Don’t Dream It. Bridge It.

Posted on by Janice Li

Editors: This story was originally published in Issue 156 of our quarterly Tube Times magazine.

Imagine this: A beautiful seven-mile bike ride, elevated over the San Francisco Bay with no stop signs or traffic lights.

For many, the transbay connection means a sweaty BART ride screeching underneath the Bay, infrequent ferries or buses, adding to the traffic and congestion on the Bay Bridge or worse: “I think I’ll stay in San Francisco tonight.”

Connecting the East Bay to San Francisco with a beautiful pathway no longer has to be a part of your imagination. Soon enough, you’ll be able to bike from Oakland to Treasure Island. But what about getting all the way to downtown San Francisco?

A rendering of the Bay Bridge's western span path for people walking and biking. With community input, designers have concluded that attaching the path on the bridge's north side is preferred, permitting for incredible views of the San Francisco skyline.

A rendering of the western span path.

Why?

Every day there is a new record for San Francisco’s population. With tens of thousands moving into San Francisco over the past few years, people are feeling the squeeze on our streets. We feel it already in the bike lanes. In 2015 alone, there were 25 percent more people biking on Market Street than in the prior year.

BART cars rolling through Embarcadero Station during commute hours typically offer no room for your bike. Passengers bringing their bikes onto Caltrain commonly get “bumped” with insufficient bike spaces on board. And, to no one’s surprise, a recent report by the SF County Transportation Authority confirmed what we all expected: The Bay Bridge is already at capacity.

The path for people biking and walking the Bay Bridge’s West Span represents not only an architectural accomplishment to bridge two cities separated by a bay, but also one of practical need. With projections of 10,000 people biking on the Bay Bridge daily, the completion of the West Span pathway will uphold the Bay Area’s dedication to environmentally-friendly and sustainable living.

Bridging the West

When it comes to a once-in-a-generation opportunity like building a bike path on the Bay Bridge, every step counts.

We’ve already taken the first step: a commitment by Steve Heminger, head of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the regional transportation agency for the nine Bay Area counties. At a Bike East Bay event in 2013, Heminger promised a path for people biking and walking that spans the entire Bay Bridge.

Possible landing at Beale and Bryant Streets.

Possible landing at Beale and Bryant Streets.

Heminger’s announcement came towards the end of multiple studies led by Caltrans, the state’s department of transportation. Nearly a thousand pages were published to determine the feasibility of a path for people biking and walking on the West Span, the first of which was published in 2002 along with a more detailed study completed in 2014.

To hone in on the design and every fine-grain detail, the MTC awarded Arup North America a $10 million contract in November, 2014 to translate the reports’ findings into a real and feasible design. This hardworking team, led by Rafael Manzanarez and Rich Coffin, is eagerly turning a bikeable Bay Bridge into reality.

After a year of analysis, measuring everything from wind factors to cantilever physics and noise levels, Arup emerged in January, 2016 with stunning 3D images to share and gave the public the first real taste of what biking on the West Span could look like. From swirling ramps for ADA accessibility to glass elevators landing on the Embarcadero, the engineers and architects at Arup wowed the crowd, a packed, standing-room-only meeting earlier this year.

This project is complicated not only because of the immensity of a bridge structure but also because of the moving parts. Design has been broken into three distinct segments: the connection on Yerba Buena Island onto the West Span (pictured publicly for the first time on this Tube Times’ cover), the pathway on the span itself and the touchdown into downtown San Francisco. Several options have been developed for each segment, allowing for a menu of permutations to cook up the final three-course meal of the Bay Bridge West Span.

As this Tube Times went to print, the project managers at Arup confirmed that those designs pictured here are the preferred options based on feedback they received from the public. This special preview will be shared in full at an open house later this year before the final design options are brought to agency decisionmakers at the end of this planning process, which wraps up in early 2017.

After that, the next major step to turn three-dimensional computer-aided designs into real-life steel structures will be to identify the funding needed. Your SF Bicycle Coalition looks forward to working alongside project partners, our Bike East Bay allies and most importantly, our members to see this project through, currently projected for completion by 2026.

