Bike rides with kids in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is about as flat as a Bay Area city gets. Most of it sits on the plain between the bay and the foothills, so a child on a 16-inch bike can cross a good part of town without a real hill. The city built the first bicycle boulevard in the country on Bryant Street in the 1970s. It also has car-free paths on an old rail line, along the bay shore and over Highway 101.

This guide picks routes by age, from first wobbly rides to long weekend outings. It also explains the helmet law as California states it. For the adult view of cycling here, including commuting and road rides, see our guide to biking in Palo Alto.

The helmet law, in plain terms

California's rule is in Vehicle Code section 21212. It says a person under 18 may not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter or a skateboard, or wear in-line or roller skates, "upon a street, bikeway" or "any other public bicycle path or trail" unless wearing "a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet." The helmet must meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Two details catch parents out:

• Passengers count. The law also applies to a child riding in a restraining seat on the bike or in a trailer towed by it.
• Fit matters. The words "properly fitted and fastened" are in the statute. A helmet pushed back on the head or with the strap undone does not meet it.

A violation is an infraction with a fine of up to $25. A parent or guardian with custody is jointly liable for it. The law lets a first charge be dismissed in some cases and lets the citation be cleared if, within 120 days, the family shows a compliant helmet and a completed bike safety course where one is available. Palo Alto also requires helmets on its open space preserve trails. Read the full text of section 21212 if you want the exact wording.

Routes by age

Ages are a rough guide. A cautious 9 year old may be happier on the Bol Park path than on Bryant Street, while a bold 7 year old may love the Bay Trail.

The Bol Park path

The Bol Park path in Barron Park is the best first ride in town. It runs about 1.25 miles on a paved strip that follows an old railroad line, from Hanover Street to Miranda Avenue and Arastradero Road. It was dedicated in May 1980. There are no cars on it at all.

The middle is the highlight. The path passes Bol Park, a strip of lawn and play equipment along Matadero Creek. Just beyond is a fenced pasture where the Barron Park donkeys live. In 2026 the Barron Park Donkey Project lists two, Buddy and April. Stop at the fence, but do not feed them. The volunteers say even carrots and apples are bad for donkeys.

On school days the path fills with students riding to Gunn High School and nearby schools, so weekends and summer mornings are calmer for beginners. From the south end, older kids can continue up Arastradero Road toward Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, though that stretch shares the road with cars.

The Bay Trail and the Baylands

The San Francisco Bay Trail runs along the shore east of Highway 101. Through Palo Alto it is flat and car-free, with marsh on both sides and birds everywhere. It is the place to build distance without hills.

The trail splits into two routes here. The shoreline route runs on gravel levees into the Baylands Nature Preserve, past the Lucy Evans nature center and Byxbee Park. It is the scenic choice but bumpier on small tires. The inland route stays paved along East Bayshore Road, which is smoother but less interesting.

Getting there by bike

Since November 2021 a bicycle and pedestrian bridge has carried riders over Highway 101 near Adobe Creek. Together with the Adobe Reach Trail, which links West Bayshore Road with East Meadow Drive, it gives south Palo Alto families a way to reach the shore without crossing the freeway interchanges. From Mitchell Park it is a short ride.

Two practical notes. The preserve is open from 8 a.m. to sunset and bikes need helmets on preserve trails, whatever the rider's age. Wind builds most afternoons and a headwind on the way home can end a small rider's day. Start in the morning and ride into the wind first.

Bryant Street and the bike boulevards

A bike boulevard is a street where cars are allowed but bikes get priority, with traffic calming and barriers that keep through traffic away. Palo Alto opened the first one in the country on Bryant Street. Today it runs from Palo Alto Avenue to East Meadow Drive and carries the name of Ellen Fletcher, the council member who championed it.

For kids who are ready to learn street riding, Bryant is the classroom. Traffic is light, but there are still parked cars, driveways and cross streets. Teach the basics before you go: ride on the right, stop fully at stop signs and look for doors opening. The city adopted a new bicycle and pedestrian plan on June 15, 2026, so expect changes on some streets over the next few years. Our page on Palo Alto's bike boulevards has the full network.

The Stevens Creek Trail

Just south of the city line, the Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View is the longest paved path nearby. It runs about 5 miles (the Friends group says 4.8) from Dale Avenue and Heatherstone Way near Highway 85 north to Shoreline at Mountain View, where it meets the Bay Trail. It uses undercrossings at several major roads, which keeps street crossings to a minimum.

A good family plan is to start near the middle and ride north to Shoreline Park, where the lake and open lawns make a natural turnaround. Strong riders can do the whole trail and back. The path is shared with runners and walkers, so practice calling out before passing. Check the trail update page for closures before you go.

Bikes on Caltrain

Caltrain makes longer family outings possible without a car. Each electric train has two bike cars that hold up to 36 bikes each. Board at the doors marked for bikes and stay near your bikes during the ride. With two or three children's bikes to manage, a weekend train is calmer than a weekday commute run. See Caltrain's bike rules.

Gear, rentals and repairs

Palo Alto has no bike share program, so visitors need to bring bikes or rent them. Local shops sell and service children's bikes. Our guide to bike shops and outdoor gear lists them. If you are visiting, you can compare bike rentals in the Bay Area before you arrive.

• Helmet. Look for the ASTM or CPSC label inside. The law requires that certification.
• Lock. A U-lock through the frame for stops at the library or a cafe. Racks near the Caltrain stations fill on weekdays.
• Lights. In December it gets dark before 5 p.m.
• Water and a layer. The bay shore is cooler and windier than town.

Frequently asked questions