ENDORSEMENT: Stop the recall on Engardio

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

During the 2024 general election, the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition endorsed and strongly supported Proposition K, a ballot measure to convert the beachside Great Highway between Lincoln and Sloat into the city’s newest park. A clear majority of San Franciscans embraced this opportunity to reclaim this public space for people and rejected the fear mongering of opponents who sought to preserve the car-first status quo. Contrary to the concerns of San Franciscans who were opposed to Prop K, a recent San Francisco Chronicle investigation showed that travel times for drivers who used to commute via the Great Highway have increased by less than five minutes, congestion on Sunset Boulevard is essentially unchanged, and overflow of car traffic onto neighborhood side streets has failed to materialize. And huge attendance numbers have already made Sunset Dunes San Francisco’s third most-visited park, proving that in the few short months since its April opening, it’s a grand success for the city. 

District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio led the Board of Supervisors to place Prop K on the ballot and championed the campaign which led to its approval by voters. During the ballot measure campaign, Supervisor Engardio told the San Francisco Standard, “Sometimes you are faced with very difficult decisions, and it’s better to do the right thing versus the politically expedient thing.” We applaud the political and civic fortitude that Engardio displayed in his support for what became Sunset Dunes. 

As we noted in our endorsement of Prop K in 2024, the Board of Supervisors had already decided to close the Great Highway Extension between Sloat and Skyline Boulevards, closing it permanently for  climate change mitigation. Sea level rise and increasing storm activity has made the area vulnerable to erosion, and removing vehicle traffic and redesigning the area will help mitigate those impacts. The Great Highway itself required regular sand clearing to remain passable for vehicles. Closing the road to cars permanently and creating Sunset Dunes is the resilient, forward-thinking solution that San Franciscans affirmed with their vote last November.Unfortunately, opponents of Prop K are currently running a recall effort to unseat Supervisor Engardio, with a special election in District 4 on September 16 – this recall effort is based not on the merits of his governance in their district, but rather over their frustration with his support for a ballot measure that won resoundingly with 55% of the citywide vote. SFBike and its Board of Directors embrace a people-first vision of our streets and public spaces, and we must continue to support leaders like Supervisor Engardio who work to make that vision a reality. That’s why we stand with Supervisor Engardio and encourage all District 4 voters to Vote No on his recall.

Two months into side-running bike lanes on Mid-Valencia

Posted on by Claire Amable

On May 8, we joined City leaders and the SFMTA at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new curbside, parking-separated bike lanes on Mid-Valencia. 

While the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened the bike lanes for use, construction continued.  Within the last few weeks, all construction materials have finally been removed from the corridor and the bike lane is fully open. 

The SFMTA regularly says that it takes a minimum of three months for behavior to normalize on any given street change. We’re about two months into the protected curbside bike lanes and there are some drastic differences from the center-running bike lane. The most obvious change is that it’s never been easier or safer to stop and shop at businesses by bike along mid-Valencia. But we’re also seeing some persistent issues with the new design, and we’ve been hearing from our members about them, too.

Timing and signal changes: The green wave is currently set to 10 mph (lowered from 13mph before the construction) and between 15th and 19th Street, the road and the bike lane are both narrower; this means people on bikes are usually riding slow and in single file because it’s hard to pass. Over our opposition, SFMTA implemented three new dedicated left turns at 17th, 21st, and 23rd streets, which interrupts the green wave and is confusing for cyclists and drivers alike – this . 

Pavement quality: Valencia Street is slated for a full repaving in the near future. Until then, the pavement quality of the bike lane is rough and SFMTA needs help from people who ride it regularly to share hot spots. For particularly bad pavement issues, report them to 311 to get them in the queue for Public Works. 

Right hook risk: Most worryingly, the danger of the right turn hook has returned. We’re urging everyone to remember that it’s permissible to leave the bike lane and to always pass on the left. Here is a great resource from SFBike member and regular Valencia rider, Dylan Harris, on how to avoid the right hook. 

The SF Bicycle Coalition has actively worked on Valencia Street since the 90s. We are so close to having a fully protected Valencia Street and we need your help completing 23rd Street to Cesar Chavez. Join our campaign to complete Valencia Street by signing up below.

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Member Profile: Stephen Arod Shirreffs, Different Spokes SF President

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members do many amazing things around the city! This Pride Month, take a peek into the life of longtime SFBike member and Different Spokes SF president, Stephen Arod Shirreffs. Different Spokes is a volunteer-led inclusive cycling community for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies.

Could you share a little bit about yourself and Different Spokes?

