According to The League of American Bicyclists, the organization that strives to create a bicycle-friendly America, May is officially National Bike Month. However, the biggest day of the month is Bike to Work Day, which will take place this year on May 18. For those who are already familiar with biking around Los Angeles, finding the best bike routes to work might seem simple enough. However, for many people, biking to work isn’t as easy as it seems and may even require crossing some tough streets. Below is a guide to safely bike to work—without accidentally landing on the freeway—for cyclists who live and work in LA’s westside. 

Exposition Corridor Bike Path

Courtesy of Better Bike

Who needs to take the train when you can ride parallel to it on the Expo Line Bike Trail. This bike path extends from Santa Monica to West Adams, so cyclists looking to travel between those areas as well as Culver City, Sawtelle, West LA, Castle Heights, Baldwin Hills, La Cienega, or Crenshaw might want to head towards Exposition Boulevard. 

Be warned though, this path is not perfect. Although most of the route is paved thanks to the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) folks in Los Angeles, there is a mile-long gap in this trail between Overland Avenue and National Boulevard as it turns back into Exposition. There are various points for parking along the way, including in 16th and 17th Court in Santa Monica, Bundy Drive near Sawtelle, and Culver Boulevard at Culver Junction. 

The Ballona Creek Bike Path

Photo by Tubbydammer / CC BY-SA

Another popular and scenic route to take to work is The Ballona Creek Bike Path, which stretches seven miles from Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City to the Strand in Playa del Rey. This bike path has 13 different entry points and it passes through Culver City, Baldwin Hills, Westchester, Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, and Playa del Rey.

Even though this bike path is regularly maintained and well-traveled, cyclists should exercise caution when riding underneath freeways and passing through access points. Most entrances along Ballona Creek are flat and accessible, with the exception of the entrances at Duquesne Avenue, Sepulveda Boulevard, Sawtelle Boulevard, Slauson Avenue, and McConnell Avenue, which have steep ramps.

The Strand

Photo by Daveynin / CC BY

If you live near the beach or work in a Silicon Beach neighborhood near the coast, this bike path is perfect for you. The Strand, formally known as The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, spans a lengthy 22-mile path along the Pacific Coast from the Pacific Palisades, through Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, El Porto, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, until it finally reaches Torrance.

This trail is paved and entertaining, and cyclists can not only bike to work, they can also enjoy riding by some of LA’s most popular beachside landmarks and attractions. Because The Strand is popular with both locals and visitors, remember to stay alert for pedestrians, joggers, and skaters.

San Vicente Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard Bike Lane

Courtesy of LA Streetsblog

Even though the San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevards are a nightmare to drive through during rush hour, many people forget that these major streets also have bike lanes. This four-mile bicycle lane starts at San Vicente, near the coast in Pacific Palisades, and it passes through Santa Monica, West LA, Brentwood, and Westwood. The lane then continues onto Santa Monica Boulevard through Century City, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. 

Since Santa Monica has long worked towards becoming a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city, cyclists can enjoy a dedicated bike lane from Ocean Avenue to Wilshire. Cyclists using these bike lanes can see a range of homes, restaurants, and stores because it cuts through the city. However, it’s important to be aware of other vehicles and appropriately follow street signals.

Venice Boulevard Bike Lane

Courtesy of LA Streetsblog

If you’re planning on traveling between the beach to the other side of town, consider riding along Venice Boulevard. This bike lane stretches as far as Downtown Los Angeles, but for those who are only traveling in the Westside, the Venice Boulevard bike lane also allows you to ride to or from Abbot Kinney, Mar Vista, Palms, Culver City, and La Cienega.

While most of the bike lane is flat throughout the Westside of town, many riders notice more inconsistent and bumpy street surfaces heading east.