About San Diego
WalkScore 49
TransitScore 36
BikeScore 46
League of American Bicyclists' Rating: Not rated
Maps
Transit Map (pdf)
San Diego 101
ahem... San Diego has over 100 breweries. (mic drop)
For those of you who still somehow require further convincing, SD also has $100M in dedicated funding for protected bike lanes, it has stunning weather by even "southern France" standards, it has a delightfully pervasive outdoor culture, and it has tons of active residents doing what you'll be doing. The food is fresh and healthy, the beach is endless, and the sun sets right into the ocean... that's exciting for people from the east coast. The strong conservative military subculture has somewhat limited the usual "California Weird" factor, but it's still a much more refreshing place to eat, drink, and be than anything most other states can offer. It's an easy place to fall in love with.
Biking in San Diego
Etiquette
This is an extremely active city with tons of runners, walkers, stroller runners, and carbon fiber roadies sharing the space, so make sure to use hand signals on paths as well as your bell to be polite when overtaking someone. Feel free to ride on the sidewalk if you feel uncomfortable, but walk your bike if there are "no biking" signs, or if there's a crowd.
Safety
Helmets are the law for riders under 18 years old. Music ear buds can be worn in only one ear. For night time riding, bikes must be equipped with reflectors on the pedals and wheels, with a red reflector on the rear. Additionally, you must have a front white light.
Security
Mission and Coronado beaches have high theft, most likely from the laid back, "hey bra - no need to lock" cruiser culture, which means that just by using a lock, you're already ahead. Downtown is also a hotspot for theft, but the neighborhoods have lower theft rates. A sturdy u-lock on a real bike rack is probably fine, and always bring your bike inside at night unless absolutely impossible.
San Diego culture
Being a strong tourist destination, San Diego has a fairly diverse array of riders on display... Cruiser bikes dominating the beach scene, commuters enjoying their ride from Point A to Point B, roadies on drop bars burning calories and DecoBike tourists soaking it all in at their own slow pace.
Routes
Bikes
bike share
San Diego has no bike share currently.
Rentals
Holland Bicycles (Coronado) - $25+ daily for cruiser, city, fixie, hybrid, fat tire, long tail, electric, road, tandem, kids', bike trailer, kids's seat
Metrocyclery - $25 daily for cruiser
Monument Bicycles - performance bike rental shop features road, mountain, electric mountain and triathlon bikes for $60+ daily
Stay Classy Bikes - $25+ daily for commuter, road and kids' bikes
The Bike Revolution - $20+ daily for city, cruiser, mountain, road, tandem, kids' bikes; trailer, kids' seat
Tours
Bike & Kayak Tours - $49 per person for tour of La Jolla
Bike Ride San Diego - $100+ per person for spandex, tour style guided tours of Fiesta Island, San Diego and Mission Bays, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, Heart of San Diego, Mount Soledad and Torrey Pines
Fly Rides - $55+ per person for electric bike tour of La Jolla and Pacific Beach
Scenic Cycle Tours - $55+ per person for Mission Bay or Coronado tour includes bike, helmet, water and snacks
Coffee Hub and Cafe, a bike-centric eatery and espresso bar, is a project of the Sandy Hanshaw, better half of Andy, Director of Sand Diego County Bike Coalition.
shops
Coffee Hub and Cafe 2907 Shelter Island Drive - bike centric eatery and espresso bar owned by Sandy Hanshaw, better half of Andy, Director of San Diego County Bike Coalition
Metrocyclery 1211 Morena Blvd, San Diego - Transportation bike shop with electric, folding (BROMPTON), cargo, family and commuters
MJ's Cyclery 3841 Park Blvd, San Diego, (619) 228-9220 - Transportation and city bike shop with urban clothing and accessories
North Park Bikes 3022 N Park Way, San Diego, (619) 255-3100 - Used and new bikes and repair shop
SPINLISTER
Spinlister is like the Airbnb of bikes! Use promo code, BIKABOUT, for $10 off
Places
Balboa Park's grand entrance to museums like the Museum of Man and Museum of Art.
We're constantly updating this list of our favorite bike shops, coffee shops, restaurants, museums, scenic vistas, playgrounds, ice cream joints, microbreweries and more in San Diego.
Foursquare List - this app is better for on-the-go exploring.
Lodging
The Pearl Hotel has complimentary beach cruisers for guests to borrow.
Transportation
Bike friendly ferries will take you from downtown San Diego to Coronado.
City Transit
MTS (Regional Map) - "Bikes are allowed on MTS vehicles free of charge, but space is limited. All MTS bus routes can accommodate two bicycles."
ferry
Coronado Ferry - $4.75 one way (bikes free) from Broadway Pier or the Convention Center to Coronado Ferry Landing.
Train
Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - San Diego) - Make a reservation for free bicycle roll-on service. "To get a closer look, you'd have to be on a surfboard, which, believe it or not, you're welcome to bring onboard, since the Pacific Surfliner has special racks to accommodate the bikes and boards of our more outdoor-minded riders."
Cars
Airline
Alaska Air - $25 to check
Delta - $150 to check bike
Frontier - $75 to check bike
JetBlue - $50 to check bike (folding bikes in container under 62 dimensional inches and 50 lbs are FREE)
Southwest - FREE to check bike
Support Local Advocates
Bikabout donates 25% of annual revenue to local advocates. You, too, can power better biking in San Diego by becoming a member of San Diego County Bike Coalition!
This route is a great way to see so many of the parts of San Diego that make it the place I have chosen to live and to enjoy some of the city's best food, sights and roads. All within easy cruising distance of the mid city area.