I am a 72-year-old sick road cyclist and I’ve been on a bike since I was ten years old. I’ve lived in San Francisco since 1981 and have been riding the AIDS/LifeCycle since 2014. Outside of biking, I have lots of hobbies including gardening, aquariums, my gargantuan personal library, photography, going to museums, and walking our beautiful city. But I’m never happier than when I’m on a bike. 

I am also the president of Different Spokes San Francisco (DSSF). DSSF was founded in 1982 as one of the first gay and lesbian bike clubs in the world. We are now one of the oldest, all-inclusive LGBTQ+ bike clubs in the world (all-inclusive refers to our many straight members). We ride all year round, mostly road riding, but we also offer an occasional dirt bike series. The club is continually trying to reinvent itself, and right now we are focused on extending a welcome to ALC-legacy riders who want to stay on the bike. 

Why did you first become a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition member?

I joined SFBike because I am a lifelong city boy, and I believe cities are best when they are open and livable, when people encounter each other and see what the city in all its diverse glory offers. Moving around by bike is integral to that. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition holds our city leadership accountable to make SF live up to its potential. In doing so it makes those of us on two wheels safer, and offers more people with varying levels of skill and commitment on the bike, the possibility of venturing out and discovering the beauty and joy of pedaling around town.

Where are some of your favorite spots to ride in San Francisco?

I love riding around the coast starting from the ball park all the way to the zoo. My favorite quick “leg-burner” ride is a double Hawk Hill going up to the top twice. I also ride all over Marin county and the South Bay, and want to get out to ride in the East Bay more. 

Does Different Spokes have any exciting events planned?

Our biggest ride coming up is the 40th Anniversary of the first AIDS Bike-a-thon ride on July 20. Different Spokes organized that ride for nine years until the California AIDS Ride came along and was later picked up by AIDS/Lifecycle, and we raised 2.3 million dollars for AIDS services back in those difficult days. 

Also coming up are our Sum-Sum-Summertime Series and Fall Climbing Series, leading to our annual conquest of Mount Hamilton in November, and then our traditional New Year’s Day Mount Diablo ride. 

We have lots of social events for members, and we welcome anyone who loves biking to join us. Many of our rides feature both an easier, flatter option, and a longer one with more climbing. We’re always open to members suggesting rides of whatever length or difficulty. 

Check out all of DSSF’s exciting upcoming events at dssf.org and join Stephen and thousands of other San Franciscans as an SFBike member to support our work to promote bike safety and joy! 

Empowering Moms to Bike With Their Kids

Posted on by Krissa Cavouras

We hear this story a lot, from members who are already confidently riding their bike and became a parent, about how joyful and convenient it is to transition to carrying your kids around via bicycle, too! From a year or so onwards, these little San Franciscans can experience their growing world from the comfort of a bike seat, cargo bench, or front-loader bucket bike. 

Sometimes, though, the transition from solo riding to cargo riding with kids can be intimidating. The data shows we still have work to do to get more women on bikes, for a lot of reasons like perception of safety and a sense of belonging, and that hesitation can amplify when it comes to mothers bringing kids along for the ride. That’s why Board members (and cargo bike moms) Alyssa Cheung and Kristy Frilling-Skelly approached us with the idea for a group ride and demonstration, to give moms a chance to ride in a safe space and try our cargo riding. 

That’s how our Moms Who Bike community bike ride on June 14 was born. And we had some great partners join us. Bay Wheels provided a small fleet of their e-bikes plus monthly passes for everyone who registered, Streets for All SF helped with snacks and promotion, and our friends at The New Wheel electric bike shop even brought 4 cargo e-bikes for moms to try out on the ride.

Kristy talked a little at the start, about the idea for the ride. “When my oldest kid started elementary school, I noticed a really robust group of dads regularly ferrying their kids to school on their cargo bikes, but far fewer moms. And,” she continued, “I know some of the moms in these families do love to ride! So I can see there’s a confidence gap, and I know sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement from a friend and a space to try it out.” 

We rolled out from Duboce Park on a sunny Saturday morning in June, and with 20 people on cargo bikes, Bay Wheels bikes, and their own bikes, we rode confidently and in community all the way through the iconic Wiggle, along the Panhandle and into Golden Gate Park. Seeing such a big group of parents enjoying the car-free comfort of JFK Promenade reminded us why we fought so hard to win that space in the first place. 

The conversational pace of the ride gave everyone plenty of time to ask questions and learn from experienced parents who bike on staff and in our ride. We fielded questions about different kinds of cargo bikes, the upcoming plan for more Slow School Zones in the Biking and Rolling Plan, about when to start letting kids bike on their own (we can help with that, through our Safe Routes to School program!), and the best bike routes through the city. 

