at the station. Please note: State law requires that trips booked on Amtrak include at least one segment where you travel by train (rather than just by bus), so you must also select at least one other segment of your trip where you travel by train, even if you do not use it. (Cheapest ticket is from Berkeley to SF).
- WestCAT Transbay Bus: This line runs from Hercules to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco. Buses can accomodate two bikes each on the front racks.
- Greyhound Bus: Greyhound has East Bay stops in Antioch, Hayward, Oakland, Pittsburg, and San Francisco. Purchase tickets online in advance as they are not available at many stops. Taking your bike with you is not recommended as bicycles can only be brought on as oversize luggage and must be packed in a substantial, securely fastened container, and an additional $30-40 fee might be applied.
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