Bike the Bridges Sunday with El Cerrito Police

If riding your bicycle alongside El Cerrito police officers, firefighters and the mayor, while crossing two bridges, seeing some amazing views, and helping a good cause sounds like a worthwhile time to you, there is still time to sign up for Sunday’s Bike the Bridges for Special Olympics.

Although most of the action is north of El Cerrito, with the start and finish line at the Martinez Waterfront Park, El Cerrito’s bike-friendly police force is at the heart of the event.

The event is a spinoff of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to support Special Olympics, which was started in 1981 by the Wichita, Kansas police chief and was soon adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Police officers still escort the “Flame of Hope” to Special Olympics events like the Northern California Summer Games the weekend of June 24 on the UC Davis campus. And over the years officers’ efforts to raise funds for the organization have broadened to include events that involve things like riding motorcycles wearing tutus  and rappelling down a San Francisco skyscraper.  

A bike event was an obvious choice for El Cerrito’s Police Department, where bicycles have been used for patrol for 13 years and where 26 of 43 officers are certified to patrol on bikes. Two members of the force, Sgt. Shawn Maples and Officer Jeff Albrandt, are certified trainers who have trained more than 100 officers in various agencies in the past 2-½ years.

“The Bay Area has such a strong interest in bicycling, both for recreation and for commute, and many people are not aware of the bike lanes on the Carquinez and Benicia bridges,” said Maples, the department’s bicycle patrol coordinator.

Maples, along with Lt. Steve Bonini of the El Cerrito force and Hercules Officer Ian Baisas, organized the first event last year, which drew more than 400 riders and raised more than $62,000.

This year’s event already had 420 riders signed up and $56,860 raised as of Friday night. While last year El Cerrito had one team, this year it is fielding five: the Police Department, the Fire Department, Mayor Ann Cheng’s El Cyclecerritos, El Cerrito High School’s Mountain Biking Team, and one led by police officer Gilbert Tang. Other teams include ones from the Danville, Hercules, Hayward, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Francisco, Oakland, BART and UC Berkeley police forces, among others.

The ride is not a competition. In fact, Maples encourages riders to stop and enjoy the view and take pictures. In addition to the family-friendly, 25-mile ride, riders this year can also choose from a metric century ride and a mountain bike ride.

Anyone can sign up to ride, and many of the teams, like the El Cerrito police team, are open to additional members. The team current has 30 members; 15 are police officers, including Police Chief Sylvia Moir. The registration fee is $40. Sponsors for riders are also welcome. Riders can register online or the day of the race. Sponsors can also sign up online.

Early check-in is 2-6 p.m. today (Saturday) at the Walnut Creek Sports Basement. Sunday morning registration is 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park in Martinez, at the parking lot on the corner of North Court Street and Joe DiMaggio Drive. Opening ceremonies and award presentations to top teams and individuals is scheduled for 9-9:20 a.m., with the 25-mile ride beginning at 9:30 am, though the course will be set up by 7 a.m. for metric century riders who want an early start. Lunch for all participants is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.