Photo by Charity Vargas
We pretty much have it all in the Presidio – within our 1,491 acres, we have beaches, forests, historic buildings, a freshwater lake, three watersheds, and even a campground. Whew!
That means there’s a lot to see, and biking is a wonderful way to experience every bit of this lovely place. There are 25 miles of bikeways in the park, making it possible to get from the Presidio Visitor Center to Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge to
Baker Beach in nothing “flat” (sorry, bad tire pun).
Ready to get started? Read our tips below and check out our Biking page for other great resources.
1. Take a Guided Presidio Family-Friendly Bike Ride
On the second Saturday of each month, the park hosts a Presidio Family-Friendly Bike Ride where a Park Ranger and a Presidio Trust guide lead you on a gentle four-mile route that offers an insider’s perspective on the waterfront and the historic Main Post. The journey begins at the Presidio Visitor Center. Bring your own bike or rent one from the Presidio’s Sports Basement. The ride is perfect for anyone eight years and up.
Check out our events page for the Presidio Family-Friendly Bike Ride >>
2. Get the Kids Ready to Roll with Lessons from “YBike Learn to Ride”
Photo by Charity Vargas
Do you have a kid who’s eager to leave the training wheels behind, but needs help with the basics? Check out the YBike Learn to Ride Program! Once a month, the Presidio Community YMCA hosts this friendly, free, safe instruction for kids where they get the chance to take a spin and become a bicycling pro. Bikes and equipment are provided. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust.
Check out the Presidio YMCA's page for an upcoming YBike event >>
3. Enjoy Free Bike Valet at Presidio Picnic
Photo by Charity Vargas
Every Sunday from March to October, Presidio Picnic has two great incentives to get you into the park on two wheels – food trucks offering the tastiest eats in San Francisco and FREE bike valet, this year sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. If you leave the car at home and bike to the fun, you’ll definitely burn off that Del Popolo pizza.
4. Rent a Bike, or Get a Quick Fix
If you don’t own your own wheels, the people at Presidio Sports Basement will hook you up with the perfect bike rental to get you out and exploring. And if you find yourself in need of some emergency maintenance, Roaring Mouse Cycles has experts to get you back up and running in no time. Both of these great organizations are located at the Presidio’s Crissy Field.
5. Rack it up on the PresidiGo Shuttle
If biking to and from the Presidio sounds like too much riding for one day, you can catch a ride on the PresidiGo Shuttle, which offers a free lift from downtown SF to the park every single day. Each bus is equipped with a bike rack that holds two bikes. The Downtown Route has stops at the Embarcadero BART, Transbay Terminal, and the corner of Van Ness and Union. Explore other parts of the park on the Around the Park Shuttle. All PresidiGo routes start at the Transit Center, where you can grab a snack and pop into the Presidio Visitor Center for some tips before beginning your ride. Bonus: the MUNI 43 also takes you to the Presidio Visitor Center and features bike racks!
6. Give it a Rest on a New Bike Rack
As much as you like biking the Presidio, sometimes you want to stop and explore on two feet. You’re in luck. The Presidio has dramatically expanded the number of bike racks located around the park (see the map on the SF Bicycle Coalition’s website. Or you can store your bike for a low hourly fee at a secure Bike Link locker on the west side of the Presidio Transit Center. These lockers use "smart cards" to pay for storing the bikes – check out Bike Link’s website to learn more about where to buy a Bike Link card and how to operate the lockers.
7. Bike Through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge
Photo by Scott Sawyer
One of the best experiences in the Presidio is a bike ride to the Golden Gate Bridge (actually, this might be one of the best experiences in San Francisco). Whether you’re coming from the Embarcadero, or Golden Gate Park, this is a must and we’ve got some curated bike rides with some great tips, including the routes to take to help you avoid hills and lovely stops for refreshments and overlooks.
Learn more on the Presidio’s biking page >>
