Planning the Production
We recently completed the sizzle reel for our first episode of Ride the Rails. This collaborative project between Roberta Gonzales Productions and Travel by Train features the San Francisco Bay Area. Our journey combined BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train travel with ebike cycling. The team included an Emmy-winning TV host, an executive assistant, a production manager, and me—a train travel blogger and cycling industry veteran. After months of planning, script writing, and Zoom meetings, we finally brought the team together. Bulls Bikes provided ebikes for our production through a bicycle industry connection. Our goal was simple: demonstrate how easy day trips to San Francisco can be using only sustainable transportation. We started at Dublin/Pleasanton BART station in the East Bay. From there, the adventure began.
Inside BART
Scouting the S.F. Bay Bike Route
A week before filming, I rode the route with an experienced cycling friend. We started at BART Pleasanton and took the train to Embarcadero Station in San Francisco. From there, we biked to the Ferry Building. Our route took us along the Embarcadero past Pier 39 and through Fisherman’s Wharf. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge on the designated bike path. Next, we cycled to Sausalito using dedicated bike lanes. The mixed-use waterfront paths offered stunning San Francisco Bay views as we continued through the marshlands to Tiburon. We took the ferry back to San Francisco from Tiburon. A quick ride returned us to Embarcadero BART station for the train to Pleasanton. The entire six-hour trip used only sustainable transportation: train, ferry, and bicycle. Production day was next!
- The Bay Bridge
Production Day: San Francisco Waterfront by Bike
Production day started at Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. We rode the train through the East Bay to Embarcadero Station in San Francisco. A short bike ride took us to the Ferry Building. We walked our bikes through the bustling indoor marketplace filled with food vendors. After sampling local eats, we stepped outside to world-class views of the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz. Street musicians and vendors lined the pier. We entered the separated bike lane along the Embarcadero. Minutes later, we arrived at Pier 39, San Francisco’s iconic waterfront landmark. Tourists from around the world filled the pier. We again, walked our bikes while enjoying clam chowder, craft beer, and seal watching. The sightseeing was outstanding.
The Iconic Fisherman’s Wharf
Next, we cycled down the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf, another legendary San Francisco destination. Since we’d already eaten, we explored the Musée Mécanique instead. This hidden gem features vintage mechanical games, classic pinball machines, and video games from every era. Afterward, we biked back to Embarcadero BART station. The route was easy enough to walk with more time or an overnight stay planned. We boarded the train one final time for the return trip to Dublin/Pleasanton. Overall, the journey took just 3-4 hours of travel time by BART and bicycle. The rest of our day was spent experiencing San Francisco’s incredible waterfront. It was a perfect day spent outside with friends.
Tim by Train, Founder of Travel by Train – email: timbytrains@gmail.com