Eyes on the Street: Pedalfest Celebrates Everything About Bikes

Crowds Enjoy Every Crazy Bike Imaginable at Pedalfest in Jack London Square

By Roger Rudick and Melanie Curry
Jul 24, 2017

This post is supported by GJEL Accident Attorneys

A view of the parade of outrageous bikes at Pedalfest. (In the back is one of the amphibious bikes.) Photo Streetsblog/Rudick

The 7th annual Pedalfest in Jack London Square took place on Saturday, and was packed with bikes and bike lovers of all stripes. Presented by Bay Area Bicycle Law and Drake’s Brewing, Pedalfest is billed as Bike East Bay’s celebration of cycling, family, food, and fun.

An amphibious bike race set the tone: homemade bikes that doubled as aquatic vehicles raced from Jack London Square into the Oakland Estuary, across a stretch of water, and back. Rock the Bike brought its pedal-powered stage; Cyclecide, the “heavy pedaled bike rodeo,” offered a few of its pedal-powered rides; and Whymcycles brought a crazy assortment of bikes that everyone was invited to try out.

Bike stunt shows, a chance to learn to ride a unicycle, Scraper Bike decorating booths, and of course information about local advocacy groups like Bike East Bay and Walk Oakland Bike Oakland rounded off the day.

There were lots of custom bikes to show off, including this golden scraper bike. Photo: Melanie Curry/Streetsblog — There were lots of custom bikes to ogle, including this golden scraper bike. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

One of the contestants in the amphibious bike race was this four-seater. Photo: Ginger Jui/Bike East Bay — One of the contestants in the amphibious bike race was this four-seater. Photo: Bike East Bay/Ginger Jui

Cyclecide's pedal-powered....dizzy machine? Photo: Alfonso Alvarez/Streetsblog — Cyclecide’s pedal-powered….dizzy machine? The faster you pedal, the faster you spin. Photo: Streetsblog/Alfonso Alvarez

Hometown pride: That A's bike is SWEET. Photo: Alfonso Alvarez/Streetsblog — Hometown pride: That A’s lowrider is SWEET. Photo: Streetsblog/Alfonso Alvarez

Surfs up...and ready to pedal away. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick — Surfs up…and ready to pedal away. Photo: Streetsblog/Roger Rudick

Need a fallen tree branch removed but don't want to put another truck on the road? Just call Alameda's cycling arborist. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick — Need a fallen tree branch removed but don’t want to put another truck on the road? Just call Alameda’s cycling arborist. Photo: Streetsblog/Roger Rudick

Anyone could try out the crazy bikes, like this mini penny farthing. Photo: Melanie Curry/Streetsblog — Anyone could try out the crazy bikes like this mini penny farthing. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

At Pedalfest, you could learn to ride a unicycle....or watch unicycle tricks. Photo: Alfonso Alvarez /Streetsblog — At Pedalfest, you could learn to ride a unicycle….or watch an expert doing unicycle tricks. Photo: Streetsblog/Alfonso Alvarez

Scraper Bikes were in the house. Photo: Melanie Curry/ Streetsblog — Scraper Bikes were in the house. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

It's always nice to let other the kids work hard to make electricity so the rest of us can listen to good music. Rock the Bike. Photo: Melanie Curry/Streetsblog — It’s always nice to let the kids work to make electricity so the rest of us can listen to good music. Rock the Bike. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

Cyclecide Rodeo brought their pedal-powered ferris wheel. Photo: Melanie Curry/Streetsblog — Cyclecide Bike Rodeo brought their pedal-powered Ferris wheel. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

The bike valet was packed because of course the best way to get to Pedalfest was to ride. Photo: Melanie Curry/Streetsblog — Of course the bike valet was packed because the best way to get to Pedalfest was to ride. Photo: Streetsblog/Melanie Curry

More photos of the fun, by Pamela Palma, can be found here.

Did you attend Pedalfest? Let us know what you saw and what you thought. And post your photos here too.