If you live in San Diego then you know it is one of the best places to ride your bike on a daily basis. Instead of driving, you can ditch your gas-guzzler and make your daily commute via bike. San Diego County makes it easy by offering secure bike parking facilities, bike lockers, routes and trails, and ease of transport on public transportation. Back in 2016, the city began a plan to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists, as well as to decrease the city’s carbon footprint while increasing safety. Not only is biking good for your health and the environment, it can also help you save money. And if you’re worried about biking to long distances, you can transport your bike along the way on public transit including the bus, trolley, Coaster, Sprinter, Metrolink, or Amtrak, which are all bike-friendly and require no additional fare. 

San Diego County also has a great bike culture as well as programs like the Bike Coalition that offers many resources to the public, including classes and workshops. Car lanes as well as some parking spaces have been converted into pedestrian promenades and cycling lanes, making non-vehicle travel more accessible. With over 1,570 miles of bikeways in the county, here are some San Diego neighborhoods that are great for riding your bike around town. 

La Jolla Village

Bike Trail along the La Jolla coast / Shutterstock

The business and residential neighborhood of La Jolla Village has a variety of locations just a hop, skip, and a jump away from residents’ homes, making it a great candidate for non-motorized transport. According to the icommutesd Bike Map, the region of La Jolla Village offers a plethora of bike lanes, bike routes, and other suggested paths within the neighborhood.

Crown Point

Looking out from Crown Point Trail / Shutterstock

Crown Point offers not only bike lanes, bike routes, and multi-use paths, but it also has a bike lane across the Ingraham Street Bridge, leading through to Vacation Isle Park and down to Mission Bay View. These bike routes allow you to take in the scenery of the water, leading from the peninsula to the island while on your journey.

Mission Bay

Riding bike along Mission Bay trail / Shutterstock

The Mission Bay area offers a variety of bike paths, but what’s best about this location is its paved, flat routes that offer views of the beach as well as the aquatic park. The trail around Mission Bay is roughly 12 miles and connects to other paths including Fiesta Island, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach. Mission Bay also offers 27 miles of car-free, paved bike paths that connects you from the mainland to the island. 

Liberty Station

Trail along Liberty Station / Shutterstock

A mixed-use development comprised of four distinct districts and located in Point Loma, Liberty Station is a great place for bikers and pedestrians thanks to the area’s numerous bike paths. North of Downtown San Diego, bike routes are convenient for getting to and from the city, whether you’re heading to the office for work or to the hotel district for a night out with friends, biking in this neighborhood is a breeze.

Barrio Logan

Wide streets and bike lanes in Barrio Logan

Located in the southern portion of San Diego, Barrio Logan is bordered by Logan Heights, East Village, Southcrest, and Shelltown, and is served by the San Diego Trolley. Its bike lanes and routes connect to these surrounding locations, adding diversity and ease of travel. Biking throughout these parts also offers scenic views of the San Diego Bay that borders the neighborhood. Barrio Logan also has an annual bicycle-riding grand prix in its downtown with thousands of participants attending to ride the flat street course, proving its biking conditions.

Southcrest

Southcrest Trails Park / Courtesy of Civic San Diego

Located in the southeastern section of the city, Southcrest is bordered by Interstate 5, Logan Heights, Mountain View, Shelltown, and Barrio Logan. In addition to its major streets of 40th Street and National Avenue, Southcrest has connecting bike routes and trails that branch off into the surrounding neighborhoods. The Southcrest trail, which is the most popular trail in the area, passes along Chollas Creek to Rigel Street, where it then converts to a Class B bicycle lane (i.e. shares the street with traffic).