Bike riders mark seven years on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge path, push for full-time access

About 60 cyclists gathered at the Richmond BART station Saturday morning to mark seven years since the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge path opened.

Bike East Bay, Rich City Rides and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition organized Saturday's ride. Before the group set out, Dani Lanis, advocacy manager at Bike East Bay, thanked the people who had spent decades pushing for the path. He urged riders not to take the crossing for granted.

"A lot of people went through blood, sweat, and tears to make that happen," Lanis said. "We're very lucky to be able to use it."

Opened November 16, 2019, the path was originally open full time. But since October 27, 2025, it has been open only from Thursday afternoon through Sunday night. The rest of the week, a free shuttle carries cyclists and their bikes across the bridge.

Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission pushed to reduce the path's hours so drivers could use the upper deck's shoulder during the week. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission approved the change in August 2025.

Lanis said the groups behind Saturday's ride oppose the reduced schedule. He argued that the region should invest in transit, housing, and bike routes rather than trying to ease bridge traffic by giving more space to cars.

"Caltrans proposed a false, unsubstantiated, short-sighted idea that fails to create meaningful change to a long-term problem," he said. "For the health of our communities and of the bay, it is critical that we prioritize solutions that take vehicles out of the roadways and invest sustainably, connecting people to their needs. Every bike and pedestrian trip is one less car. Bikes are part of the solution."

The schedule could change again. Caltrans has begun an environmental study of the bridge's westbound deck. It is examining five options: keeping the current schedule, adding a peak-hour car lane, restoring a full-time bike and pedestrian path, opening the shoulder full time without a path, or creating a full-time third lane without a path. The study will also consider making no changes.

Robert Prinz, Bike East Bay's advocacy director, said the study allows riders to weigh in on what comes next.

"There's an environmental study that's starting just now, and we'll be continuing for about another year and a half to look at future options for the bridge," Prinz said. "So we really encourage people to take a look at the information that's available."

Prinz said the fight for bridge access goes back decades. Bike East Bay has pushed for bike access on Bay Area bridges since its founding in 1972. He credited the group with helping win access on the Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez and Dumbarton bridges. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, he said, is the first where that access has been taken away.

"So we've been committed to this for over 50 years, and we're going to maintain that commitment as long as it takes to get that access," he said.

A stop in Point Richmond

The group set out at 10:30 a.m. Before leaving, Lanis asked riders whether they wanted to stop at a city workshop in Point Richmond. The city is working on a route to close a gap in the Bay Trail through the neighborhood. Lanis said opponents of the project often claim nobody bikes there.

"We're present. We're using it. We are crossing, and we want safety and accessibility for all ages and abilities," he said.

The workshop was already packed when the riders arrived. Point Richmond residents filled every chair at the community center on Washington Avenue and lined the walls. Many came to oppose design options that would remove up to 56 parking spaces on Railroad Avenue. With little room inside, most of the riders stayed outside and were told they could submit comments online.

Bike lanes on Railroad Avenue could cost Point Richmond up to 56 parking spaces

A plan to close a gap in the Bay Trail through Point Richmond is drawing opposition from residents concerned about parking losses and emergency evacuation routes. The potentially $1.4 million project would fill the Bay Trail gap between Tewksbury Avenue at Santa Fe Avenue and South Garrard Boulevard at

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Some of the parking at stake is used by people crossing the bridge. Philip Rosenthal, president of the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council, said Railroad Avenue was nearly full during the meeting, with many of the cars belonging to bridge riders.

"People drive here, park on Railroad Avenue, take their bikes out of their car and go to Marin," he said. "The irony is that everybody wants bike lanes that will work."

After the stop, the group continued toward the bridge.

Bridge study meetings

Caltrans will hold its East Bay scoping meeting on the bridge study Monday, November 16, the path's anniversary. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Terrace Rooms at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.

A Marin meeting follows on Tuesday, and a virtual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the same time. Comments are due December 4 at us.planengage.com/RSRB-WIP.