24 Hours Exploring the Bike Paths in Davis, CA

Standing in front of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame building

I recently had 24 hours to explore the separated bike paths in Davis, CA. So with a limited time, I wanted to bike as much as possible. I had heard that Davis is an amazing place to ride, and I was eager to experience it firsthand. After all, People for Bikes rates Davis as the number one most bike-friendly city in California and number fourteen in the nation. How could I resist hopping on my bike to see what makes this city so special for cyclists?

Exploring Davis, CA Bike Paths

I arrived in Davis, CA in the early afternoon and hopped on my bike later that day to explore the bike paths. I stayed at the Aggie Inn, and I was quite pleased. The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, and my hotel room was clean. The price was reasonable for the location compared to other options I checked out. Not much more I could ask for! Just a heads up: the hotel doesn’t have an elevator, but that didn’t bother me. I would definitely stay there again.

Aggie Inn was my starting point for exploring Davis. About half of my ride was on separated bike paths. These paths are truly amazing! They are what make Davis stand out as a cycling destination.

I started on A St near 1st St and then cut over to 3rd St, which looked like a pedestrianized street. Surprisingly, drivers were still allowed on it. From there, I turned north on B St, heading towards E 14th St. B St has a painted bike lane, but once I crossed E 14th, I finally found myself on Davis's separated bike path.

The bike path crisscrosses through residential neighborhoods and parks. It’s easy to see how the city has made it convenient for residents to connect to these paths and bike into downtown Davis for dinner, then safely ride back home. I rode as far as the separated bike path would take me, just past Mockingbird Pl/Sandpiper Dr. After that, I headed west on the bike path, which eventually looped me south back to Covell Park and down to E 14th St again.

I encountered tunnels and bridges, with minimal interaction with drivers. The city has done an excellent job of reducing conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles.

Bike path with a tunnel to avoid drivers and the train tracks above

Tunnel on the bike path

Once I reached E 14th St, I took it to F St, which is just a painted bike lane. I rode F St towards downtown to 2nd St. While 2nd St has a sharrow, which isn’t ideal, I found bike parking to be fairly easy in this area. I stopped for dinner at a Chinese restaurant called Davis Noodle City.

Bicycle parking in downtown Davis

A New Day of Exploration

The next morning, I woke up eager to ride again and explore a different part of the city. After a quick stop at Cloud Forest Cafe, I set off on my adventure. This time, I headed east on 5th St, which has a painted buffered bike lane.

I generally wouldn’t recommend painted bike lanes, buffered or not, to novice riders. On 5th St, I encountered my first roundabout at Cantrill. Roundabouts can be tricky, especially in an unfamiliar city. Should I follow the cars or is there a designated route for bikes? I wasn’t sure, so I treated my bike like a car as I navigated through the roundabout.

Shortly after passing San Sebastian, I hopped back onto the separated bike paths and made my way northeast to Lake Alhambra Estates. That neighborhood definitely felt upscale—after all, it even has "Estates" in its name! From there, I just followed the bike path wherever it led me. I had to check my phone a few times because not all the separated bike paths connect. Sometimes, they drop you onto neighborhood streets, and you have to bike along a major street to reach another path.

Eventually, I made my way down to UC Davis. I rode around the edge of the campus briefly before heading back to my hotel to pack up.

People riding on the separated bike path going through a park

Should You Explore Davis by Bike?

So, would I recommend exploring Davis by bike? Absolutely! If you want to discover neighborhoods and parks, biking is the way to go. You’ll see and experience things you simply can’t from a car. Davis is a beautiful city to explore on two wheels.

However, if you’re not a regular cyclist, I suggest planning your route carefully. From my limited experience, it seems there are quite a few painted bike lanes. It’s better to take a more scenic route to access the separated bike paths and enjoy the ride rather than opting for the most direct path.

If your plans involve spending time in downtown, then a bike might not be necessary. The area is very walkable and easier to navigate than driving.

In conclusion, Davis, CA, is a cyclist's dream. With its extensive network of separated bike paths and friendly atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to explore on two wheels. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or just looking to enjoy a leisurely ride, Davis has something for everyone. So, grab your bike and hit the trails—you won't regret it!