San Francisco Bay Trail Design Guidelines and Toolkit 2.0 (2025)
This document provides guidance for designing a unified, consistent trail to create a positive user experience. Guidelines specific to the Bay Trail are intended to help agencies and other implementation partners respond to the varied contexts and challenges along the trail, as well as the many types of trail users.
A lot has changed since the previous guide was released in 2016. While new segments of the trail have been implemented, many of the remaining miles of trails that have not been completed are located in challenging contexts. climate resilience and sea-level rise are being addressed across the region. There are also more user types on the trail – people who use shared mobility (where applicable), electric mobility, and newer mobility devices. The new design guidelines and toolkit incorporate considerations to help address these changes.
To accomplish these goals, the guidelines provide context-sensitive solutions to address varied conditions through which the Bay Trail passes and to accommodate its many kinds of users. They are applicable to all development of the Bay Trail and are intended to complement national, state, and local design standards and guidelines.
The Bay Trail design guidelines and Toolkit provide high-level information and support guidance from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and other agencies.
Author: Metropolitan Transportation Commission & Association of Bay Area Governments.
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Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.
