Next time you go to San Francisco, take a bike!

Here I am in San Francisco, the land of the Hippies, the Golden Gate, sexual liberation, and many other icons that make it one of the world’s top destinations for visiting, as well as living.

For a guy like myself, a traveler with an open agenda (and not much of a plan), I get the best of both worlds. I can technically call myself a “visitor”, and at the same time have the freedom to slow down the pace of my travels, and temporarily reside and “live” in the San Francisco Bay Area for a while - which is exactly what I’m doing - to slowly savor the best that Sunny California has to offer, one city at a time!

Since I began my journey in California, I’ve been in and out the city of SF for a number of times. However, the most fun I had in the city, by far, was when I decided to borrow my host’s bicycle for an on-wheels city experience. I ended up going all around the city and seeing so much more of it than I had seen on my previous trips. So if you’re planning a trip to the colorful city of San Francisco any time soon, allow me to highlight why I personally believe that the best way to do it, would be on two wheels!

I started my trip from Suisun City (North Bay), about 50 miles north-east of SF. I took my bicycle and jumped on a bus, which took me straight to the BART station, where my two-wheeled buddy rested for a couple of stations, before reaching our destination. It’s super easy to take a bicycle with you on most SF public transportation (except the overground metro! I was kicked out trying to sneak her in).

Bicycle lanes and routes are clearly marked and run through most of the city’s streets. Traffic regulations are also always in favor for cyclist all across California. They have recently introduced a public bicycle service, and the city is installing all sorts of bike-related infrastructure. SF has been successfully reducing its carbon footprint since 2012, with goals of reaching 80% reduction (compared to 1990 ratios) be 2050. Luckily for me, that means more bike lanes!

Cruising through the city on a bike gives you the perfect balance between nature and urban. You can wander into a park on your bike (which needless to say, is something you can’t do if you’re driving) and simply stop, sit down, and enjoy your well prepared packed lunch. You can also cover a much longer distance at a time than you would be able to cover on foot. Bring it on, Golden Gate Park! You also have the freedom to pull up on any sidewalk to take pictures of the breathtaking views of the city.

Speaking of packed lunch, if you are a poor, on-budget backpacker like myself, you will be looking into every opportunity to save a buck. And guess what, riding a bicycle is without a doubt the cheapest way to commute in a city which is well up the top 10 most expensive cities in the country, and probably the world! When I’m on the road, I’d take burning my calories over burning my wallet every single time..

You will also be saving something way more precious than your money, that is your time! If you’ve been around city for long enough, you would’ve definitely heard about how REAL the struggle is with owning a car in San Francisco. Whether it be the “impossibility” of parking, or excessive traffic in rush hours. You will be slicing across the city on a bike like a knife slices through butter. Just make sure to double lock! The city is known for it’s “grand theft bike”.

The only other down part about cycling in the city, is going up! The famous uphills of SF city will often give you a chance to get on your feet and walk your bike for a change (and you will be amazed by how easily the locals take the hills head on).

You genuinely get to see a lot more of the city commuting from point A to B compared to what you see while driving or taking public transport. The city is packed with so much colorful, hippie, and artistic details that are just too easy to miss when you’re looking through a window. Lose the windows!

You won’t feel lonely. Many other locals and tourists have discovered the perks of paddling around the city. So the next time you pull up at an intersection, look around and strike up a conversation with your fellow cyclist, you never know who you end up talking to..

I’ve cycled in many cities around the world, as San Francisco may not be as “cycable” as Copenhagen or Amsterdam, it’s definitely getting there. The Bay Area is known for it’s year-long awesome weather, which adds up to all the other pros of cycling. So next time you’re in the city, make sure to go fast, clean, and economic; #CycleSanFrancisco!

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