San Diego’s Bike Ridership Is Evolving—Not Declining. Here’s What SANDAG’s 2025 Commute Report Really Tells Us
Every year, I look forward to SANDAG’s State of the Commute report—mostly to see what’s happening with biking in San Diego. This year’s edition is no exception.
One number jumps out: bike activity down 5% from 2024. But here’s the thing—the region now has 1,881 centerline miles of bikeways, with more than 331 miles added since 2016. The report lays out five classes of bikeways—from multi-use paths to bike boulevards—each designed to make riding more accessible for different skill levels.
So is biking really becoming less popular? Or is something else going on?
The report’s own footnotes tell a different story. The dip isn’t a sign that fewer people are biking. It’s a sign that riders are spreading out, choosing safer routes, and the data system is still catching up to the region’s infrastructure progress.
The Numbers Are Down – By Design
So how does SANDAG actually count bikes? They’re not tracking every rider—that would be impossible. Instead, they rely on a small network of Eco-Counters placed along eight specific corridors that are used for this annual comparison. These are carefully selected to provide a consistent, long-term comparison point—and they do that job well.
However, as SANDAG openly notes in Endnote 12:
“Data validation and reconstruction were performed to address count gaps and anomalies caused by bicycle sensor malfunctions and roadway construction activities which affected data collection for University Avenue in 2025.”
That’s a remarkably transparent admission. The report tells us directly that one of their key counters was disrupted by construction—and that analysts had to use historical estimates to fill in the gaps.
In other words, the reported 5% decline isn’t a definitive measure of regional ridership. It’s a localized data point affected by real-world conditions. Credit to SANDAG for being upfront rather than sweeping it under the rug.
The Bigger Picture: Bike Riding Still Way Up from 2019
And here’s the most important number in the entire bike section:
Despite the year-over-year fluctuation, bike activity across those same eight monitored corridors is still 17% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The 30th Street protected bike lanes in North Park saw a 15% ridership increase in 2025 – their fourth straight year of growth. And they’re not alone. The Bayshore Bikeway and Rose Canyon Creek path see hundreds of thousands of riders annually. These aren’t niche facilities; they’re major commuter arteries moving people to work, school, and home every single day.
That’s a remarkable recovery and growth story. Even with limited sensors and their hiccups, construction blockages, and riders redirecting to what they perceive to be safer or quicker local streets, the long-term trend is unmistakably positive. More people are choosing bikes—and they’re doing it on infrastructure that didn’t exist a decade ago. So we need to do more.
What This Really Tells Us
SANDAG’s 2025 report doesn’t show a decline in bike popularity. It shows a system in transition: more infrastructure than ever—1,881 miles and counting—smarter riders choosing safer local streets, and data that’s refreshingly honest about its own limits. And through it all, the long-term trend is still up.
The report’s footnotes and methodology aren’t flaws—they’re evidence of careful, honest analysis. SANDAG is telling us that bike counting is complex, that construction happens, and that riders adapt.
And that adaptation is exactly what we want to see: people choosing bikes because the network is finally making it safe and convenient.
If you ride in San Diego, you already know the truth: more people are out there on bikes of all types. From the Bayshore Bikeway to the Coastal Rail Trail, on the new boulevards, or the neighborhood streets that feel calmer.
I see them on my daily commute—and I’ve personally served as an ambassador for neighbor bike purchases more times than I can count in the last year alone. With thousands of miles biked over the past year—and gas, maintenance, and car-related fees simply nonexistent for me—I’ve recruited numerous San Diegans to take up biking for the first time, or to ride more than they ever have before.
And the benefits go beyond the wallet. Every person on a bike is one less car in front of you, one less tailpipe puffing emissions, and one more person getting fresh air and exercise. Beyond the cost savings, there’s cleaner air, less car traffic, and the mental clarity that comes with a morning or evening ride. That’s good for the city, good for the climate, and good for the rider.
The Bigger Picture
The numbers in this report, read carefully, back up what we’re seeing on the ground. With 1,881 centerline miles of bikeways—331+ built since 2016—the region has built more lanes. And riders are using them, just not always where the old counters are looking.
That’s not a problem. That’s progress. And progress isn’t a finish line—it’s a call to action. There are still gaps to close, streets to calm, and riders to welcome. But if this report shows us anything, it’s that San Diego can move in the right direction. Let’s keep the momentum—for every rider, every neighborhood, and every mile ahead.
Want to dive deeper? The full 2025 State of the Commute report is available on the SANDAG Open Data Portal, including interactive maps and detailed route-level data. Or explore the San Diego Regional Bike Map to see where all 1,881 miles of bikeways are located.
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