Pedaling Toward Safety: Hayward Rides Bike Giveaway and Vision Zero Projects Take Off

The City of Hayward officially launched its Hayward Rides bike giveaway program on Saturday, October 25, at the Trunk or Treat Promise Festival, distributing over 100 bikes to pre-selected high school students and residents. 

This marks the first of approximately 2,000 free bikes the City plans to distribute through 2026 to support affordable, sustainable transportation. In addition to bikes, recipients received helmets, locks, lights, and repair kits. Community partners including Eden Youth and Bike East Bay supported the event, helping with distribution and assisting more than 400 residents who applied on-site to the program. 

More information is available at Sustainable Transportation: Hayward Rides & E-Bikes | City of Hayward - Official website or by emailing HaywardRides@hayward-ca.gov. 

In 2023, the City adopted its Vision Zero policy with the goal of reducing fatal and severe injury traffic collisions to zero by 2050. With the help of a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, some of the first major planning efforts to achieve Vision Zero in Hayward are already underway. 

Safe Streets Hayward and Safe Streets Downtown are two projects that will evaluate major arterial corridors that disproportionally have more severe and fatal collisions compared to other roadways. 

The first phase of Safe Streets Hayward has already started and will develop conceptual corridor plans for A Street, B Street, and Tennyson Road. The second phase, which is planned to start early 2026, will include Mission Boulevard, Hesperian Boulevard, and Jackson Street. The Safe Streets Downtown effort has already started and is tasked with reimagining the Loop. 

All of these projects will include comprehensive outreach to ensure that the neighboring communities play a role in the planning process from start to finish. Be involved by visiting the project website to learn more about Safe Streets Hayward and Safe Streets Downtown or by contacting the project manager Byron Tang byron.tang@hayward-ca.gov.