Where to park your bike: SF bike-friendly bars

You’ve put air in your tires and are ready to get from here to there with wind in your helmet-toting hair. You’ve freed yourself from those ubiquitous rideshare apps. But where is your final destination? After you’ve rolled off the BART train and out the station, hop on your two-wheeler to a place that understands the value of the bike.

Featuring safe bike parking so that you can stow your ride and relax with your drink in hand, the following San Francisco bars reward non-driving patrons who prefer to pedal to that jukebox playing metal (or whatever genre suits the mood).

Bender's Bar & Grill

Benders in San Francisco is by the 16th Street Mission BART Station. It's a SF bike friendly BARTable bar

Bender's Bar & Grill is located at 806 S. Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco, a 3-minute bike ride from 16th St. Mission Station. Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Bike-friendly, dog-friendly, tatchos-friendly. Benders is a classic rock bar in San Francisco’s Mission. Park your bike on the wall rack that separates the pool table and the bar area, and you’re ready to spend the rest of your night indulging in loud tunes, a fully stacked Bent Burger with tator tots and, of course, plenty of pints.

Thee Parkside

Thee Parkside is located by 16th St. Mission BART Station. It's a bike-friendly BARTable bar

Thee Parkside is located at 1600 17th St. in San Francisco, an 8-minute bike ride from 16th St. Mission Station. Photo courtesy of Thee Parkside.

Thee Parkside has been a favorite destination for San Francisco Bicycle Coalition events because of its spacious and casual setting away from city crowds. Its walled outdoor patio with bike racks, window-order food service, indoor concert stage and full bar are an SF dive bar aficionado’s dream. Off the beaten downtown or Mission path, this punk rocker’s pick in Potrero Hill is a standard stop for local bands and just locals in general.

ThirstyBear Brewing Company

ThirstyBear Brewing Company is located by Montgomery BART station. It's BARTable.

ThirstyBear Brewing Company is located at 661 Howard St. in San Francisco, a 2-minute bike ride from Montgomery Station. Photo courtesy of ThirstyBear Brewing Company.

The spot to grab a pint near Yerba Buena Gardens, Thirsty Bear Brewing Company welcomes two-wheelers with bike parking out front and back, along with further encouragement in the form of a complimentary 12-ounce beer with an order of tapas. Soak up a flight of organic beers amidst a classy yet casual restaurant environment with exposed-brick walls, plenty of table seating and a pool table.

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist is a BARTable San Francisco bar located in the Mission, by 16th St. Mission BART.

Zeitgeist is located at 199 Valencia St. in San Francisco, a 2-minute bike ride from 16th St. Mission Station. Photo courtesy of Zeitgeist.

A signature Mission dive bar with an outdoor beer garden boasting bike racks to hang your best ride in view from your picnic table, Zeitgeist has long lured sunseekers to the corner of Valencia and Duboce. Day drink outside at a communal spot with a packed Bloody Mary in hand or peruse the tunes in the jukebox and set the vibe for your late night hanging beside the pinball machine or pool table. While it’s a local’s staple, the grungey cash-only bar also makes its way onto many visitors’ must-do lists.

by Linda Koffman

Linda Koffman is an SF-based freelance writer and editor. Also a beginner gardener by day/performing songwriter by night, she feels grateful to live a life of extremes balancing plenty of contemplative silence with rocking out in a band. When not writing, she keeps her hands busy (and dirty) with old guitar strings and soil, and enjoys engaging with the Bay Area’s diverse environmental and cultural beauty. She loves puns to a fault and shamelessly laughs at her own jokes.