Bay Area Bike Challenge 2026

FAQs

What is the Bay Area Bike Challenge?

Throughout the month of May for Bike to Wherever Days, we are challenging the Bay Area to collectively log at least175,000 miles on their bikes. And we can’t do it without you! The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) proudly presents this challenge to strengthen community bonds and promote unity across the region. Last year we crushed our goal for a total 159,200+ miles, so we know we can do it! But we can’t do it without you. Whether you're commuting to work, running errands, or simply enjoying a leisurely ride, every mile counts toward our goal. Join the Challenge!

Is the Ride with GPS app free to use?

Yes! If you are downloading the app for the first time you may see a pop-up window with the option to upgrade, but you can always close that window and proceed with signing up for the app and the Challenge free of charge.

How do I record a ride?

It’s easy! Here are the steps:

1. Open the Ride with GPS app on your phone

2. Find and hit “Record” on the bottom of the “Home” screen

3. Hit “Start Ride”

4. Press and hold the “Pause” button when your trip is over

5. Make sure to click "Finish Ride" so your ride saves and is added to the Leaderboard!

I recorded a ride! Do I need to do anything else to have it count towards the Challenge?

As long as you are signed up for the Bay Area Bike Challenge, any ride you record in Ride with GPS from May 1-31 will count towards the Challenge!

I don’t allow my phone to see my location and don’t track my rides with apps. Can I still participate in the challenge?

Yes! While only miles and trips tracked directly by the Ride with GPS app will count towards most of the prizes, you can still contribute to our collective goal of 120,000 and be eligible for the “Register and Ride” Raffles. You can manually enter your rides via a web browser instead of through the app. Here’s how:

How do I enter my miles manually and get the credit in Ride with GPS?

1. In a web browser, log into your account at www.ridewithgps.com. (NOTE: this will NOT work from the Ride with GPS phone app. You may use a web browser on your desktop or your phone.)

2. Select “Upload” from the main menu on the left side of the home screen.

3. Click “Create Manual Ride” on the right side of the screen.

4. Fill in the details of your ride. You can enter each ride individually, or estimate all of the miles you rode in May in one giant ride.

5. Click “Save” to complete your manual ride log.

Learn more here: Manually Logging Miles in Ride with GPS

I use Strava or another ride tracking app. Can my Ride with GPS data show up there? 

Yes! You can connect your Ride with GPS account to Strava, Garmin, and more, so that when you log your miles for the challenge they will also show up in your favorite tracking app. Click here to learn how!

Note: you will still have to use Ride with GPS for the miles you want to count towards the challenge, because this connection is a one-way street. Ride with GPS data will automatically show up in Strava, but Strava data will NOT show up in Ride with GPS. If you can’t bear to use anything else but Strava, you can also log your rides manually throughout the challenge. Here’s how.

I have an Apple Watch. Can I use that to participate in the Challenge? 

Yes! All you have to do is download the Ride with GPS app and be sure to add the app to your watch. Then all you have to do is open the app from your watch, hit “Record,” and you’re done! Be sure to hit “pause” and then “finish” when you’re done. Your rides will automatically show up in your Apple Health data, though there may be a slight delay. Click here to learn more. 

Is there any reason other than the Challenge to register with Ride with GPS?

Yes! In addition to being able to log your miles and help us with our regional goal of riding 175,000 miles, you’ll also have access to our route library to learn all sorts of awesome new routes by bike. Plus, there’s a whole community of cyclists on Ride with GPS just waiting to learn about you.

How do I enter a route for Most Creative?

Looking to win a prize for a creative route? Whether it’s for most creative design or for creative points of interests, please submit your route(s) by doing the following:

1. Adding “Creative” to the name of your ride

2. Adding a description so we know what it is or what you saw. Be as detailed as you want!

3. Emailing the ride’s link to info@bayareabiketowork.com

Pro tip: you can use Ride with GPS’ route planning tools to plan your creative route before your navigate it! Route Planning 101

What happens if we reach 175,000 miles before May 31?

We celebrate and keep riding! Remember, every mile and every trip you track acts like a raffle ticket, and every ride counts up until May 31st at 11:59pm. Let’s see how far we can go, together!