Bay Wheels was renamed Lyft Bike on July 29, 2026. The bicycles and stations are the same, and existing memberships, trips and routes carried over. If you cannot find the old Bay Wheels name in the app or on a station, look for Lyft Bike instead.
The change applies across San Francisco, Berkeley, Daly City, Emeryville, Oakland and San Jose. Riders can find and unlock bikes in either the Lyft app or Lyft Bike app. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission confirms the six-city rebrand, while Lyft’s announcement explains what carried over.
Current Lyft Bike prices in San Francisco
Prices below were checked September 24, 2026 on the official Lyft Bike pricing page.
| Option | Classic bike | E-bike | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ride | $1 unlock + $0.19/minute | $1 unlock + $0.49/minute | One short trip |
| Day pass | $15; unlimited rides up to 30 minutes each, then $0.19/minute | No unlock fee, but $0.49/minute | Several short classic-bike trips in 24 hours |
| Monthly pass | $29/month; rides up to 45 minutes included, then $0.17/minute | No unlock fee + $0.17/minute | Two or more bike-heavy days or frequent e-bike use |
| Annual membership | $165/year; rides up to 45 minutes included, then $0.17/minute | No unlock fee + $0.17/minute | Residents and repeat riders |
A Lyft Pink All Access plan is also listed at $199 per year, but its extra value is in rideshare and multi-city benefits rather than a lower Bay Area bike rate.
Which option costs least for a visitor?
For one short waterfront or neighborhood hop, buy a single ride. At the listed rates, a 15-minute classic-bike trip costs $3.85; a 30-minute trip costs $6.70. The same e-bike times cost $8.35 and $15.70.
For two 30-minute classic rides, separate single rides total $13.40, still less than the day pass. The day pass begins to make sense at roughly three substantial classic-bike rides: three 30-minute singles would total $20.10, compared with $15 if every day-pass ride stays within its included 30 minutes.
Do not buy the day pass merely to use an e-bike once or twice. It removes the $1 unlock charge but leaves the $0.49-per-minute e-bike rate unchanged. The monthly plan cuts that rate to $0.17 per minute and costs $1 less than two day passes, so it can be the better choice even for a visitor staying only part of a month.
Plan around terrain and weather
A classic bike is the economical choice for flatter corridors such as the Embarcadero and Mission Bay. An e-bike costs more but can be worth it when a route turns inland and uphill. Check the app for a bike and a practical return station before starting; classic bikes must be returned to Lyft Bike docks, while e-bikes can also be secured to a city bike rack, according to MTC’s program summary.
Wind can matter more than map distance along the bay. On a blustery or wet day, use Muni rather than committing to a long exposed ride. In calmer weather, the mostly flat Dogpatch–Mission Bay waterfront route is a sensible area for a short classic-bike trip—just watch the day pass’s 30-minute limit if you stop along the way.