Cycling is an underrated way to explore SF, whether you’re just here to see the sights or you’re looking for car-free alternatives to get from point A to B. Lucky for us, the San Francisco bike rental scene is robust, and you’ll find many local services with well-located storefronts and affordable prices. Whether you’re looking for electric bikes to zoom around the city or cruisers to make the most of Golden Gate Park, there’s something for everyone with this deep-dive into the best bike rental San Francisco has to offer.
1. Bay City Bike
Bay City Bike’s location in Fisherman’s Wharf is ideal for tourists wanting to see the sights in a fun and approachable way. As a professional bike shop, they have a practiced system of recycling old bikes and replenishing the fleet. That means you’ll always get wheels in great condition, whether you seek a city bike rental, electric bike, or guided bike tour in San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-Guided Bike Tour
- Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito: Guided Bike Tour from San Francisco
- San Francisco Bike Rental
📍 2661 Taylor St, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
2. Unlimited Biking
Unlimited Biking is a national bike rental chain, and here in San Francisco they offer great bike rental options out of three key locations: Golden Gate Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Union Square. Find them on the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park and hit all the key spots like the Japanese Tea Garden and the bison paddock. Or if you’re hoping to explore the SF waterfront, you can pick up a bike at Ghirardelli Square and ride all the way from Aquatic Cove to the Golden Gate Bridge. They offer everything you could need on a typical bike tour of SF, including helmets, bike bags, locks and maps.
- Golden Gate Park Bike Rentals
- Golden Gate Park eBike Rentals
- Golden Gate Bridge Self-Guided Bike Tour and Sausalito Ferry
- Golden Gate Bridge 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour
📍 Locations:
- Golden Gate Park: 1792 Haight St, Haight-Ashbury
- Fisherman’s Wharf: 765 Beach St., Fisherman’s Wharf
- Union Square: 427 Post St., Downtown San Francisco
3. Bay Wheels by Lyft
Lyft’s Bay Wheels bike share is a go-to option for many San Franciscans in their daily lives, and it’s even compatible with your Clipper card. Pick out a classic bike or ebike from dozens of Lyft docking stations around the city, and you’re set to cruise around San Francisco at great rates for both single rides and longer-term memberships. In Bay Wheels’ ongoing efforts to improve bikeshare access, they offer a Bikeshare for All program with free 60-minute rides and special benefits to those who qualify. If you seek San Francisco electric bike rental, this is one of the most popular and convenient options.
💸 Single ride $3.49/30 min, day pass $10/day, month pass $29/month, Bay Wheels membership $150/year
4. Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles is equipped with the largest fleet of rental bikes in California, including tandem, kids’ bikes, ebikes, mountain bikes, and road bikes. Regular rental rates start at $20, but you’ll also want to look into their day trips and bike tours for more ways to make the most of their ample resources. An underrated perk is their late-night drop-off option, which gives you more peace of mind to ride as long as you want.
📍 Locations:
- 2715 Hyde Street, Fisherman’s Wharf
- Pier 41, Fisherman’s Wharf
- 721 Beach Street, Fisherman’s Wharf
- 465 Jefferson St, Fisherman’s Wharf
5. The Bike Hut
The Bike Hut is a fantastic rental and repair shop on Pier 40 that’s popular among locals for its great prices, resources, and community-focused programs. Truthfully, anyone can benefit from The Bike Hut’s business model, as they’ll do more than just tune up your bike. They’ll also teach you how to repair it yourself and won’t just try to upsell you.
San Francisco bike rental is just a fraction of what they do — in renting from The Bike Hut, you’re also supporting their continued efforts to give back. Not only do they specialize in skills training for kids from low-income communities, but they also partner with the International Rescue Committee to provide free bikes for recently-landed refugees in the Bay Area.
📍 Pier 40, Suite #15, South Beach
6. Sports Basement
Sports Basement is a well-known retailer for outdoor gear, sports clothing, and equipment rentals. While many SF bike rental options are centered around Fisherman’s Wharf, Sports Basement is a good option for some of the areas more underrated by tourists. Pick up a bike at Stonestown Galleria and go for a ride along the bluffs at Fort Funston, or ride through the Presidio to Land’s End and back. Sports Basement’s huge rental selection is great for all levels, from beginners who are just doing some sight seeing to experienced cyclists seeking specialty bike rentals.
📍 Locations:
- 1590 Bryant St, Mission District
- 610 Old Mason St, Presidio
- 3251 20th Ave Ste 390, Stonestown Galleria
7. San Francisco Bike Rentals
San Francisco Bike Rentals is run by a close-knit team of SF natives with intimate knowledge of the city’s bike landscape. They have some great advice about which routes to cycle, offering detailed descriptions that are helpful for people who aren’t familiar with the city. The most popular route is via the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, which takes you from the Powell/Hyde St. cable car location along the Golden Gate Promenade bike path. You can also follow their recommendations for seeing Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate Bridge on one 9-mile ride.
📍 Locations:
- 425 Jefferson St, Fisherman’s Wharf
- 1816 Haight St, Golden Gate Park
- One Ferry Building
8. Bike The Bridge
Anyone seeking Golden Gate Bridge bike rental would do well to seek out Bike The Bridge, as their location in the Marina allows you to skip the hill in Fort Mason Park. You’ll reach the bridge after just 20 minutes on a scenic beachfront path, at which point you can cycle across to Sausalito and take the ferry back. Their typical rental includes a high-quality hybrid bike, helmet, lock, map, front handlebar bag, and bottle holder.
📍 1465 Lombard St, Fisherman’s Wharf
9. Parkwide
If you see people riding four-person surrey bikes in Golden Gate Park, it’s likely they came from Parkwide. This bike rental service partners with the SF Rec & Parks department to offer ample bike rental options including ebikes, city bikes, kids’ bikes, tandems, and surreys. You’ll also find some great guided tour options including a 15-mile route that take you through the whole city, and a sunset bike tour through some of the SF’s most popular lookout points.
📍 Locations:
- Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd
- Golden Gate Park behind the Music Concourse
- Golden Gate Park at the corner of Stanyan and Haight
10. The Bike Connection
The Bike Connection is a local bike retailer and repair shop with top-notch bikes available for rent in San Francisco and Palo Alto. Options include road bikes, electric bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, and full-suspension mountain bikes. You can expect a helmet, lock, and flat repair kit included with your rental. This is a great option if you’re in the market to purchase a bike, because they’ll credit your rental fee towards the final cost if you decide to buy it.
📍 1090 Folsom St, SoMa, San Francisco