The videos are here for the 49 Mile Scenic Drive:
http://www.openroad.tv/index.php?cat...d=16&p25_id=34
http://www.openroad.tv/index.php?cat...d=16&p25_id=35
A map of the official 49 Mile Scenic Drive is available here:
http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/maps/49miledrive.asp
The 49 mile DRIVE is way outdated and doesn't work very well as either a car tour or as a bike tour, because it takes a long time going through the congested downtown area and also sends the rider into an industrial area underneath I-280. However, a reworked 49 ride could be great, especially for tourists, because you can see nearly all the touristy highlights of San Francisco on a bike ride that takes as little as 2 hours riding it straight through on a bike at a decent touring pace or as long as all day at a more leisurely pace enjoying numerous stops at the many sights.
I've ridden the full 49 mile route on my own, as well as a possible "new and improved version". The shorter version was only 28.5 miles (45.8 km--add a loop somewhere and it could be 49km and the city could keep much of the existing street signage and then modify it over time to say 49 scenic ride). I chose the new route by following the 49 Mile Drive and then utilized bike lanes and bike paths as best I could.
The major changes are to omit the congested downtown section (for tourists to explore those areas I suggest a WALKING tour, the Barbary Coast tour is better than the 49 mile drive), omit the loop around Lake Merced (back in 1938 this section was really cool in that open-top Duesenberg but not so necessary now as we are all more traveled and a little jaded about beaches), and omit the Cesar Chavez to under-I-280 section (go down 17th more through the heart of the Mission instead). I kept the 49 mile drive highlights of the Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio, Legion of Honor, and the Cliff House; improved it in GG Park (added DeYoung, Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers and on a bike you see into Kezar Stadium better); and retained Twin Peaks, Mission Dolores, and the Embarcadero (featuring AT&T Park/Fisherman’s Wharf/Ghirardelli/Aquatic Park). I also added going through the Haight (on Ashbury, not beside it on Stanyan) and going by the Painted Ladies on Alamo Sq; this section has an optional 2-3 block detour to the Castro if desired.
Starting from the Marina Green / Ft. Mason, follow the 49 mile route with the following changes:
1) Omit the stretch looping around Lake Merced and instead turn directly into GG Park (JFK drive) off of the Great Hwy.
2) Follow 49 mile route through park on JFK and then follow route over to and around Stow Lake, but leave MLK Dr. and turn left on Councourse Drive by the Academy of Sciences (on the bike lane), right on JFK to right turn onto Kezar Dr. bike path and then over to 3rd to Hugo to 6th to Kirkham to rejoin 49 mile drive going south on 7th.
3) Coming downhill from Twin Peaks, turn off 49 mile route at Clayton and follow downhill and take Ashbury and continue to the Panhandle bike path. Turn right on the path to Baker, then left on Baker to right on Grove to Alamo Square, ride carefully through the park on the path to Steiner and turn and go south (downhill) on Steiner. Turn left at 14th and briefly rejoin the 49 mile route and go by Mission Dolores.
4) At 17th, again leave the 49 mile route and make a left and proceed through the Mission neighborhood. Make a left at Kansas after going under 101, proceed to Townsend and make a right. Go to 4th St., make a right and then a left onto Berry. Go around AT&T (assume there's not a game) on the bike path and continue north on Embarcadero.
5) Continue north on Embarcadero and then proceed down Jefferson to Hyde, then go 1 block to Beach and follow the path / road as it goes by Aquatic Park and cuts through Ft. Mason. Come out onto Marina Blvd. and briefly rejoin the 49 mile route for the 100 yds. or so to where you started.
A GPS of this is at motionbased.com, which will soon be transitioned to
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8001777
Northern California Bike rides illustrated
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