One of two remaining designs for people biking and walking th Bay Bridge's western span in San Francisco -- this one at the Embarcadero near Harrison Street.

Possible landing at the Embarcadero near Harrison Street.

Completing the East Span

In Issue No. 100 of Tube Times, dated Oct.-Nov. 2004, the cover article was entitled “Biking to Oakland and Back.”

Back then, this was an otherworldly dream. The opening line read: “The grandest and potentially most popular multi-use pathways in the Bay Area exist only on paper.”

After two years of nearly-completed limbo, the East Span path for people biking and walking will finally touch down on Yerba Buena Island later this year to fully connect the East Bay to the edges of San Francisco. When complete, you’ll be able to ride from West Oakland and take the beautiful, 15-foot path named after long-time bicycle advocate and Bike East Bay founder, the late Alexander Zuckermann, all the way to Yerba Buena Island. There, you’ll land at a brand new vista point on U.S. Coast Guard territory where you can take in the sights.

As housing and commercial developments on Treasure Island are built out, so will the bike connections. This massive development project broke ground earlier this year and will transform both Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island with new development and transportation networks, including bike-friendly and walkable streets, along with significantly improved access to and from the islands.

The grand visions your SF Bicycle Coalition dreamt up for the Tube Times 12 years ago are becoming a tangible, bikeable reality.

What’s next?

We have only come this far because of San Francisco’s love affair with the Bay and the momentum of bike advocacy. For more than a decade now, members of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, as well as Bike East Bay members, have shared a common dream: to someday bike shore to shore across the Bay.

The fight continues to make that a reality in this generation, and you can make a difference. Come to the next open house. Ride with us when the East Span makes its way to Treasure Island. Tell everyone you know and ask them whether they want to be part of a truly awe-inspiring, historic opportunity..

Two Supervisors, Two Champions for Transportation at Golden Wheel Awards on July 13

Posted on by Janice Li

The Golden Wheel Awards are less than a week away, and we couldn’t be more excited about this year’s guest speakers, Supervisors Jane Kim and Scott Wiener. Make sure you grab your tickets for this can’t-miss event!

We are honored to have Supervisors Kim and Wiener as our special guest speakers for our 24th Annual Golden Wheel Awards on Wed., July 13 at the elegant, newly renovated Green Room at the SF War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. Both Supervisors have strongly championed transportation improvements within the city to make our streets welcome for everyone, especially if they’re pedaling on two wheels. We’ll hear from both Supervisors on their respective transportation platforms, as they are both seeking to be elected this year to represent San Francisco in the State Senate.

Jane Kim

Jane Kim has served as a Supervisor for District 6 since 2011, representing neighborhoods including the Tenderloin, SoMa, Treasure Island and Mission Bay. Some of the city’s most-biked streets are in District 6, including Market, Folsom and Polk Streets, to name a few. In her role on the city’s Vision Zero Committee, Supervisor Kim has consistently pushed for smart street design and better bike infrastructure on high-injury corridors and has led a working group focused on street safety, bringing together a diverse coalition of residents. In addition, she has supported one of last year’s Golden Wheel Award-winners, the SF Yellow Bike Project, a local nonprofit community bike shop in the Tenderloin and learned how to bike as an adult through the SF Bicycle Coalition’s bicycle education program.

Scott Wiener

Scott Wiener has represented District 8 as Supervisor since 2011, representing neighborhoods including the Castro, Noe Valley, Duboce Triangle and parts of the Mission. Along with Market Street, his district borders Valencia Street, another popular and well-loved bike route in our city. In addition to his support for better biking in District 8, Supervisor Wiener is well-known for his love of transit, winning SF Transit Riders’ Muni Challenge last year with 106 rides in 22 days. Supervisor Wiener has fought for the expansion of public transportation’s service and reliability, changes to city codes to ease implementation of people-friendly street transformations and championed Proposition B in 2014 to bring more money to invest in these needed biking, walking and transit projects.

We hope you can join us and Supervisors Kim and Wiener on the evening of Wed., July 13, as we honor the work of Walk SF Executive Director Nicole Ferrara and Assemblymember Phil Ting. To reserve your tickets and to find out more information about sponsoring our event, visit our Golden Wheel Awards page.

