The City of Berkeley is working to make cycling as safe and convenient as possible. Plans include an increased number of bikeways, a new network of Bicycle Boulevards (bicycle priority streets), more bicycle parking, a bike bridge over the freeway, and new bike safety and promotion programs. The Bicycle Subcommittee of the Transportation Commission is involved in the planning of these facilities and programs.  Meetings are held every month and are open to the public. Past meeting agendas and minutes are available on the Transportation Commission page of this website. For further information, questions, or comments, email or call the Transportation Division at (510) 981-7010.

• Key Phone Numbers

• Bicycle Advocacy and Community Resources

• Local Bike Riding Groups  

• City of Berkeley Bike Rack Specifications and Installation Standards

• Bicycle Commute Resources

• Bikes on Transit

• Bicycle Parking

• Avoiding Bicycle Theft

• Street Repair and Maintenance

• Safety Tips to Live By

• Bicycle Detector Loops

• Maps and Guides  

• SHARE THE ROAD Resources

Key Phone Numbers

City of Berkeley

UC Berkeley

Bicycle Advocacy and Community Resources

Local Bike Riding Groups

Bicycle Commute Resources

UC Berkeley Bicycle Commuting Resources

511 promotes alternatives to single occupant auto commuting.  They have bicycle resources for the whole Bay Area including a “bike buddy” matching service for new or experienced bicyclists.  Call 511 for more information.

Bikes on Transit

BART 

It is easier than ever to take your bicycle on BART—no permit is required. Bikes are allowed on all but the lead car. They are allowed on the Fremont/Richmond line at all hours.  Some lines have restrictions on weekdays 6:30am - 9:00am and 3:30pm - 6:30pm. Bicycles are never allowed on escalators and should never be ridden in the stations.  Bicyclists must be at least 14 years old or else accompanied by an adult.  For more details, pick up a BART Schedule and a “Bikes on BART Guide” at any BART station, or call (510) 464-7133.

AC Transit

AC Transit has bike racks on all buses that run through Berkeley and most buses in its service area.  Racks hold only two bikes and you must wait for the next bus if they are full.

NOTE:  Folding bicycles are allowed on ALL transit systems during ALL operating hours.  

511 also has information about bikes on transit.

Bicycle Parking

Bicycle parking is widely available in Berkeley’s commercial areas.  In addition to many sidewalk racks, you can use the following:

• Sheltered bike racks at both entrances in the Center Street Garage (1/2 block west of Shattuck Avenue).

• Bicycle lockers and racks at all three Berkeley BART stations (shown on the map). For information on obtaining lockers, call BART at (510) 464-7133.

• Free attended bicycle parking is available in the Downtown Berkeley BART station on weekdays. Call (510) 548-7433 (RIDE) or go to www.bikestation.org for hours.

If you know of a spot where there is space and demand for bicycle parking, please contact the Transportation Division at (510) 981-7010 or email.

Avoiding Bicycle Theft

Bicycle theft is a serious problem in Berkeley, but if you follow this advice you’ll stand a much better chance of holding onto your bike:

• High quality U-locks are among the most theft resistant.  These locks are most secure if you can fill the space within the U.

• A good lock is worthless if you don’t use it properly.  Always take a few extra seconds after locking-up to make sure you didn’t make a silly error, like not looping through the frame or not closing the lock all-the-way.  These are common mistakes!

• Always lock your frame to something that cannot be moved or disassembled.

• Many people have their quick-release wheels and seats stolen.  Wheels are most secure when locked with a U-Lock, but a cable will also help deter theft. 

• Secure your bike at home.  Many bikes are stolen from houses, garages, & back yards.

• Old & ugly bikes are less likely to be stolen than flashy expensive bikes. Consider buying a cheap, used bike for shorter trips around town.

• Register your bike with the police.  This makes it more likely that you will get it back if it is stolen and recovered.  For more information, call (510) 981-5750.

• Record your bike’s serial number (printed on the bottom of your frame).  In case of theft, the serial number helps police positively identify a bike.

Street Repair and Maintenance

Requesting Street Repairs: To request a specific repair (e.g., a pothole that needs to be filled), call (510) 644-6620.

• This Year's Repaving Schedule  

• 5 Year Repaving Schedule

Safety Tips to Live By

• Always wear a helmet.  Broken bones heal; broken brains don't.

• Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals.  Bikes and cars: same roads, same laws.

• Ride in a straight line and use hand signals.  Drivers can keep a safe distance when they know your plans.

• Ride with the flow of traffic. Cars always win in collisions between bikes and cars.

• Walk your bike on sidewalks and through crosswalks. Kids can ride on neighborhood sidewalks.

• Respect pedestrians. Give them plenty of space and let them know you’re near with a shout or a bell.

• Be seen. Use a front light and rear, pedal, and wheel reflectors.  Use a red, rear light for better visibility. Wear bright and reflective clothing.

• Watch for car doors.  Always leave space when riding next to parked cars.

• Follow lane markings.  Don’t turn left from the right lane & don’t go straight from a turn lane.

• Be cautious when passing on the right of a car. Car drivers often turn right without checking for cyclists.

• Look ahead for hazards. Plan for potential problems such as slippery sewer grates, oily pavement or loose gravel.

Bicycle Detector Loops (view map with bike detector loop locations) 

The City of Berkeley wants to make it easier to bicycle in our city. Bike detector loops at traffic-actuated signals enable bicyclists to safely and easily cross busy intersections. 

First, you should know that in Berkeley, there are two types of traffic signals:

Traffic-actuated signals are usually equipped with sensors, called “detector loops” embedded in the pavement in the approach to the intersection. These loops detect the presence of vehicles passing over them. Traffic-actuated signals typically give a green light to the busier street, unless a car, bicycle, or pedestrian wants to cross that street.

Fixed-time signals change at pre-set intervals according to the time of day. These signals do not have loop detectors. Eighty percent of traffic signals in Berkeley are currently on fixed-time cycles.

There are currently 21 traffic-actuated signals in Berkeley. Each of these locations has special, extra-sensitive loop detectors embedded in the roadway in addition to the regular loop detectors. These “bike loops”, as they are called, will detect the small amount of iron in a bicycle located directly above the loop and will trigger the signal to turn green for the bicycle. Bike loops are typically located in the lane immediately adjacent to the curb.

1. As you approach a RED light at the intersection, look on the pavement for the white painted stencil of a cyclist passing through two narrow white vertical lines. This stencil is positioned in the middle of the bike loop.

2. STOP your bike so that your tires are close to the vertical white lines of the stencil.

3. Wait for the light to turn green. Be patient, this may take from 2 - 90 seconds. It is important to stay put until the light facing you has turned completely green.

4. Ride On!

Pushing the pedestrian button does not make the signal turn green any faster.

Note: Don’t be “out of the loop.” In some intersections, the bike loop is in the middle of the traffic lane. The California Vehicle Code states that bicyclists have all the rights (and responsibilities) of vehicles while on roadways. If the loop is in the middle, that’s where you should be to make the signal change.

If you can’t find the loop, the signal won’t change, or a logo is faded: call City of Berkeley Transportation Division at 981-7010.

SHARE THE ROAD Resources

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition has put together several very informative flyers aimed at promoting safe and peaceful coexistence between cyclists and motorists. 

The first two links below are fairly large (600 mb or so) pdf files, so it’s probably best to save them to your computer by right clicking the link and then, once saved, opening the file in Adobe reader or another pdf viewer.

Share the Road Bicyclist Information Sheet (PDF)

Share the Road Motorist Information Sheet  (PDF)

 Bicycle Etiquette

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