Bike East Bay is paying close attention to current development of COVID-19 in Northern California. We are following California Department of Public Health guidelines, in addition to guidelines at the Alameda County and Contra Costa County level (see resources and FAQs below).

Bike East Bay continues to work closely with city and county agencies during COVID-19 response, and we have confirmed that bicycling remains an allowable activity under the Bay Area shelter in place order. I encourage you to keep riding for transportation, the environment, and your physical and mental health. If you choose to ride outdoors, the shelter-in-place order requires that you maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person. We do not encourage group rides at this time, as public or private gatherings outdoors are prohibited by the order.

I know that the coming weeks will be a time of stress and social isolation. I hope that bicycling can be a way for you to help maintain a healthy immune system and positive outlook during these difficult times.

During COVID-19 response, Bike East Bay continues our work of promoting healthy and sustainable communities through bicycling. Our physical office will be closed and staff have moved to working remotely as we develop new offerings to respond to community needs. We look forward to rolling out online bike education classes and other ways to stay connected in the coming weeks.

If you’re planning to attend an upcoming Bike East Bay event: due to the order to shelter in place for the entire Bay Area, we are modifying all in-person events. Some events will be hosted in an online format, others will be cancelled or postponed. Many of our award-winning bicycle education classes have moved online (BikeEastBay.org/BikeEdOnline). For a list of recent events and how they will change, please see the list below.

If there is an event you are hoping to attend, please RSVP for the event on our calendar (BikeEastBay.org/Calendar), to ensure you are notified of cancellations or postponements.

Finally, we thank you for your support. Especially in these uncertain times, your membership and donations ensure we remain sustainably committed to moving forward people-first streets.

Ride on,

Ginger Jui

Executive Director, Bike East Bay

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is the latest on shelter in place?

A: Find the latest releases on shelter in place in Alameda County, and Contra Costa County.

Q: Regarding the shelter in place: can I still go for a bike ride?

A: Yes! The shelter in place order allows for biking for essential travel or recreation, provided “individuals comply with social distancing requirements.”

Q: Do I have to wear a mask?

A: Masks are not required, but they are recommended. Additionally, if you are riding a bike, you must carry a face covering to be used in case it’s needed when encountering other people.

Q: What are cities doing to slow traffic on streets?

A: The City of Oakland rolled out it’s Slow Streets program in early April, with the aim to slow 74 miles of neighborhood streets. Other cities have petitions in the works as well.

Q: Auto-supply and auto-repair shops are allowed to stay open - what about bike shops?

A:Yes. All east bay health departments have ruled that bike shops are “essential businesses” and can remain open. Also, bike shops in San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin and Santa Clara can remain open. See here for a list of East Bay shops that are open. We recommend calling ahead to confirm with your favorite shop.

Q: What’s the latest on transit services?

A: Visit 511.org for comprehensive transit service updates.

Q: Will street improvement projects continue?

A: Yes, street projects such as repaving and striping bike lanes can continue as roads and highways are considered essential infrastructure. We are still getting updates from cities about any slowdowns in work. If you see a project happening, please let us know (advocacy@bikeeastbay.org) or on social media @bikeeastbay.

Q: Are Bike Stations open?

A: Controlled-access (such as BikeLink eLockers) and Bikeep locations remain open for the time being. All valet Bike Stations are now closed until at least April 7.

Q: Can I Still Order Food for Delivery or Take Out by Bike?

A: Yes.“Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out” are exempt from the Shelter in Place requirement.

Q: Are parks open?

A: For the latest on East Bay regional parks, visit their resource page. The latest on state parks is available here.

Q: Can I still ride a scooter?

A: Yes, while maintaining safe social distancing. Some scooter rental companies have paused operations.

Q: How can I help?

A: While Bike East Bay’s in-person volunteer opportunities are on hold, there are still ways to contribute to our mission of healthy, sustainable communities with organizations across the East Bay. Visit our volunteer resources page for details.

Q: Where should I go for the latest health updates?

A: Contra Costa County Health Services and Alameda County Health Department. Another helpful resource is the FAQ page from the Berkeley Public Health Department.

Resources:

Updated Events:

Bike Education classes : Our in-person classes are postponed for now, so we have shifted to providing free bike workshops on a variety of topics in an online, webinar format. To see the upcoming class list and sign up to participate, visit BikeEastBay.org/BikeEdOnline.

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