With all the ghoulish predictions of traffic armageddon, I thought I would challenge my 62-year-old body and see if I really could bike to the America’s Cup races from Alameda. Skipping out of work at 2 p.m. and biking from the middle of the island, I caught the 2:25 ferry.
The ferry is a great way to avoid the traffic hassles that come with any big event in the City. © 2007 Barrie Rokeach
By John Platt
Published: November, 2012
With all the ghoulish predictions of traffic armageddon, I thought I would challenge my 62-year-old body and see if I really could bike to the America’s Cup races from Alameda. Skipping out of work at 2 p.m. and biking from the middle of the island, I caught the 2:25 ferry.
I was thrilled as we approached Pier 41 to watch the Blue Angels go through their maneuvers. The top deck of our ferry was jammed with excited passengers as the Blue Angels pirouetted over our heads. Landing at Pier 41, I unpacked my bike from the rack conveniently located on the stern of the boat. Lo and behold, I was at the center of the action.
Leaving Fisherman’s Wharf, I headed down to Aquatic Park. I had read on the Bike 511 link from the America’s Cup website that there was a bike path running along the waterside above Fort Mason. It was a beautiful route except for the one big hill climb, which (acknowledging old age) I walked halfway up.
Biking down the hill at Fort Mason and then on the wide pedestrian bike path was a breeze. Marina Green was packed with Fleet Week exhibitions, but I had no problem winding my way through pedestrians and other cyclists.
I pulled into the America’s Cup Village right as the races were starting, locked my bike and walked onto the peninsula, home of the Golden Gate and Saint Francis Yacht Clubs. Joining the crowd of enthusiastic spectators on the seawall, we all marveled at our (free!) best seats in the house and the great spectacle of these fast catamarans flying their hulls by us. The spectacle of 11 huge, high-speed catamarans coming right at you toward the starting line is fantastic.
The races ended at 6 p.m., so after a brief visit to the America’s Cup Village I started making my way back to the Ferry Building, as the 7:25 ferry did not leave from Pier 41. Winding my way along the walkway through the crowd leaving the races, I headed back over to Fort Mason. The view from the top of the path in the park of the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge was worth the trip by itself. Going through Aquatic Park, I headed over to the bike lanes on North Point Street and headed down to the Embarcadero.
I was nervous about biking on the Embarcadero, but the clearly marked bicycle lanes made it simple and safe. And I was not alone; there were other bicyclists as well as my favorite mode of San Francisco transport, the pedicabs.
I arrived at the Ferry Building before 7 and hooked up with a good-natured crowd, with whom I swapped stories of the day. Especially satisfying was a cool beverage on board after all my biking.
The ride home was smooth and fast. Landing home in Alameda at 7:45 p.m., I hopped on my bike and made the easy ride home arriving just a little after 8—not too sore and convinced this is one of the best ways to get to a San Francisco event. It was a great ride on the water and on the land, and it gave me a great chance to appreciate again why we all love the Bay Area.
