Walking and Bicycling in Mountain View

Mountain View has the ideal climate for walking and bicycling. The city has accessible sidewalks, an expanding network of bike lanes and more than 10 miles of beautiful multi-use trails including Stevens Creek Trail and Permanente Creek Trail, making it increasingly easy and attractive to get around Mountain View without a car.

The City continues to work on improving and expanding the network of connected and low-stress bicycle and pedestrian facilities as described in the following planning documents:

2015 Bicycle Transportation Plan Update

2014 Pedestrian Master Plan

California Street Bike Ride 

In preparation for the work to be completed on California Street next year, you are invited to a bike ride along California on March 26^th, at 10 AM.

Next month, design work will begin on the California Street Complete Streets Pilot project between Showers Drive and Ortega Avenue. Please join me and the Capital Improvements Program Manager, Robert Gonzales, as we ride from the Mountain View Caltrain Station at Evelyn Avenue and View Street along California Street. The ride's goal will be to collect your input regarding what you want to see from California Street in general but with a specific focus on the project area between Showers and Ortega.

The ride pace will be slow and largely within bike lanes; however, traffic levels on California can be high at times. We will make two stops, once at Del Medio Park and again at Klein Park, to discuss and collect your feedback.

To view the ride route, please click here. 

If you would like to provide input on California Street please click here to take a short survey. 

Walk/BIKE Events AND Quick Build Projects

The Bike Rodeo scheduled for April 25, 2020, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order.  The event will be rescheduled later to give children a opportunity to learn safety tips from the expert trainers, and gain safe riding skills appropriate to their current skill level and age.

On August 1, 2019, the City of Mountain View co-hosted the Silicon Valley Bicycle Summit at the Community Center during the day and held Thursday Night Live “Bike Night” on Castro Street in the evening. In conjunction with these special events, the City partnered with the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition and Google to install a pop-up protected bikeway along the south (eastbound) side of California Street from Wednesday, July 31, through Thursday, August 1, 2019.  These activities help the City to learn to innovate and work with the community to try out new bicycle treatments and implement quick build improvements.

CITY Code Update on Bikes and Transportation Devices

The City of Mountain View recently adopted a new ordinance on the use of bicycles, e-bicycles, e-scooters, and transportation devices on City streets and sidewalks (MVCC Chapter 19 Article VI).  The ordinance is effective from May 9, 2019.  It includes rules for riding on roadways, riding on sidewalks and parking.  View the Rules for Riding Right.

2020 SUGGESTED ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM (Grades K-12)

The City has supported local families walking and biking to school through the Suggested Routes to School Program (SRTS) since the 2010 Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) Federal grants.  These grants were discontinued in 2018.  The City has relaunched the SRTS program in 2020 using the 2016 Measure B Sales Tax funding allocated to Bicycle/Pedestrian Education and Encouragement Program.  This next phase of work builds upon the successes and lessons learned from past implementation to increase student safety, encourage active transportation, and increase the share of students getting to and from school by modes other than a vehicle. 

In partnership with the school districts serving K-12th grade Mountain View students, exciting bicycle/pedestrian education and encouragement events are planned over the next two years.  These events include bicycle and pedestrian rodeos, cyclist skill classes, walk and bike to school days, and bicycle repair workshops.

Walking, Biking and trail Maps

The City has compiled this existing and planned bikeway network information as advisory only.  We encourage all riders to choose when and where to ride according to their ability and experience, and guide children accordingly.  The City keeps improving facilities and updates the maps periodically so current bikeway network conditions may not be reflected:

• City of Mountain View Interactive Bike Map (2020)

•  City of Mountain View Printed Bike Map (2016)

• Suggested Walking and Biking Routes to School

• Downtown Bike Rack Locations

• Hetch Hetchy Trail

• Permanente Creek Trail

• Stevens Creek Trail  

Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (B/Pac)

Attend B/PAC and help shape conditions for walking and bicycling in Mountain View!  

Mountain View Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (B/PAC) is an advisory body to the City Council on matters related to bicycle and pedestrian transportation.  B/PAC members advise and make recommendations to the City Council on policy, proposed improvements, and the operation and maintenance of the City's bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  Meetings are held in the Plaza Conference Room of City Hall on the last Wednesday evening of most months. The B/PAC Members Manual and Presentation provide more information on B/PAC procedures and reference materials.

WALK AND Bike Friendly Community

In 2018, the City of Mountain View received a Bronze-Level Walk Friendly Communities (WFC) award in recognition of its efforts to support walkability and pedestrian safety.  The designation highlighted the City's pedestrian plan, safety-based performances measures, excellent sidewalk coverage, sidewalk design standards, robust maintenance funding, installation of over 20 high visibility midblock crosswalks, 15 mph speed limit in school zones, and a comprehensive Safe Routes to School program.  The designation also includes a report card with recommendations, which will be helpful as the City updates the Pedestrian Master Plan in FY 2020-21.  The City of Mountain View joins six other newly designated Bronze communities (33 total), and three new Silver designated communities (21 total).  There are also 15 Gold communities and two Platinum communities.

In 2012, Mountain View was designated a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, an upgrade from the Bronze-Level award the City held since 2004.  The Silver-Level award recognizes the City's commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.  Mountain View is one of only 127 (4% of) cities across the country to be designated as a Silver, Gold, or Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community.

The League of American Bicyclists also recognizes businesses for their efforts to encourage a more welcoming atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community through its Bicycle Friendly Business program.  To learn more or apply.

BIKE education

The Mountain View Public Library has a bike repair station and offers a free drop-in bike clinic from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month.  Additional information on the drop-in bike clinic is available on the Library calendar. Additional bike repair tips and videos can be found at bikeride. 

Bicycle shelter/ bicycle Lockers

The City offers rent-free, short-term bicycle storage in the bicycle shelter located at the Downtown Transit Center at the corner of Castro Street and Evelyn Avenue, or at one of the many bicycle lockers found throughout Mountain View’s downtown. Renting a locker or shelter space is easy. Bring a valid California Driver License, ID card (California only) or passport; a description of the bike to be locked/parked; the bike’s serial or identification number; and $25 for a one-time refundable deposit, to the Public Works Department located on the first floor of City Hall at 500 Castro Street. Once you complete and sign a rental agreement and pay the $25 deposit, you will receive your shelter access code within 5 business days or a bike locker key. Currently, there is a waitlist for bicycle lockers. If you would like your name added to the list, please contact the Public Works Department.  Please note: The bike lockers located on the Mountain View Caltrain platform are not City of Mountain View bike lockers; those are Caltrain lockers.  Information on how to use Caltrain's new on-demand e-lockers is available at www.bikelink.org.       

MORE INFORMATION

The Public Works Department can be reached at (650) 903-6311 or public.works@mountainview.gov if you have any questions or need additional information on biking and walking in Mountain View.

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN LINKS

The following links provide helpful information regarding bicycle safety and other resources.

• Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC)
• Bay Area Water Trail 
• Bay Trail
• California Bicycle Coalition
• California WALKS
• Caltrans Bicycle Transportation
• Downtown Bike Rack Locations 
• League of American Bicyclists
• National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide
• VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• VTA Bicycle Program (Bikeways Map, Bicycle Technical Guidelines, etc.)
• VTA Pedestrian Program 
• Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
• Vision Zero 
• Walk Friendly Communities
• 511.org
• Santa Clara County Health Department Walking and Bicycling Safety Booklet