Sacramento, with its potential to be a truly bicycle-friendly city, still faces hurdles when it comes to convenient and safe cycling infrastructure. My recent bike trip to Costco near H Street highlighted these very challenges, turning what should have been a quick errand into a significant detour and raising questions about accessibility for cyclists at everyday destinations.
Setting out towards Costco, what should have been a straightforward route quickly became an exercise in navigating Sacramento’s less-than-ideal bike infrastructure. A steep ramp up to the levee top and an access trail leading to Expo Parkway was a start, but the absence of a direct connection to the REI and Costco parking lots was immediately frustrating. It begs the question: why wasn’t bicycle access considered when these major retail locations were developed? Perhaps the thought of cyclists easily accessing Costco’s famed food court treats was simply too much to bear for planners.
By the time I finally reached Costco, a full thirty minutes and 5.7 miles had been clocked – nearly triple the time and distance of a direct route. Upon arrival, the next challenge presented itself: bike parking. Ideally, bike racks at retail stores should be prominently located near the main entrance. This ensures they are easy to find, convenient to use, and within sight of passersby, deterring potential theft. However, at Costco, a bike rack was nowhere to be found, neither near the entrance nor anywhere else on the property. While improvising bike parking is often part of the cyclist experience, the complete absence of facilities at a major retail destination like Costco sends a clear, unwelcoming message. For a store with parking for over 500 cars, surely accommodating a few bicycles is not an unreasonable request.
The return journey home offered a comparison, this time via the H Street Bridge. Covering almost the same distance (5.8 miles) and taking the same thirty minutes, the H Street Bridge route presented its own set of problems. The bridge’s narrow sidewalk forces cyclists to navigate a gauntlet of pedestrians and oncoming bike traffic, an experience my wife aptly describes as “harrowing.”
While I personally value the extended ride and physical activity that bike commuting offers, the reality is most people operate under tighter time constraints. Spending an hour on a trip that could take 10-20 minutes by car is simply not feasible for many. If Sacramento truly aspires to be a bicycle-friendly city, addressing these riverine barriers and improving cyclist access to destinations is paramount. Bicycling needs to be not only safe but, crucially, convenient.
Midtown Sacramento stands as a positive example, boasting shaded streets, short blocks, dedicated bike lanes, and ample bike racks. These conditions, unfortunately, are not universal across the city. Sacramento, a city defined by the Sacramento and American Rivers, must overcome these geographical barriers to truly unlock its cycling potential. The current limitations inevitably push more people towards driving, contributing to unnecessary traffic congestion.
While perhaps a hopeful vision, the sight of more bikes, maybe even equipped with trailers for bulk purchases, at Costco would be a welcome sign of progress. Sacramento has the opportunity to embrace cycling culture fully, starting with practical improvements to infrastructure and accessibility at key destinations like Costco and across vital river crossings such as the H Street Bridge.