We’re Hiring: Development Director

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is seeking a seasoned, highly motivated individual to direct the organization’s diverse fundraising efforts in support of our advocacy and programmatic work. This is an amazing opportunity for a development professional to work with a dedicated staff and active membership of over 10,000 to promote the bicycle for everyday transportation.

Hours: Full-time position. Position will entail some work on weeknights and weekends.
Reports to: Executive Director
Manages: A dynamic staff of three-to-four individuals focused on development, membership and events.

About the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
Through day-to-day advocacy, education and working partnerships with government and community agencies, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is dedicated to creating safer streets and more livable communities for all San Franciscans by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.

Our active membership of over 10,000 represents San Franciscans of all ages and backgrounds from all neighborhoods who are working towards safer, greener and more efficient ways to move around our city. The SF Bicycle Coalition is the largest city-based bicycle advocacy group in the nation and one of the largest member-driven groups in San Francisco. Our members donate over 10,000 volunteer hours a year.

Job Components
This is an opportunity for a proven fundraiser, passionate about making San Francisco a better place to live, work and bike. While the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has diverse and strong revenue streams, opportunities exist for even greater growth and diversification of our revenue. We are looking for a strong, creative leader in the fundraising field who will help our organization grow to the next level.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Overseeing and increasing our major gifts program;
  • Expanding foundation grant funding;
  • Collaborating with Membership and Business Program Manager to grow and diversify our membership, particularly in the areas of business membership and monthly sustainers;
  • Collaborating with Development Manager to ensure smooth and timely gift transmittal processes and grant pipeline management as well as manage discount partner program;
  • Collaborating with Event Planner on major fundraising events throughout the year;
  • Overseeing corporate sponsorship program;
  • Assessing opportunities for income growth and diversification;
  • Leading an effective team focusing on membership growth, event management and donor cultivation and stewardship;
  • Working directly with our Board of Directors, key supporters and sponsors, as well as organizational partners;
  • Setting up effective systems and structure to support fundraising efforts;
  • Playing an active role in budgeting and forecasting.

Strong candidates will possess the following key qualifications:

  • Have 5 years or more of progressively increasing responsibility in nonprofit fundraising;
  • Successful track record in soliciting gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations, in an annual revenue setting of at least $1-$5 million;
  • Experience managing development and allied staff, including events and membership management;
  • Experience in staffing an Executive Director, Board and other peer solicitors in “moves management” of major donors and prospects;
  • Successful design and execution of multi-channel campaigns using direct marketing, online solicitations, social media and related fundraising vehicles;
  • Successful project planning and strategy implementation;
  • Excellent communication skills;
  • CRM Software experience, preferably with Salesforce;
  • Possess excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
  • Budgeting and forecasting experience;
  • Exceptional, proven writing skills for a diversity of media and audiences;
  • Team player, willing partner with program, communications and operations leadership; and
  • A commitment to and passion for the SF Bicycle Coalition’s mission.

The annual salary for this position is competitive, commensurate with experience, and includes attractive benefits and annual leave package. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit them by clicking “Apply for Position” below. Be sure to mention where you saw the job advertised. Applications will be reviewed starting Mon., July 11 on a rolling basis until the position is filled. People of color and women are strongly encouraged to apply. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political orientation.

UPDATE: We are no longer accepting applications for the Development Director position. If you have questions, please contact Brian.

Friends Helping Friends Get Rolling

Posted on by Kelsey Roeder

May is Bike Month, and one of San Francisco’s biggest bicycling times of the year. Last May our Women Bike SF program made it a goal to get even more women, trans*, femme (WTF) riders on the road. In honor of bike month the SF Bicycle Coalition held its second annual pledge drawing: sign up to get a WTF friend riding during the month of May for the chance to win some great giveaways.

HUGE thanks to everyone who participated, and kudos to the new bicyclists who got their wheels spinning! We were thrilled with the response and inspired by the great stories we heard.