One mom who joined us, Angela, knew it was time to get her own bike to join her family on weekend outings. “My husband usually takes the kids on his bike, and I end up driving to meet them,” she said, but after riding one of the front-loader bikes on loan from The New Wheel with both kids in the bucket, she felt more comfortable traveling on the streets with them in tow. 

It’s crucial to us at SFBike to see parents confidently making the shift to moving around the city, with their kids, for everyday – and multigenerational! – transportation. It’s one reason we have a regular partnership with Karen Wiener and her Biking With Children classes, hosted at Natural Resources. So if you missed our Moms Who Bike ride but you’re curious about starting to modeshift your school commutes, you can register now for our next two classes, on July 20 and September 7. We’ll see you, and your kiddos, out there!

UPCOMING BIKING WITH CHILDREN CLASSES

Wrenching on bikes together at Member Repair Party

Posted on by Patrick Casey

At our last Member Repair Party, one member learned how to use a crank shifter for the first time. Another didn’t have many repairs to make on their bike, and just wanted to help out and meet new people. Seeing moments like this at just our first event, we knew this had potential to be a great ongoing series for members.

We’re excited to launch our Member Repair Party as a new monthly series for SFBike members to work on their bikes and learn basic mechanic skills in a fun and welcoming space. No experience is needed, and we welcome all riders who want to try out new tools with the support from our staff and other participants.

One of the best parts of the repair Parties has been seeing the lightbulb go off when someone finally works through a tricky problem on their bike with the support from others in the space. It’s not just about bikes, though, but bringing our members together in community and creating a space for building relationships within our coalition.

No matter what you’re hoping to work on or learn, we’d love to see you at the next Member Repair Party. They take place on the last Thursday of every month, from 5-7pm at the SFBike office on 1720 Market Street. If you’re not a member and want to join, you can sign up here or as you reserve your spot on Eventbrite.

The next Member Repair Party is on June 26, we hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE

Funding approved for bike projects on northern Embarcadero & Jefferson St

Posted on by Rachel Clyde

On Tuesday May 13, 2025 the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) approved Prop L funding for the Northern Embarcadero and Jefferson Quick-Build.

This quick-build will upgrade the northbound bike lane on The Embarcadero between Bay St and Chestnut St to a protected bike lane with a completion date of September 2027. It will also add bike connections and pedestrian improvements to Jefferson St between Hyde St and Powell St with the goal of completing it by March 2026. 

San Francisco’s waterfront is extremely popular for biking and rolling – upgrading the bike lane to be protected will be a boon for both tourists visiting our city and locals who use The Embarcadero to commute or recreate. The project area is part of the High Injury Network (where the majority of severe and fatal collisions occur in SF) and these changes will improve safety on our streets for everyone.

As transportation habits in San Francisco continue to shift post-pandemic, we need to give people sustainable transportation options that are safe and accessible. Currently, biking in the proposed project area is scary and intimidating for the average person and discourages biking and rolling.

Creating protected bike infrastructure and pedestrian improvements to this area will improve the safety, enjoyability and accessibility of our waterfront. To get updates on this project and learn how you can get involved, sign up for our campaign below.

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Angel Island and Back with Rafiki and Operation Genesis

Posted on by Alex Frank

A journey of growth with Rafiki, Operation Genesis, and Bike It Forward

This spring, our Bike It Forward program teamed up with Rafiki Coalition and Operation Genesis for a ten-week journey into skill-building, self-discovery, and joy. The plan was to have a structured maintenance course paired with local outdoor space exploration. What began with short loops around the neighborhood evolved into long-haul rides, hands-on bike repair, and real conversations about how—and where—young people move through this city.

When this cohort first came together outside the Rafiki Wellness Center in the Bayview neighborhood of SF, most had never heard of  Angel Island (an island in the San Francisco Bay that served as an immigration station and now offers scenic hiking and history). By the end of the program, they weren’t just asking where it was—they were riding around it, and back again.

From swapping out “Maxxi” tires (for perfect wheelies) to adjusting their own derailleurs, these young people took ownership of every turn of the wrench. Each week, their confidence grew — not just in how far they could ride, but in what they could handle.

And there was plenty for them to learn as they went. Early on, a group ride through Bayview led to some real-world lessons in traffic navigation and what it means to be seen on the street. Despite time dedicated to learning how to ride safely on Bayview streets, they learned how drivers react with impatience and bias. One chaperone left the ride shaken, not just by the near-misses, but by the deeper question: How are young people supposed to move safely through a city that wasn’t designed for their freedom?

