Built:
The Bike Bridge was completed in 1996.  It was built in coordination with the City of Alameda, State of California and the Federal Government.  The Federal Government provided mostly funding and was not directly involved in the construction.

Owner:
The California Department of Transportation and the City of Alameda are currently responsible for the bridge. The bridge is regulated by the United States Coast Guard.

Type:
The Bike Bridge is a single leaf bascule draw bridge. 

Operation:
The Bike Bridge operates on the same schedule as the Bay Farm Island Highway Bridge.   The Bridge is operational year around 7 days a week 365 days years from the Hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If a 12 hour notice is given it can be opened after closure hours.   Call the Bay Farm Island Bridge for any operational question's.

Draw Openings:
Approximately 360 per year

Maintenance:

Cal Trans and the City of Alameda.  Many items on the bridge are still under warranty and are repaired by the contractors.

Bridge Statistics

*Note: All Vessels use the Highway Bridge for clearance purposes.  Even though your vessel may pass through the Bike Bridge it may not clear the Highway Bridge.

Information:

Construction on the Bike Bridge began in 1993 and was completed in 1995.  It cost about 3.5 million dollars.  While we don't have absolute proof we believe it's the only Bike/Pedestrian draw bridge in the United States.  No powered vehicles are allowed on the Bike Bridge except powered wheelchairs or maintenance vehicles.  The Speed Limit for Bikes is 20 mph.

While it's linked to the Bay Farm Island Highway Bridge it's a completely separate bridge and it can operate independently from the Highway Bridge.  The Bike Bridge was designed to operated in conjunction with the Highway Bridge, so whenever the Highway Bridge is operated the Bike Bridge also responds.  The Bike Bridge can also operate in manual mode which allows the Bridge to operate independently from the Highway Bridge.   This mode is used mainly for testing and repair work.

The Bike Bridge differs in how it's employed  The other draw bridges use gearboxes and gears to operate.  The Bike Bridge uses a electrical hydraulic system to move the span.  Two huge side by side hydraulic pistons raise and lower the bridge.  The hydraulic system is powered by two 50 hp motors.  A 150 gallon tank holds and supplies the hydraulic oil used in the bridge operation.

The hydraulic system is controlled by a sophisticated electrical system of limit, pressure, and flow switches.  There are no brakes on the Bike Bridge.  The switches control the flow of oil and pressure which then control the speed of the bridge span. The Bike Bridge is smooth and quite while operating.

A small bridge links to two bridges together this gives the operators and maintenance crews access to the Bike Bridge machinery. The Bay Farm Island Bridge contains the operating console for the Bay Farm Island Bike Bridge so the operator must run two bridges for each vessel opening.

Since it's opening the Bike Bridge has suffered many closure's.  Most of the closures are attributed to vandalism and the stealing of safety equipment.  There is a nagging problem with the gates that are being worked out by trail and error. Once the bugs are worked out of the bridge it should be a reliable drawbridge.

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