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Yesterday I rode across the Golden Gate Bridge with my family and friends. It was invigorating, exhilarating, and pretty darn amazing.
We rode on the west side of the bridge — where only bikes are allowed — and enjoyed a smooth ride the entire way.
Being on a bike is a great way to explore the Golden Gate. You feel the moist fog, you hear the ships passing below, and you feel small in the presence of giant steel arches that loom above.
It was also very easy to stop and take in the sights…
Here’s my friend Joe staring off into the abyss, trying to see one of the ships below (we heard their fog horns, but could barely see them)…
Built in 1937, the Golden Gate is much more than a bridge. It’s an inspirational icon that draws tourists from around the world — many of whom rent bikes to pedal across it.
Here’s a trio of tandems hauling tourists…
I can appreciate the complexity of managing bike traffic on this bridge. Besides throngs of tourists (both on bikes and on foot), the Golden Gate also connects Marin and San Francisco — two places where bicycling is a big deal. This all adds up to a bridge that offers an interesting cross-section of people on bikes.
Managing bike access has been a thorny issue for local advocates and bridge officials. We noticed this speed reader board on the northern end where there’s a slight downhill. It not only showed bike speed, it would also flash a white dot if you were over 15 mph…
But we weren’t in any hurry… As we rode back toward Marin (north), the Headlands emerged from the fog…
Many people stopped to take it all in…
Riding across the bridge with family made it even more memorable. Here’s my daughter 9 year old daughter Eleni was a bit anxious about the ride; but she had a great time…
And my six-year old loved it too…
Even my little guy was with us (Hi Everett!)…
Having driven, walked, and biked across the bridge, I sincerely believe that seeing the Golden Gate by bike is the best way to go. Hope you enjoyed this little ride-along. Check out a few more photos in the gallery.