With so much to see and do in San Francisco, hopping on a bike makes it easy and affordable to enjoy it all. From visiting one of the museums or parks to seeing a show or dining out, getting there on two wheels even allows you to sightsee along the way, while avoiding traffic jams and expensive rideshare fares.

Bike Sharing

Bike share is similar to bike rental, but with a few distinct advantages. It consists of a fleet of specially designed, sturdy and durable bikes that are locked into a network of docking stations throughout the city. The bikes can be unlocked from one station and returned to any other station in the system, making bike share ideal for one-way rides. You can also use it to take a longer round-trip rides for just $3 for each additional 15 minutes.

Bay Wheels

Bay Wheels is the Bay Area's official bike share program, designed to give residents and visitors a fun, affordable and convenient alternative to walking, taxis/rideshare, buses and subways. Once rollout is complete, there will be 546 Bay Wheels stations and 7,000 bikes across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and San Jose, making Bay Wheels one of the most accessible ways to get around and explore the Bay.

To use Bay Wheels, purchase passes and memberships here.

Traditional Bike Rental

If you plan to ride with children under 18 years old, are looking for a specific type of bicycle, are interested in a guided tour, or would like to keep a bike in your possession for several days at a time, traditional bike rental would be your best bet. You will typically need to decide in advance how long you want to keep the bike out, and when you’re finished, you will usually be required to return the bike to its original location.

There are a lot of bike rental places in San Francisco. Here are the ones we recommend: