Biking – Information & Resources

Biking is inexpensive, reduces traffic congestion, cuts down on emissions, and keeps you active. Plus, we offer a incentives for bike commuting.

Bike Month Safety Quiz
Map Your Ride
Park Your Bike
Secure Your Cycle: Free eLocker Parking
Bike to Wherever Day (aka Bike to Work Day)
2021 Bike Champion of the Year
Current Status: Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Access
Get Rewarded
E-bike Rebate Program
Summer Bike Challenge
Regional Bike Events & Local Biking Resources
Bikesharing
Bikes on Transit
Additional Resources for Bike Commuting

Bike Month Safety Quiz

Before you jump on a bike or sit down behind the wheel, take our Bicycle Safety Quiz to test and refresh your street smarts. Five random participants will win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Map Your Ride

The 511CC Bike Mapper is a valuable bike trip mapping service. The simple interface generates nine route options for you to pick from when you select from three hill tolerances and three levels of bike infrastructure: adherence to mostly bike paths, bike lanes, or the most direct route. The Contra Costa Bike Mapper covers the majority of the 9-county Bay Area.

Contra Costa Bike Maps can help you plan your route.

Plan Your Route with the Bike Mapper

Park Your Bike

Find secure bike locker parking with our Bike Locker Map.

Almost all BART stations have bike racks and most BART stations have secure bike lockers or a Bike Station. In Contra Costa County, the Pleasant Hill BART Bike Station is directly across from the station’s main entrance and provides 24-hour access to secure indoor bike parking. Retail sales and bike repairs are available in the station weekdays from 7am-11am. Access requires a BikeLink card.

Secure Your Cycle: Free eLocker Parking

Pledge to make more trips by bike and we’ll send you a $20 BikeLink card to help you park securely. Located throughout the Bay Area, including dozens of locations in Contra Costa, BikeLink’s lockers give you peace of mind when you need to store your bicycle—all at a cost of just pennies an hour.

Request a BikeLink Card

Current Status: Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Access

Find out if the bike/ped path on the Bay Bridge or Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is open by visiting 511.org’s Transportation Impacts page using the button below. (Note: When the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Path is closed, a free shuttle is provided to get cyclists & their bikes across.)

Check Bridge Path Status at 511.org

Get Rewarded

Drive Less $25 Incentive is available to qualified commuters who make the switch from diving alone to pedal power.

Apply for the $25 Drive Less Incentive

E-bike Rebate Program

Contra Costa residents who purchase an e-bike, e-bike conversion kit, or electric moped can apply for a rebate through our new program. A limited number of $300 rebates for low-income residents and $150 standard rebates are available to assist in the purchase of these clean-fuel vehicles which are a great alternative to driving.

Get More Information About the E-Bike Rebate Program

Summer Bike Challenge

Every summer, 511 Contra Costa provides free, healthy, outdoor fun with the Summer Bike Challenge. People in all 19 cities of Contra Costa County can explore their towns by bike, getting exercise and collecting free stuff in the process. We provide a bingo-style game card with destinations to ride to, so if you’re looking for family-friendly summer fun, join us for the Summer Bike Challenge.

Learn More About the Summer Bike Challenge

Bike to Wherever Day (aka Bike to Work Day)

About Bike to Wherever Day

Bike to Wherever Day is the time for bicyclists of all ages and walks of life to take to the streets to show support for two-wheeled transportation. The celebration remains popular, safe, inclusive, and welcoming despite the COVID-19 pandemic: a tribute to the success and vitality of the bicycle movement. Want to celebrate as a team with your favorite cohort? Learn more

Miss visiting your favorite BTWD Energizer Station? Ride your bike to your local library starting in mid-May to pick up an official 2021 BTWD tote bag, available while supplies last. One bag per person.

“Riding my bike has saved me on gasoline, wear and tear on my car, kept me from getting to work late, allowed me to use that time to de-stress, and has given me the opportunity to take care of myself.” –Alex

Contra Costa’s 2021 Bike Champion of the Year: Smitty Ardrey

Every Thursday in the summer you can find Smitty fixing bikes at Bike Concord’s Bike Tent at the Concord farmers market in Todo Santos Plaza.

Moving from San Francisco to Concord in 2000, Smitty realized that the city desperately needed safer infrastructure for biking and walking, and started getting involved with bike advocacy by showing up at meetings and volunteering with Bike East Bay. Since then, as nominator Claire Linder puts it, “He has brought bike rodeos, pop up bike repair clinics, and since 2019, a bike education class at Olympic High School in Concord. His drive, foresight and commitment have made biking more accessible in central Contra Costa County, bringing to life [Bike Concord’s] mission of MBOB (More Butts on Bikes)!”

In 2008, Smitty started the first bicycle kitchen in town, hoping to provide a community space that could help promote and provide resources on biking. Ever since, the bicycle kitchen has become a beloved community space where youths and adults can learn bike maintenance and talk about biking in town. When the City of Concord sought input for its first bicycle and pedestrian master plan, Smitty and a few other volunteers set up a table under a canopy at the farmers market in Todo Santos Plaza to gather community feedback. One thing led to another, and people started to call it the “Bike Tent,” expecting it as a regular feature of the farmers market. “The Bike Kitchen and the Bike Tent provide opportunities to talk about biking in Concord and neighboring communities,” says Smitty. “Anyone is welcome to visit the tent, get minor repairs for free, and share their thoughts on biking in town.”

Advocates passionate about “more butts on bikes” in Concord have come together thanks to spaces like the Bike Tent and Bike Kitchen, and are now known as Bike Concord. The organization is an integral part of the bicycle movement in Concord and surrounding areas. Smitty is proud that the group has been hauling 185 lbs worth of gear on a cargo bike almost every time they’ve been to the farmers market. Retired recently, he still enjoys a leisurely stroll around town or goes for longer rides on weekends. Smitty has been a true champion for the bike community in Concord and beyond. Congratulations, Smitty!

Regional Bike Events & Local Biking Resources

Looking for a new ride? Check out our calendar of bike rides and regional and local events and find valuable local biking resources. Find casual group rides, bicycle club rides, repair lessons, bike clubs, advocacy groups, and more! And if you happen to know of a bike ride or event we don’t have listed, let us know about it! Send the event info to hello@511cc.org.

Visit the Bike Events & Resources Page

Bikesharing

Bikesharing is ideal for short-distance commute trips and errands. While options are limited in Contra Costa County, bikeshare is available in other areas of the Bay.

If you commute by BART to Oakland, Berkeley or San Francisco, grab a bike to finish your trip or take one for a spin at lunch. Simply download the app for the bikeshare service and pick up a bicycle from a dedicated station or by locating a dockless bike. Take the bike for a spin and return it within the system’s service area.

Discover Local Bikesharing on the Micromobility Page

Bikes on Transit

If biking the distance between home and work seems intimidating, it’s not cheating to add a bus or BART trip to your commute. Bikes are welcome on BART and on area transit buses.

County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT and AC Transit’s bicycling pages provide instructions for biking and riding. Find tips for taking your bike on other Bay Area transit buses.

While bikes are allowed on BART at all times, there are rules to be aware of: