Bike the Bay Bridge

Halfway between lively Uptown and the eateries of Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood is the workhorse MacArthur BART station where fixed-gear riding hipsters are a common sight.

It’s also a great starting point for a bike ride on the new Bay Bridge bike and pedestrian path. Follow the “super sharrows” (painted green bike lanes) on 40th Street west for about 1.5 miles to the trailhead for the bike path to the bridge. It’s located in front of the Ikea store in Emeryville.

From there it’s a spectacular four-mile ride under the maze of freeways and up to the gleaming white tower of the bridge. The bridge path ends at Hillcrest Rd on Treasure Island. From here you'll climb a short, steep hill and descend all the way down to sea level. Continue along Avenue of the Palms and stop at Mersea for a tasty lunch with a fantastic view. After that, continue on the path that runs the perimeter of the island or turn back and return into the East Bay.

If your legs are still feeling strong, about half way back, take the Maritime Street exit off the trail and follow Maritime Street to 7th (about two miles) to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park—one of the Bay Area’s hidden gems with great views of the Bay and the towering cranes of the Port of Oakland. Return the way you came or follow 7th Street for about two miles to West Oakland BART.