Welcome to Monterey County and the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round at WeatherTech Raceway.

On June 23, 2018 bicycling to the 21st Annual Race Night on the Row (the Cannery Row street party) will help you skip out on traffic jams. The coastal bike/multiuse trail runs directly through Cannery Row, putting people who bike or walk there right at the heart of the action.

If you aren’t showing off your motorcycle on Cannery Row, park that motorcycle or other motor vehicle and bike or bike-and-ride. See Tips for Bicycling Monterey County, a 20-section guide, for info on bicycle rentals, bicycle parking, night riding, and more. Additional tips below.

 

Have questions or need help?  Phone me or contact other bike community resource people.

Tips for Saturday Night’s Street Party

Cannery Row street party (AKA Annual Race Night on the Row) is often packed. This is a fun night, for international and domestic visitors and local residents alike.

Travel up close easily—bike there!

Make it a stress-free experience by avoiding traffic and parking snarls and instead bicycling to this popular scene.  Here are a few tips:

• There’s a Class I bike/multiuse path immediately above the Row; and even when the street is closed, the path is not.
• Can’t bike all the way there? See bike-and-ride tips.
• There are 20+ bicycle racks along the Cannery Row bike path. Remember to lock up; click here for more bike security tips.
• Be mindful of personal safety. There will be lots of people in town, many intoxicated and/or unfamiliar with there being people on bicycles about.

Drinking alcohol?

Please use the same good judgment about when it’s safe to get behind those handlebars that you would use about when it’s safe to get behind the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.  And although you would not be subject to a DUI (driving under the influence) ticket, you would  still be subject to a BUI (biking under the influence) ticket.  See alcohol and bike safety tips in Wine-ding your way along Monterey County bikeways.

Where to eat, have drinks, taste some wines before/during party?

If you want to be closest to the party, start with:

• Cannery Row
• Wave Street
• Lighthouse Ave (Monterey end–below, see reference to PG end)

Find great places on the clickable map or quick reference guide for the HER Helmet Thursdays project.  There are hundreds of places in those listings. And if you’re bicycling there, you’ll appreciate the bike-there directional tips provided in many of the listings.

Looking for those voted “Best of Monterey County” or those that are in the Seafood Watch program?  See below.

It may be busy nearly everywhere.  Still, to avoid packed in-house Saturday eve crowds, you may want to make a stop en route to the Row (or take a break during the party).  While there are good places all over the county,  options not far from the party include:

• downtown Monterey (Alvarado Street, Tyler, Munras, etc.)
• Monterey’s Coast Guard Pier and Wharf I and Wharf II
• Seaside’s Broadway Avenue and Fremont Street (don’t get mixed up about Fremont–ask a local)
• Monterey’s Del Monte Shopping Center
• downtown Pacific Grove (Lighthouse Ave, PG)
• the Forest Hill area of Pacific Grove

Ask Monterey County Herald food blogger Raul N. where he goes for Mexican food in Monterey, and he’ll say, “Taqueria del Mar!”  The quiet, calm demeanor of owner Nicolas Gasca and his niece Lilia, ever present, add to the muyo tranquillo atmosphere of this popular restaurant.  You’re unlikely to see ads about this place; Taqueria del Mar has been  independently owned for well over 20 years and has built its business mostly on word-of-mouth recommendations. Don’t be misled if it isn’t crowded; they do a lot of take-out business too.

 

General info for visitors

• Can’t find lodging? Try these extra bike-friendly lodging spots.
• Many beautiful locations await you: consider camping in Monterey County.
• Want a peaceful getaway?  Bike to the beach.
• Are you a day visitor and looking for a place to shower before a night on the town?  Here ya go; where to shower and change.
• Looking for leads on some of the best restaurants and more? See Best of Monterey County.
• Want yummy seafood,  and to ensure it for future generations?  Bike to Seafood Watch participating restaurants.
• Also know that HER Helmet Thursdays hotels, educational/entertainment spots, restaurants, and wineries have been hand-selected by locals.  Check the HER Helmet Thursdays  listings for more great places.

Have fun and travel safe.

Distracted? Stay alert–cops about!

 

Want a quiet experience of the racetrack?  

On June 20, 2018, people of all ages are invited to take to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track on bicycles in a Twilight Ride, 5:30-7:30 p.m.  You can even tackle the infamous Corkscrew on a bicycle if you like!

Helmets required for all Twilight Rides participants.  Ten dollar fee to participate, with portion of proceeds going to charities. More details in Bicycling Monterey’s monthly  Twilight Ride tips.

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This post was first published in 2011, with updates in subsequent years.