Getting around on two wheels is the best way to beat the four-wheeled frustration.

VROOOOOM! That’s a sound that may be exciting to some, but many will consider annoying pestilence found all over the Monterey Peninsula for the next five days.

Sloan Campi here, zipping around on my bicycle while taking in the sights of some ultra-cool, classic (albeit sometimes loud) cars that have arrived for Car Week.

Car Week is a pain for locals—there’s no way around it. Monterey County roadways are filled to the brim with cars, causing traffic. There’s even an adage that has emerged recently among some city planners on social media that poignantly describes this congestion externality: “You’re not in traffic…you ARE traffic.” Still, for many of us who just want to get to work or drop kids off at school on time, Car Week adds an extra layer of frustration to an already-frustrating part of our routines.

Don’t get me wrong—while I wouldn’t consider myself a car enthusiast per se, there are plenty of aspects of the events that I love. I admire the workmanship and style that cars can represent, and that can really be shown off at some of the events around town—many of which are free to attend. Many car owners take pride in their work, which I highly respect.

If you want to see all the events, you’re going to need to plan for extra travel time. That’s step one. Fortunately, Monterey County has made step two a little easier. There are actually plenty of tools you can use to avoid adding to the already-clogged roadways we’re inevitably going to experience for the next week, as my colleague Pam Marino has written about. 

I love these tools, but personally, I’ve felt the best way to beat Car Week frustration is on two wheels, not four. We’re fortunate in Monterey County to have plenty of fantastic bike trails where cars are nowhere to be found. Plus the feeling of a little exercise in nice weather dabs the frustration away. 

The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail effectively links Pacific Grove all the way to Marina and beyond. It’s a perfect way to catch events like The Little Car Show happening tomorrow, Aug. 14, in Pacific Grove to Exotics on Broadway on Saturday, Aug. 17 in Seaside, and everything in between. While 17-Mile Drive will be closed for Pebble Beach Automotive Week Aug. 17-18, you can still go for a bike ride and get to Pebble Beach or Carmel for free. And even if you get tired, Monterey-Salinas Transit has bike racks on all of its buses including the free trolley to Cannery Row, so don’t feel like you have to ride all the way back.

Bicycling is a humble way to experience Car Week, but I see it as effective. Also with plenty of rental options that include e-bikes around the Peninsula, there are still plenty of solutions to beat the traffic. Who knows? Maybe the ease and simplicity of human-powered transport could inspire you to invest in your own stylish bicycle to show off around town. I wouldn’t be opposed to a bicycle-themed event showcasing mint-condition vintage bikes being added to Car Week.

Newsletter

Ride a bike for Car Week. Monterey unveils rental assistance numbers. CHOMP eyes expansion.