Still, they kept riding, and their efforts paid off in an unforgettable trip — a nearly 23-mile ride from Bayview along the Bay Trail to “The Pier” (Pier 39), up the Crissy Field hill, back to the ferry, around Angel Island, and back! The journey gave them a chance to explore, be free, and connect the dots of their city. They had built the strength and confidence, and a growing desire to explore the world outside their own neighborhood. Beyond just the physical experience of riding that long distance, the ride was also  a quiet challenge to a system that too often keeps young people, especially Black and brown youth, boxed in.

Destiny Williams, the Rafiki Coalition Program Manager noted about our Angel Island trip: “It stays with me—how many young people who’ve grown up in San Francisco have never even heard of Angel Island. As part of the Rafiki team, I think a lot about why that is. On our ride, I noticed moments when our kids were being watched a bit too closely, or treated like they didn’t quite belong. These are public spaces, meant for everyone, but too often they don’t feel welcoming to Black and brown youth.” She continued, “I’m grateful we were there—to hold space, to create a sense of safety—so they could just enjoy the day. I feel like it shouldn’t take that kind of support for them to feel free outside. That’s why this work matters so much to us. It’s about more than bikes—it’s about joy, visibility, and giving our youth the chance to feel at home in nature.”

Operation Genesis brought deep ties and trust, showing young people that this was their space to shape. A Career Day featured leaders like Drew VanTassell and Levi Luna of Mike’s Bikes, and Saul Leiken of the newly-formed micromobility company ALSO, who shared what it means to build a life in the bike world—and why it matters who gets to ride. As hosts, the Rafiki Coalition rooted the program in wellness, making each gathering a space to exhale and feel safe.

As we look to the next cohort—this time inviting families into the experience—we’re thinking about the bigger question: What does mobility mean when you’re young? How do we foster independence when your neighborhood has historically been deprioritized by transit funding, or when your city is  built around the needs of people in cars? How do young people gain comfort and confidence riding, when their  freedom depends not just on having a bike, but on where they’re “allowed” to ride it?

We don’t have all the answers. But we do know this: with the right tools, the right partners, and a little room to move, these kids can go anywhere.

We are committed to continuing to ride with them – and you can help.  Support youth mobility and mentorship by making a donation to our Bike It Forward program.

MAKE A DONATION

Meet Green Apple Books, our Small Business Bike Champion of the Year

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

This year we extended our Bike Champion of the Year awards to recognize others in our community who embody what it means to be a champion for biking in our city. For the first time this year, we asked our members to nominate small businesses that model bike friendliness with ample bike parking and perks for using the bike to get around SF. To be eligible, businesses must: be locally owned and operated, have 50 employees or less, and support people who ride bikes in some shape or form.

Our Small Business Bike Champion of the Year is Green Apple Books. Books and bikes go so well together!

They were nominated for supporting bike infrastructure and piloting bike corrals right in front of their shops, and for supporting the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition with member discounts, in-kind donations of gift cards, and hosting bike-friendly book events. When we told them they were our winner, co-owner Kevin Ryan wrote: “This is like winning an Oscar! It’s an honor just to be nominated!!”

Why is it important to your organization to welcome patrons coming by bike?
Despite the many beautiful hills, San Francisco is an ideal biking city. And located right in between Golden Gate Park and The Presidio, Green Apple is ideally located as a stop for any San Francisco bicycle tour. The mild climate and the beautiful vistas make for great biking. Many of our employees bike to work, and we negotiated for one of the first bike corrals in the city, many years ago.

What advice do you have for other small businesses who wish to welcome bicyclists?
Once a business gets a reputation as a bike friendly destination, the bikers will come. We’ve been a stop on Bicycle Bookshop tours of the city and many other bike friendly events.

Are you hosting any sales or events coming up you’d like to make sure SFBike members know about?
There’s nothing on our calendar at the moment, but check back on our events calendar, we tend to do 3 or 4 bike-centric events a year.

Meet Maureen Persico, our SFBike Volunteer Bike Champion of the Year

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

This year we extended our Bike Champion of the Year awards to recognize others in our community who embody what it means to be a champion for biking in our city. Our SFBike Volunteer Bike Champion of 2025 is Maureen Persico.

For those who have volunteered with our Bike it Forward program, Maureen is a very familiar face. Maureen serves as a volunteer shop assistant; orienting volunteers, coordinating bike donations, repairing bikes, and many things in between and beyond. Donating hundreds of hours of her time over the past year, Maureen Persico has made a huge contribution to SFBike and has exemplified commitment to our mission of promoting the bike for everyday transportation.

