Other Resources

• Educational Resources includes information on or links to maps, bicycling skills, bicycle commuting, and bicycle parking security tips
• Oakland Bicycle Facility Design Guidelines is the one-stop resource page for the most current information on how Oakland designs bicycle facilities
• Other City Resources provides information on or links to other City programs/projects relevant to bicycle facility implementation, maintenance, and safety
• Other Organizations includes a list of links to Advocacy/Community Groups and/or Programs that are relevant to the mission of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program
• Oakland Bike Shops

Educational Resources

From maps to skills to tips, these resources are provided to assist those who wish to enjoy Oakland safely and easily by bicycle.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Maps

Bicycle Commuting & Skills

• Getting to Work: Bike Commuting 101 (City of Oakland flyer)
• Bicycling.511.org, a resource for bicycling information in the nine-county Bay Area and beyond, sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission
• AC Transit's two-minute video shows how easy it is to use their front-mounted bike racks and cargo bays (located on the big green AC Transit commuter buses)
• Find a Bike Buddy to get started on commuting by bicycle (through 511.org)
• Fruitvale Bikestation (secure bicycle parking at the Fruitvale Transit Village)
• California Vehicle Code, Bicyclists
• Facts About Bicycle Commuting (one page .pdf, from the California Bike Commute)
• How to ride in bike lanes (tips from the League of American Bicyclists)
• Walk Oakland! Map & Guide, 3rd Edition (2007) w/ existing and recommending bikeways (see the Bike and Ped Maps page for a list of retailers)
• Bicycle Safety Quiz - How much do you really know about the rules that affect bicyclists? Take the East Bay Bicycle Coalition's Bicycle Safety Quiz (.html version) and find out. You may be surprised.
• Bicycle Safety Courses
• League of American Bicyclists, Better Bicycle Fact Sheets

Bicycle Parking Do’s and Don’ts

There are no guarantees of safety when parking your bicycle. Generally speaking, bicycle thieves are opportunists, looking for the easiest bicycles to steal. Following are some bike parking "do's" and "don'ts" that may make it less likely that a thief will select your bicycle, and which also help bicyclists "share the road" with pedestrians.

Do:

• Park in well lit open areas where many people pass by, your bicycle can be seen easily, and you can get to your bike quickly.
• Lock to a bike rack (if there is one available*) and park so that your bike doesn't block the sidewalk or curb ramps.
• Use a strong lock. U locks are popular and work well, but some U locks are stronger than others; make sure you buy a strong steel-alloy lock, and one without a cylindrical barrel. If you use a padlock or chain, links, cables, and lock clasps should be at least 3/8 of an inch thick and case-hardened.
• Use an additional lock or cable to secure wheels or other valuable parts such as seats.
• Consider locking skewers to secure wheels.
• Remove lights, pump, bags or other valuables from the bike.
• If a U-Lock is used:
1. and it has a keyway on the end of the crossbar, position the lock with its keyway towards the ground. This makes it harder for a thief to access the lock.
2. position the bicycle frame and wheels so that as much open space as possible within the U-portion of the lock is filled or taken up. This makes it more difficult for a thief to use tools to attack the lock.

Don't:

• Don't park so that your bicycle blocks a curb ramp.
• Don't park so that your bicycle blocks the sidewalk. (In most cases, this means parking parallel to the curb.)
• Don't park to a tree; not only is it insecure, it's also bad for the tree!
• Don't secure only the bike wheel (unless that's the part you want to keep.)
• Don't leave your bike locked in one spot for several days.
• Don't leave your bike unlocked "just for a minute" while you run into a shop. It takes less than a minute to steal a bike.

(Thanks to the Springfield, Illinois Police Department and Bike Pittsburgh for some of the above tips.)

* If a rack is available, please use it instead of a parking meter. Bikes parked at meters can pose problems for those with disabilities and others when exiting or entering parked vehicles. Bikes at meters also pose problems for City maintenance crews. If a meter is the only option at a location you frequent, please contact the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Coordinator at (510) 238-3983 or bikeped@oaklandnet.com or use our Online Request Form to request a rack.