Now, here’s one for you: Delanie and Lauren. The former an experienced bicyclist and the latter new to biking in the city. We caught up with them to hear about their pledging experience.

SF Bicycle Coalition: What inspired you to sign our pledge to help a friend start biking?

Delanie: The raffle prizes! Also, Lauren has shown interest in biking (and even brought her bike up from San Jose) for a while, and I wanted to actually commit to getting her on the saddle since I enjoy biking so much.
Lauren: I am lucky to have a great friend like Delanie who is a biking beast!

What inspired your to start biking in the city?

D: I’ve been biking as a form of transportation for a long time now, here in SF for 3 years and back home in Columbus, Ohio. I’d say there are three main reasons I bike:
1. I hate not being in control of my transportation and owning a car is out of the question.
2. It’s free, and I’m broke (except the occasional tune-ups and repairs, but still light-years cheaper than anything else).
3. It’s exercise that you don’t have to allot extra time to — you have to get places, so might as well spend your time commuting getting ripped.
L: I really enjoy spinning at the gym and there is no reason I shouldn’t be riding outside and enjoying the outdoors. Not only is it a great way to get around, but who wants to exercise in a gym after a long day inside at work?

What’s your favorite aspect of bicycling?

D: My favorite aspect is the exercise high, especially after a long ride or some SF hills. Also, the people. Biking has a wonderful community of people, which I have had a blast getting to know.

L: I am new to biking in the city but I love feeling my heart pump and being in the sun.

Why do you think that it’s important to have more women biking in San Francisco?

D: I think it’s important to have more people in general biking in SF. There are so many good community outcomes of riding: better public health, lower emissions, less traffic, etc. I’d say women, especially, should bike more because it’s so freaking empowering. There’s still a bit of gender inequality in athletics, so the more women who ride, the better!

L: It’s important to have more women biking in San Francisco because it’s fun, great for the environment, good exercise, and makes us independent of ridesharing and public transportation. Not only is it a good way to save money, it’s very freeing to know that I can leave my location at any time, get on my bike and go. Forget surging or crowded buses!

Do you have any tips for women who are nervous about bicycling in the city?

D: Know the laws and only do what you’re comfortable doing. Being unsure about biking can be dangerous for you and the people around you. If you’re uncomfortable biking on the roads, start small, like in Golden Gate Park, until you’re more confident, then hit the road! The SF Bicycle Coalition has urban cycling classes that a few of my newbie friends have taken and loved – take advantage of everything they offer!

L: As a new biker in the city, it is so awesome to have an experienced friend guide you on some first rides and show you the ropes. Due to all the hills in SF, I always check maps to find the flattest route.

What bicycling improvements would you like to see in the city?

D: I think the main issue with biking in SF is the ignorance of the law on both the driver and biker sides. The interaction between cars and bikes would be a lot safer and smoother if everyone knew (and followed) the laws.

The main law-breaking I’ve experienced, which is especially dangerous, is illegal right turn maneuvers. I’d say a majority of the cars I see turning right don’t use a blinker. And some put a blinker on as they turn, which completely defeats the purpose of the blinker. Still worse are cars that don’t pull all the way to the right when they want to turn. This creates a lot of frustration and confusion for both parties and confusion is always dangerous.

I have other gripes about traffic law breaking, but I won’t bore you with those. The bottom line is that there needs to be some kind of education for both the drivers and bikers in order to make the streets safer. If there were a way to have a giant mandatory conference with all the drivers and bikers in the city to discuss issues of safety, that would be ideal. But since that’s probably not possible, I think getting more questions about how to deal with bikers and bike lanes in driver’s education and the driver test would be a good step.Right-Turn-step-2

 

Help us support more getting more people enjoying the fun and freedom of biking. Join or renew your membership today, and we’ll keep our outreach wheels rolling. 

 

You’re Invited: Caltrain Member Committee on July 12

Posted on by Janice Li

Are you a regular Caltrain rider who brings your bike on board?

Whether it’s overhauling Townsend Street to bring a comfortable bike connection to Fourth and King Streets, or making sure there space for you and your bike as Caltrain continues to upgrade the entire system, we want to hear from you.

