The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition welcomes Claire Amable as our newest Community Organizer!
Tell us about your role at the SF Bicycle Coalition. What areas of SF will you be organizing in?
I’m the new community organizer for District 6 which encompasses neighborhoods such as the Tenderloin, South of Market and Treasure Island. Many streets under Vision Zero’s High Injury Network can be found in this district, so focusing on streetscaping projects and campaigns in the Tenderloin and SoMa are my biggest priorities. I’m here to engage community based organizations, residents, businesses, city officials, and city departments to collaboratively come up with solutions to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists in District 6 while also supporting efforts city wide.
What have you enjoyed so far about your role? What problems are you excited to solve?
My background is in public transportation and pedestrian safety advocacy specifically within District 6. I was born and raised in the Tenderloin and have moved back and forth between the neighborhoods in D6 so it’s been really enjoyable to work with people and groups I’ve known for a long time. It makes the work I do all the more meaningful and special! I know first-hand what it’s like to walk and bike in these neighborhoods and I know it’s not safe. I have many young children in my life who live in the Tenderloin and I am most excited to play a role in making streets safer for them because it was not something I had growing up.
You’re a Bay Area native! What do you love most about SF?
MUNI, a tofu banh mi from Saigon Sandwiches, and the radical, social justice history of San Francisco! From Compton’s Cafeteria and gay liberation, the International Hotel and rent control, the banning of plastic bags and e-cigarettes and many more things. I believe to know history is to know yourself. To grow up in a city like San Francisco, it was very empowering for me to learn about our history as a city and more specifically the history of the Filipinx community during the fight for the I-Hotel. This knowledge really motivates and empowers me to do the work that I do today. I love that even though this city is rapidly changing and people are being pushed out, there are still people and organizations soulfully fighting to stay.
When you’re not working or biking, what fills your time?
I’m usually camping or planning a trip to go camping! As much as I love San Francisco, I love to get out of the city and unplug. However, if I’m not camping, I’m trying to show a four-year-old girl how to skateboard in Golden Gate Park on the weekends.
Get to know Claire and sign up for updates on her work in the Tenderloin.