Tip of the month: planning your bike trip

Tip of the month: planning your bike trip

Published on June 09, 2026

When planning your bike route, ask yourself why you are cycling and how far you will be traveling. Whether for commuting, leisure or exercise, determining the desired distance and duration of the ride will help you plan accordingly. Look for established bike routes, bike lanes or shared-use paths in your area. Use online resources such as Google and Apple Maps or locally published routes that prioritize pedestrian safety, such as the San Mateo Countywide bike map. Look for roads with lower traffic volumes, designated bike infrastructure or scenic paths away from heavy traffic whenever possible. The Suggested Routes to School Maps identify low-stress routes that are appropriate for children and families.

Using cycling-specific infrastructure and other facilities can dramatically improve comfort on your ride!

This includes:

Bike lanes are areas of the road specifically designated for bicyclists. They are often marked by painted lines and symbols, providing dedicated space for cycling. Some bike lanes have painted lines that create a buffer space separating the bike lane from the traffic lane. They are called buffered bike lanes. In Menlo Park, Santa Cruz Avenue is a buffered bike lane that connects many neighborhoods to downtown Menlo Park.

Separated bike lanes have physical barriers, such as curbs, planters or bollards, separating bicyclists from motor vehicle traffic. They provide an extra level of safety and are becoming more common in the Bay Area.

Dashed conflict zones often appear in areas where cars may be turning right and have to cross the bike lane. The dashed lines alert bicyclists that vehicles can merge in the bike lane at these locations. Dashed conflict zones can be found throughout the city, in particular on Laurel Street and Ravenswood Avenue.

Rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and high-intensity activated crosswalks (HAWKs) are other signals that enhance crossing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. RRFB are warning signs located at intersections or at mid-block crosswalks. They are usually activated by the pedestrian and alert drivers to yield. HAWKs, also called hybrid beacons, improve the pedestrian and bicyclist crossing at intersections of major streets with streets with lower traffic volume. HAWKs are signals with two red lenses over a single yellow lens. The beacon begins flashing yellow, changes to steady yellow, then displays a solid red indication with both red lenses. During the solid red phase, drivers must stop and remain stopped, as with a standard traffic signal.

Shared-use paths and trails are separate from roadways and are designed for both pedestrians and bicyclists. These paths can be found in parks, along riverside or as a larger network of multi-use trails. A segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail crosses Menlo Park and takes you from Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park to Alviso, in North San Jose.

Neighborhood greenways are streets with lower traffic volumes and slower speeds, prioritizing bicyclist safety and comfort. They often have traffic calming measures.

Bike route and wayfinding signage can be seen at many locations in Menlo Park. The wayfinding signage indicates that you are on a designated bike route and it makes motorists aware of the bicycle route. Signs also guide you to key destinations, for example, the Caltrain station, a park or other bike facilities and indicate the distance and travel time to the destination.

Shared lane markings or "sharrows" show the bicyclist where to ride to stay outside the door zone on streets without bike lanes. If you see sharrows on the road, you should ride down the center of the symbol.

Pedestrian and bicycle bridges are also built into Menlo Park's multi-modal infrastructure. The Ringwood Avenue bridge crosses over Highway 101 and connects the Belle Haven and Flood Park Triangle neighborhoods. Many students take that bridge to travel to and from Menlo-Atherton High. San Mateo Drive bridge and Willow Place bridge cross the San Francisquito Creek and connect Menlo Park to Stanford University campus and Palo Alto.

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