Caltrain Member Committee
Tuesday, July 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
SFFD Community Room at 1275 3rd St.

As new opportunities arise to improve bike connections to Caltrain and the experience of bringing your bike on board, we know that our advocacy will need to be powered by our members to take advantage of these opportunities. What’s in store?

1. A Better Townsend Street

The SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is launching their Townsend project later this year to significantly improve the street for biking and walking from the Embarcadero all the way to Eighth Street.

Before public workshops and open houses begin, we want to hear from our members: What would make the bike connection here better for you?

2. Caltrain Electrification

Last year, we received an outpouring of letters and support for a new, modernized Caltrain fleet that included expanded bike capacity. Thanks to your advocacy, the Caltrain Board approved more bike space on board than what their staff originally recommended. As Caltrain continues edging closer to electrification, there will be opportunities to give feedback on what this new railcar design will look like to make it easy to get your bike on and off the train.

3. Bike parking and bike share

For some who only need a bike on one end of their Caltrain trip, secure bike parking and expanded bike share can make a huge difference. We want to get your thoughts about what type of bike parking makes most sense and where it would be most well-used. Interested in bike share? The next phase of expansion is slated to include the neighborhoods near Fourth and King Station, as well as 22nd Street Station.

There’s a lot in store and we know we can only win these campaigns with strong member support. Come to this meeting, share your thoughts and be a part of making a difference for the thousands of people who connect biking with Caltrain every day.

Championing a Strong SF Bicycle Coalition: Calling for Interested Board Candidates

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

What makes the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition one of the strongest and most effective advocacy organizations in the city? Over 10,000 passionate members committed to promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation is a big reason, along with diverse community partnerships and a hard-working staff.

There’s another critical, though less prominent, element to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s success: our all-volunteer Board of Directors.

Are you an engaged member interested in serving on the board? Here’s a quick overview of key questions:

What are the board’s responsibilities?

The top responsibilities of this 15-member team include fiduciary oversight, governance duties, strategic direction and fundraising — all with the goal of advancing the SF Bicycle Coalition’s mission and supporting our organizational health.

Board members also participate in regular meetings and public events, such as member gatherings and fundraising events. The board plays an important role in representing the organization on group rides and at events like Bike to Work Day.

How much time does board service take?

Most board members typically average two-to-three hours weekly, including evenings and weekends, with some seasons busier than others.

How does one become a board member?

Each year, half of the 15 board seats are up for election for two-year terms. Any current SF Bicycle Coalition member is eligible to run. All members may vote. We are preparing now for the 2016 board elections, with voting later this year.

If you’re considering board service, here are a few recommended steps to take:

  • Read more about board roles and responsibilities, as well as the top needs, skills and qualities that have been identified as board priorities this year
  • Come to an upcoming board meeting (Typically the last Tuesday of the month, and always listed on our events calendar. No RSVP necessary.)
  • Contact a current board member to ask questions or learn more about their experiences. August 22 is the deadline to declare interest as a candidate for this year’s board election. Write to boardnomination@sfbike.org with any questions.

Get additional information on these and other board-related topics at www.sfbike.org/news/2016-board-elections/.

5 Ways to Get Rolling This Summer

Posted on by Nancy Buffum

School’s out! While travel plans are part of summer for many of us, there are plenty of opportunities to have new biking adventures right here in San Francisco. Many families are enjoying a slower pace and are able to spend more time with each other. Summer is a great time to help your children learn to ride or improve their biking skills, and to bike and play in your own neighborhood. It’s a good time for you to gain confidence as an adult rider, too, and for you and your family to try out new routes together.

 

1. New parents: learn about family biking gear and get rolling 

Are you pregnant or wanting to start riding with your baby or child? We’re offering our free Biking with Babies (Pregnancy to Toddlers) class on July 30 at Natural Resources in the Mission. You’re also invited to Test Ride a Family Bike at Sunday Streets.

