Ride the Rails Bike Tour

Alameda used to have major railroads running down Lincoln Avenue and Encinal Avenue with street car lines and industrial spurs crossing town on other streets. On Sunday, Sept. 16, Alameda history will come back to life with a bicycle ride down these historic rights of way. Riders will gather at the former railroad station High Street Station (Encinal Avenue and High Street) beginning at 9:30 a.m. and will hear a brief history of the railroad they're about to follow, get some bicycle check up and safety tips, pre-order and pre-pay lunch courtesy of Shay's Cafe and hit the road by 10 a.m. BikeAlameda volunteers will coordinate and lead the ride with safety. Riders will then traverse the city via Encinal Avenue to Alameda Point's Hornet Field where lunch will be delivered and more history will be provided by Alameda Sun Publishers and Historians Dennis Evanosky and Eric J. Kos. The ride will continue back toward the east end along Lincoln Avenue (formerly Railroad Avenue) and follow, in reverse, the path of the first transcontinental train and then the Alameda Belt Line. At Island City Cafe, (Broadway and Blanding Avenue) riders can hear the history of the Big Reds before either dispersing or following organizers back to the start. Please, no unaccompanied minors, and helmets are required.