First, get to
the bridge from Blanding Avenue, the last street before the bridge (connecting from Oak Street
from the West or Broadway or Fernside from the East). Cross the Bridge, we suggest riding on the
"sidewalk" rather than the car-filled, rough-textured road surface.
Continue straight,
and keep to the right on the street. (The cars alongside will be heading toward the freeway; the
29th street overpass rises on your left.) At the intersection of East 7th, just before the cars
turn right onto the freeway, there is a walkway under the overpass. Go left under the overpass;
you'll wind up heading on East 7th street.
(Often, cyclists try to take a shortcut by crossing the bridge on the left side, then going against traffic to meet up with the Embarcadero. The problem is that there just isn't any reasonable way to cross onto the correct side. The suggested route is much safer and only adds 1000 feet to your route.)
After a couple of
stop lights, this will curve around; you're on the Embarcadero. (Watch for some railroad
tracks just past the Con-Agra building; these were supposed to be removed, but nothing
happened!)
You'll pass
Dennison (access to Coast Guard Island), a nice Marina area (with not-so-nice diagonally and
perpendicularly parked cars -- be careful!), and a mix of Freeway and Estuary scenery.
Shortly after you
go over a sandy bridge (that crosses the channel connecting to Lake Merritt), the road will loop
to the right. Turn left onto the West Embarcadero to head toward Jack London Square, or continue
straight onto Oak Street to head toward Downtown.
Coming back
toward Alameda is just a ride in the opposite direction on Embarcadero. After the big curve by
the "Con Agra" flour plant, turn right onto Kennedy. Follow the road and it will take you right
onto the Bridge.