Following a decision by the Bay Area Toll Authority, and despite opposition from cycling advocates, a bike and pedestrian path that was previously open 24/7 since 2019 will now only be accessible from Thursday afternoon through Sunday night. The path, located on the upper deck of the bridge, is protected by a movable concrete barrier, similar to those on the Golden Gate Bridge that separate northbound and southbound automobile traffic. Before the path opens or after it closes, a zipper truck moves the barrier to or from the side of the bridge. The current plan aims to create an emergency shoulder for disabled vehicles, helping to smooth traffic during commute times. In the long term, this emergency shoulder could be converted into a high-occupancy lane.

The decision is controversial because it limits bike and pedestrian access to the bridge, even if only part-time, while advocacy groups are working to expand such access on other bridges, like the Bay Bridge West Span, that currently lack it. Critics argue that BATA and MTC should not prioritize more cars due to automobile-related pollution. However, not everyone shares this view; many Richmond residents believe improving automobile traffic on the bridge will enhance job opportunities and improve social equity. The weekday bike traffic over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is less than one-third of the weekend traffic. On weekends, 30 to 50 bikes can cross the bridge during the busiest hour, whereas weekday bike traffic remains in the single digits. The plan preserves the ability to cross the bridge by bike on weekends, mainly for recreational purposes.

As a mitigation measure, a free bike shuttle will be implemented during daytime from Monday morning through Thursday afternoon.