Thousands To Bike Across San Diego-Coronado Bridge On Sunday

SAN DIEGO, CA – Thousands of cyclists are expected to bike across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge Sunday during the 11th annual Bike the Bay.

The community bike ride brings people together every year to pedal along 25 miles of the scenic Bayshore Bikeway, passing through the cities of Coronado, San Diego, National City, Imperial Beach and Chula Vista.

This year's event includes a new 8-mile loop through dirt trails.

The annual event is an opportunity for people of all ages and bicycling levels to rediscover five San Diego neighborhoods, while encouraging biking as an alternative to automobiles. Proceeds will benefit the San Diego County Bike Coalition, a nonprofit organization that protects and advocates for the rights of people who ride bicycles.

"We welcome everyone to Bike the Bay, which is why we designed its route to travel through five different neighborhoods, and now a new dirt trail," Bike Coalition executive director Andy Hanshaw said in a statement. "It's our way of saying 'this ride belongs to your community.'"

The ride will begin and end in Embarcadero Marina Park South at 200 Marina Park Way in San Diego. The enthusiast waves begin at 7 a.m., followed by the recreational waves at 8 a.m. The post-ride festival will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Photos credit: San Diego Bike Coalition