What do you do as a volunteer with SFBike?

I primarily volunteer with Bike it Forward to repair bikes and distribute them – I’ve helped out at our volunteer repair nights, making toolkits and explaining BIF’s mission to new volunteers, paired volunteers and answered repair questions. I’ve also helped with bike pickups from folks who are donating to BIF, and attended weekend events distributing bikes. 

What made you want to volunteer with SFBike, and what keeps you coming back?

I love volunteering to support Bike It Forward – it helps me gain as much I real world, hands-on experience as I can while volunteering with BIF so I can get hired as a bicycle mechanic. I also really appreciate working with Alex, who is the kindest and most knowledgeable mentor I could ask for.  

Is there a project or aspect of your volunteer work that you’re especially proud of?

I love the feeling of seeing someone start riding a bike that I’ve fixed and sail off into the sunset – it brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment.  

What advice do you have for someone interested in getting involved with the coalition? 

There are lots of different ways to connect with the Coalition – my recommendation is to talk to the Membership and Volunteer team about your love and they’ll help you find something you especially enjoy doing that also helps support the mission!  

Where is your favorite place to bike?

I love riding down Valencia because I can see where my prior advocacy has finally borne fruit.  Activism gets results!

Meet Supervisor Melgar, our 2025 District Supervisor Bike Champion of the Year

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

This year we extended our Bike Champion of the Year awards to recognize others in our community who embody what it means to be a champion for biking in our city. Our District Supervisor Bike Champion of the Year is Supervisor Myrna Melgar. 

Myrna Melgar has a long history of public service in San Francisco. She has served as Executive Director of Jamestown Community Center, Deputy Director of MEDA, and also as the President of the San Francisco Planning Commission and Vice President of the Building Inspection Commission before becoming the District 7 Supervisor in 2020 – she was also easily re-elected to her seat by the constituents of her district in a tough campaign in 2024. 

Supervisor Melgar lives the furthest away from City Hall compared to the rest of her colleagues and is the only Supervisor that rides her bike to work everyday. So, not only has she consistently advocated for safer streets in her tenure representing the residents of District 7, she also lives by the sustainable transportation values she advocates for as supervisor.

What is your bike story?

I learned to ride a bike when I was 7 years old. My friend Elizabeth taught me with great patience on the street in front of her house in San Salvador where we grew up. She had a purple and pink Schwinn with a banana seat, and I was hooked!  I now have a green WVTA electric bike with fat 20 inch tires that fold up when needed. It came in a box to my house during the pandemic and I put it together myself.  Jeff Taliaferro from Ocean Cyclery saw me riding it down Ocean Ave that first day and said, “cool toy Myrna, let me check it out!” When he did, he found I had put the front wheel on backwards!  He fixed it on the spot and probably saved my life. I have since installed hydraulic brakes, lights, bells and so much more on this bike. I love her! Her name is Carlita and she has a little over 7,000 miles on her now. She can handle the big hill behind City College with no problem, which is my route to work.  I can take her on BART and have gone as far as San Mateo, east to Oakland and across the Golden Gate bridge.  My job can be stressful, but after work, I get on my bike to go home and feel the wind on my face and everything seems good in the world for a few minutes.

What work around safer streets are you most proud of?

The improvements to Ocean Ave — the new extended platforms for the K stops; the protected bike lane on Lake Merced boulevard which now goes from the Daly City border, in front of Lowell High School and on the other side to Skyline. I’m also so proud of the bike lane on Frida Kahlo in front of City College. And citywide, I’m very proud that we now have a biking and rolling plan. It is not perfect, but the fact that we have one is cause for celebration.

What are you currently working on that you want members of the public to know more about?  

We are working with the County Transportation Authority (CTA) and the SFMTA on improvements to the Ninth Ave and Irving corridor.  It is such a vibrant and awesome area of my district but it is messy and dangerous for people walking, biking, and rolling. We have a lot of folks who double park and block the N, and pedestrians trying to cross the street — backing up car traffic the entire block sometimes. The street narrows on Seventh Ave in front of Independence High School — with car traffic and bikes competing for space, and the intersection on Ninth and Lincoln sees a lot of pedestrians crossing from Inner Sunset to Golden Gate Park and should be a lot safer and more inviting.  

Thank you, Supervisor Melgar, for your leadership and enthusiasm! To stay up to date on all the things we’re working on in District 7, sign up for campaign updates below.

Sign Up Here