Bay Area Riders Break Records on May 15 Bike to Wherever Day

News provided by

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

May 15, 2025, 20:44 ET

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.

Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days with sponsors logo (PRNewsfoto/Metropolitan Transportation Commission)

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.

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

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: