On a ride through Richmond neighborhoods, cyclists learn about community projects
on September 12, 2026
More than a dozen cyclists pedaled through Richmond Saturday in a community bike ride to raise awareness about improvement projects in the heart of the city.
The event was organized by Rich City Rides, an organization dedicated to encouraging people to ride bikes The ride started near the Richmond BART Station Saturday morning, and continued into the afternoon, with stops at Unity Park and the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, among other locations.
Gabriella Tran, who helped organize the event, said the ride was part of a program to help residents in the Santa Fe, Coronado and Iron Triangle neighborhoods learn about efforts to make cycling in the area safer.
Tran said that’s important to make biking a realistic option for more Richmond residents, especially in neighborhoods where safe and convenient bike routes are limited.
“Riding a bike is more environmentally friendly, and it’s much less expensive than driving,” Tran said.
The first stop was Unity Park, where Mayeli Rico, introduced several community projects, including a community garden that will break ground on Sept. 29. It will be designed for people of all ages and physical abilities, and accessible to people who use wheelchairs.
The garden will use raised beds to reduce the risk of plants coming into contact with contaminated soil, which is an issue in a city with an extensive industrial past. The project will use underground drainage and irrigation systems designed to capture and use rainwater while reducing flood risks.
Rico said organizers are asking the City Council to release funding that had been put on hold to help pay for an e-bike lending library. The plan is for the e-bike library to serve as a community hub for Rich City Rides and provide options for people who have difficulty riding traditional bicycles.
The second stop on the tour was at the Rosie the Riveter museum, where Terrence Wu, a project manager with Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit focused on parks and public spaces, gave an update on the Richmond Wellness Trail. The 4-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail was first envisioned about a decade ago by the National Park Service, the city and community partners, Wu said. The goal was to create safer and more accessible routes for walking and bicycling.
Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2022, with reconfigured vehicle lanes and parking, a protected bike lane and expanded green space. The project now is in Phase 2, which will extend the trail along Marina Way South to Cutting Boulevard, remove one vehicle lane and add a bicycle lane up to 8 feet wide, along with barriers separating bicycles from cars. The project also includes new accessible curb ramps and trees along the route.
The project will create a continuous bicycle route between the Richmond BART Station and the San Francisco Bay, Wu said.
Maribel Rios, an intern with Richmond Rising, whose youth fellows led the bike ride, said Richmond needs more spaces designed for cyclists. During the ride, she noticed some impatient drivers, which can made cyclists feel anxious.
“I think having more bike lanes and designated areas for cyclists would be really helpful and would make cyclists feel safer,” Rios said.
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