Pedals, Potholes and Power
From January 12-19, 2026, Bike East Bay wasn’t just riding; we were on a mission. We took over the streets for the #PotholeChallenge, and what a week it was for community action!
This initiative leveraged National Pothole Day (January 15) to turn frustration into collective action by reporting road hazards across the region to ensure cities prioritize making necessary repairs to keep our roads safe. Through this collective advocacy, we create a sense of community engagement, ownership, and awareness.
#PotholeChallenge by the Numbers
- 200 Potholes Reported: a 10x increase for a typical month
- 145 Reports in Oakland: The “Town” takes the crown for most reports by city
- 80 Reports in One Day: Our busiest day was Monday, Jan 19th, as riders flooded the system with reports
- 22 Participants: Dedicated community members leading the charge
- <48 hrs: City of Concord completed the fastest fix!
- 5 organized pothole reporting gatherings: From bike buses to rides, reporting is more fun together
Of note:
Some participants who made a report for the first time during this week, are continuing to report issues in their community.
Making reports can have that effect, it’s like opening a bag of potato chips, once you start, you can’t stop!
Highlights of the Week
Leading up to and throughout the week of action, there were so many amazing actions and events that brought together our communities in the spirit of neighborhood improvement.
Shoutouts: Thanks to Oakland Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, Berkeley Councilmember Igor Tregub and Mayor Ishii for spreading the word via their newsletters and social media!
Beyond individual outreach, we also want to recognize the proactive steps taken by municipal departments to streamline the process. A special shout-out goes to the City of Richmond for adding a dedicated ‘Pothole’ category to their reporting system specifically in preparation for this challenge! This kind of structural responsiveness ensures that community feedback doesn’t just enter a queue, but gets routed directly to the teams who can fix it, proving that when advocates and city staff align, the path to better infrastructure becomes much clearer.
Kickoff webinar: The week began with a Pothole & Hazard reporting webinar, where 30 neighbors and leaders from across the East Bay joined to learn and share knowledge around the topic. Bike East Bay covered the 5 essentials of making effective reports that actually get things fixed, and provided a handy guide to aid people in deciding where to report based on location.
Pothole Blitzes: On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, nine Bike East Bay office staff took to the streets surrounding the beautiful Jack London Square in Oakland to create our first round of pothole reports with 30 reported in 30 minutes. We convened after and the energy was palpable, participants shared lessons, stories, laughter, and a few grievances about the state of our roads. Also on the same day, 5 VeloRaptor Cycling Club members marked and reported 35 potholes from Montclair/Mountain Blvd through Monterrey Blvd and through Butters Canyon.
– “It’s actually fun and very satisfying” – Tom Willging commented.
Over the weekend, Bike East Bay hosted reporting actions in Richmond and Concord on Saturday Jan 17, and Oakland on Monday Jan 19.
Next-Gen Advocates: Our staff member Phil Yip, gathered 20 members from their kids community bike ride group, including kids and parents, to hit the streets to report potholes together and participate in the power of making small changes together.
“That was fun!” a kid remarked. “Doing the potholes was very satisfying.”
To give you a glimpse into the week, here are some photos
Moving Forward
The #PotholeChallenge is just the beginning. The East Bay came together and sent out a loud, clear message: We deserve a better, smoother, and safer ride. The momentum is real, and we aren’t slowing down. We’ve shown what we can do when we ride together. Let’s turn that awareness into smooth streets, because every ride should be a safe ride.
Ready to gear up for the next move? Check out our Advocacy Actions oriented page: BikeEastBay.org/PedalPower Thanks to everyone who participated and hit the streets, and let’s keep riding towards a smoother future!