Wll be in San Francisco with wife and 4 kids (ages 9-15). Heard about Blazing saddles, a bike outfit that rents bikes with maps of bike route over bridge to Sausalito. On their web site they show picture of parents with two smiling kids on bikes. My question is how practical is this bike ride with kids? Is there much riding in streets? Thanks. Elliot.

The bridge is great to ride on and parts of Marin (Mill Valley) have great bike paths. The only concern may be the trip from the north end of the bridge to Sausalito. I have seen bicyclists riding on a narrow bike path on the side of the freeway. There may be another way to bike into Sausalito but I don't know what that would be. You see visitors ALL the time on the Blazing Saddles bikes. Just remember it is state law that all children wear bike helmets at all times.

We just did it and it was the highlight of our trip to S.F.! So much fun to bike across the bridge but be warned...it's a really steep climb up to the bridge and very windy...take a windbreaker! Once you get into Sausalito it's much warmer. We had lunch in Sausalito then rode the ferry back to town. Great fun!

oops! you asked about the safety factor with kids.

Most of the ride is very safe. Naturally you have to be very careful when crossing the bridge since there's a narrow path with oncoming walkers/bikers.

Otherwise we never felt in danger of traffic. Enjoy yourselves!

I rented a bike in SF and rode all the way to Tiburon - it was FANTASTIC!! Only a little of the bikeway is on roads. There was one stretch between the bridge and Sausalito (maybe 1/2 mi.) that was on the shoulder of the road - I didn't like that very much - but it was overwith quickly. If you ride to Tiburon then you can take the ferry to Angel Island and have a picnic - that's what I did - and then take the trolley tour of the island if you're too tired to ride the loop around it. Then take the ferry back to the pier in SF to return the bikes.

thanks for the responses. Suzanne, on the 1/2 mile stretch you alluded to, is there much room to ride on the shoulder or are you riding in the actual car lane. Thanks. Elliot

Gosh, I wish I could remember...all I know is that it was a long hill (downhill, I think) and a truck passed me, which really freaked me out (I HATE riding on streets!). There actually wasn't much traffic on this road, though. It was totally worth it.

A MUST DO...JUST PACK LOTS OF WATER...THE TRIP TO THE BRIDGE HAS SOME SERIOUS UPHILLS...