ROUTE & SCHEDULE

The Day:

9:00 a.m.
– Ride for Palestine starts with check-in at the event site, at MECA in Berkeley. You’ll enter on Harrison and Ninth Street to sign in and get things situated. 

9:30 a.m.
– Riders take off from MECA and head out to the SF Bay Trail for a scenic ride along the water.

11:00-11:30a.m.
– As riders return, the event site at MECA will be waiting. Lunch will be served at 12:00, with entertainment.

12:00-3:00 p.m.
– Once folks have eaten, the party kicks off at 12 noon. 

– In addition to music and fun at the post-ride celebration, there will be a few engaging speakers, and of course recognition of the Ride for Palestine teams and individuals who raised the most funds.

3:00 p.m.
– The festival fun wraps up. Thank you for a great day fundraising for MECA!

The Route:

After check-in, the ride kicks off at 9 a.m. from the event site, at MECA in Berkeley, CA. From there, riders will ride a few blocks through town, heading to the San Francisco Bay. Riders will take a scenic bayside route heading toward Richmond and the Rosie the Riveter Museum. The Ride for Palestine route is designed to be enjoyable for cyclists of all skill levels. It is scenic, primarily flat, and the paths are paved/established gravel trail paths.

Ride for Palestine: 14 mile Ride & Roll 

  • Festival site at MECA to Buchanan Street, Albany (then to the scenic trail)
    • 1 mile, city streets
    • Apx. 5 minutes
    • Incline: One small section of the pedestrian and bike access path has a short span that is an incline. Casual cyclers may choose to walk their bikes that short distance.
    • Signage and volunteers will be in place to guide riders to the Bay Trail
    • Check back for an overview of this route.
  • Scenic path at Buchannan to Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park, Richmond
  • Reverse trip: same 7-mile route for a total of 14 miles.
    • Turn around near the Rosie the Riveter Museum and head back to MECA along the same scenic route you just rode. The views of the Bay, bridges, ships and driftwood art will look surprisingly different as you bike.

Ride for Palestine: 14-19 mile Extended Route Suggestions

Looking for a longer ride? Great! Design your own extended route or choose from the below options that complement the main event route. Please note that extended rides will not have signage posted and are outside the boundaries of the official ride; you will be riding on your own.

  • Tack on 2 additional miles in Richmond by riding past the Rosie the Riveter Museum, around the Craneway Pavilion, down Harbour Way S. Take a right on Wright Ave., then a right on Marina Way S.  and a quick left onto Hall Ave, and you’ll be back at the scenic trail alongside the Bay, heading to Berkeley. 
  • Tack on an additional 2.6 miles in Berkeley by making a right instead of a left: instead of heading straight back to MECA, when you reach the Buchanan St. intersection, make a right into the park towards the Albany Bulb, then a left down the main path towards Gilman. The pedestrian / bike trail runs along the water and includes a paved path with incline challenges and benches for a scenic rest. 1.3 miles gets you from Buchanan to Gilman St.; 2.6 miles total once you’ve doubled back. NOTE: the safest path back to MECA and the post-ride festival is by taking Buchanan. We do NOT advise riding up Gilman as the underpass intersection and street are dangerous due to vehicle traffic. 
    • Tack on an additional 4-6 miles in Berkeley by riding the paved path past Gilman, continuing along the water towards the Bay Bridge, ending at/before Ashby Ave./Shellmound. 
  • Maximum miles for these suggested additional routes: 8 for a total ride max of apx 19 miles.
  • Want more of a ride? While our first year’s organized group ride is limited to 14 miles, you are welcome to tack on a more challenging ride as part of your day, or the lead up to the event. For route ideas, visit http://www.baytrail.org