Bay Area Riders Break Records on May 15 Bike to Wherever Day
The Californer/10313990

Tens of Thousands of Cyclists Take to the Streets to Celebrate

SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of thousands of Bay Area residents took to the streets on Thursday for Bike to Wherever Day, part of the regionwide Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days and the Bay Area Bike Challenge which run throughout the month of May. Riders across all nine counties logged their miles, celebrated with their communities, and promoted cycling as an active, eco-friendly way to get around.

Approximately 16,000 riders stopped by 330 Energizer Stations in the morning to grab free coffee, snacks, swag, and the signature bicycle-friendly tote bag featuring the year's Bike to Wherever Day artwork. Energizer Stations, coordinated by partners ranging from corporations and local agencies to neighborhood volunteers, were hosted throughout the Bay Area.

"This was a great year for West County. We reached pre-pandemic levels of participation for the first time," said Coire Reilly, program manager at the West Contra Costa Transportation Commission.

While most Energizer Stations operated during morning commute hours, many extend into the evening and throughout the weekend with events such as Bike Block Parties and Happy Hours. A full map of Energizer Stations is available at: https://bayareabiketowork.com/event-information/energizer-stations.

"We are continually amazed by the level of enthusiasm shown by riders all over the region, said Marcella Aranda, public information officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and project manager for Bike to Wherever Days." That's thanks not only to our passionate riders, but also to the dedication of our county partners who make this event happen."

Elected officials and community leaders joined events across the region, with bike rallies and rides to City Hall in cities including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. In Berkeley, Mayor Adena Ishii logged her ride as part of the Bay Area Bike Challenge, adding her name to the Bike Challenge Leaderboard.

Participation Highlights

In addition to record ridership on May 15, more than 6,500 individuals signed the Pledge to Ride, committing to using a bike throughout May. The pledge reads:

"I will bike for my own health, clean air, and in support of safer and more vibrant streets. Whether I'm riding just one day or every day of the month – every trip makes a difference."

So far, nearly 900 riders have registered for the Bay Area Bike Challenge, already surpassing last year's final count of 775. As of mid-May, riders have logged more than 70,000 miles across nearly 7,000 trips, with a collective goal of 120,000 miles – four times last year's target.

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MTC will award 12 prizes at the conclusion of the challenge:

• Two $500 prizes for the most miles and most trips logged.
• Two $250 prizes for the most creative routes (by shape and points of interest).
• Eight raffle prizes ranging from $100 to $200, giving every participant a chance to win.

The Bay Area Bike Challenge runs through May 31. Organizers expect the momentum to continue as riders pedal toward both personal and regional goals. For more information and to sign up, visit: bayareabiketowork.com/event-information/bike-challenge.

Elected Officials and Local Leaders Who Participated

State Elected Officials

• California State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab
• California State Senator Scott Wiener

Regional Agencies

• Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Director Jean Walsh
• Bay Area Rapid Transit BART (BART) Director Berali Ghosh

Alameda County

• Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas
• Alameda Bike Champion of the Year 2025 Rick Rickard
• Albany Mayor Robin Lopez
• Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii
• Berkeley City Manager Paul Buddenhagen
• Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett
• Berkeley Councilmember Brent Blackaby
• Berkeley Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra
• Berkeley Councilmember Igor Tregub with Chief of Staff Olga Bolotina
• Berkeley Councilmember Mark Humbert
• Berkeley Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani
• Berkeley Councilmember Shoshana O'Keefe with staff member Tawab Malekzad
• Berkeley Councilmember Terry Taplin
• Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife
• Oakland Councilmember Charlene Wang
• Oakland Councilmember Janani Ramachandran
• Oakland Councilmember Kevin Jenkins
• Oakland Councilmember Ken Houston
• Oakland Councilmember Noel Gallo
• Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan (Interim, D2)
• Oakland Councilmember Zac Unger
• Oakland Department of Transportation Director Josh Rowan

Napa County

• Napa City Mayor Scott Sedgley
• Napa County Supervisor Amber Manfree
• Napa Fire Chief Zach Curren
• Napa County Judge Scott Young
• Napa Planning Commissioner Kara Brunzell
• Napa Valley Transportation Authority Executive Director Kate Miller
• Napa Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission Chair Dan Wilkowsky
• Former Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht

San Francisco County

• San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie
• San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood
• San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan
• San Francisco Supervisor Danny Sauter
• San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder
• San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey
• San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar
• San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherill
• San Francisco County Transportation Authority Director Tilly Chang
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director Julie Kirschbaum

San Mateo County

• San Bruno Mayor Marty Medina
• South San Francisco Mayor Eddie Flores

Santa Clara County

• Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga
• Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein

Solano County

• Rio Vista Mayor Edwin Okamura
• Suisun City Mayor Hernandez

Sonoma County

• Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell
• Sebastopol City Councilmember Phill Carter
• Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey
• Former Sebastopol Mayor Sarah Gurney

San Mateo/Santa Clara

• Gilroy City Councilmember Kelly Ramirez
• Gilroy City Councilmember Terence Fugazzi
• Menlo Park Police Chief David Norris
• Menlo Park Police Commander Lau

About the Event

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Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days is presented by MTC (the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area), 511 (the region's traveler information system), and Amazon, with support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and ART, along with numerous local sponsors. Prizes for the Bike Champion of the Year winners were donated by MTC, Lyft Bay Wheels, Sports Basement, and Mike's Bikes. Local event coordination is led by:

Bike East Bay

511 Contra Costa

Marin County Bicycle Coalition

Napa County Bicycle Coalition

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Solano Mobility

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission

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