2. Learn to ride: you’re never too young — or too old! 

Toddlers agesd two to five can get the feel of rolling, balancing and steering on a balance bike (also called a scoot or push bike). A taller child gets the same healthy start when you remove the bike’s pedals and lower the seat. Our experienced biking coaches can help out at SF Bicycle Coalition’s free Freedom From Training Wheels workshops or Presidio YBike’s monthly Learn to Ride events for children of all ages. Or perhaps you’d like to brush up on your own biking skills, especially if you plan to bike with your children. Take a free SF Bicycle Coalition adult class this summer.

3. Start biking close to home 

If you or your child is new to biking for everyday transportation, a short walk or ride to a nearby schoolyard, playground or friend’s house is a great way to start. There are now public schoolyards open every weekend from 9:00 am to 4:00 pmin neighborhoods across the city, with at least one open schoolyard in each of San Francisco’s 11 Supervisorial Districts. What a great place to practice biking! See the list of open schoolyards and Shared Schoolyard kickoff events coming up.

4. Practice your biking skills on car-free streets and paths 

Sunday Streets is a favorite place to stroll or practice biking in a car-free space.. Visit the SF Bicycle Coalition tent at Sunday Streets to learn more about our work, let the kids try Freedom From Training Wheels, or Test Ride a Family Bike. Another car-free favorite is JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays as well Sundays all summer long. Family-friendly off-road paths are an option any time in the Panhandle, on the path parallel to the Great Highway, on the route that circles  Lake Merced, and the Blue Greenway on the waterfront from Marina Green in the north to Heron’s Head Park in Bayview. 

5. Replace one transit trip or car trip weekly with a bike ride 

When you’re just getting started, take it slow. Try swapping out one of your regularly-occurring weekly car or transit trips with a bike ride: How about a Bike to Summer Camp Day? Or making Bike to Work Day a habit? Take advantage of the long summer days, lighter car traffic and less scheduling pressure, and enjoy a new biking adventure right here in San Francisco. Have a great summer!

Bikes Count: Summer Outreach Stations & Discounted Memberships

Posted on by Anna Gore

This Summer we’re celebrating the many ways that bikes count toward making our City a better place with streetside outreach stations all over town.

Whether you’re biking to work, the store, the park or over the hills of Marin – you’re part of a large and growing number of people biking in San Francisco. Bicycling is the fastest growing form of transportation in our city, and as more people bike, biking will only continue to improve.

Stop by one of our Outreach Stations for a treat and to learn the latest news on some of our top campaigns. Our Bicycle Ambassadors will be out there, spreading the word about our work and gathering support for some big bicycling improvements in the coming year. Plus, we’re offering discounted memberships of $25 to new and renewing members at the stations!

So, pedal by and join or renew at one of our streetside stations:

Outreach Kick-off at the Bike Counter!
Thurs., July 7 | 7-9AM | Valencia Bike Counter (between 17th and 18th Streets)

Arguello Service Station
Sun., July 17 | 8:30-10:30AM | Outside Velo Rouge Cafe (798 Arguello Blvd.)

Page Street Improvements
Thurs., July 28 | 7-9AM | Market & 12 Streets

Better Biking in the Panhandle, Celebrating Outside Lands
Sat., August 6 | 11AM-2PM | Panhandle; Shrader & Fell Street

Festival of the Sea*
Sat., August 20 | 11AM-2PM | at the Festival by the Sea; Hyde Street Pier

Want to be part of the action and bring smiles on the faces of your fellow bicycle riders? If you’re a trained Bicycle Ambassador and would like to volunteer, sign up to join us.

Assemblymember Phil Ting, a Champion for People Who Bike

Posted on by Chris Cassidy

One of two 2016 Golden Wheel Awards goes to Assemblymember Phil Ting. Assemblymember Ting’s legislative accomplishments mark him as one of the premier champions in Sacramento for people who bike.

We caught up with Assemblymember Ting recently to talk about what motivates his work to improve biking in San Francisco, what he sees as next steps and where he enjoyed his first taste of urban cycling (on the entirely other side of the globe.)

SF Bicycle Coalition: What inspires your commitment to working towards safer, more bikeable streets?

Assemblymember Ting: San Francisco’s population is growing. We need to improve how we move everybody in the city around, including those of us who live here as well as those who come into the city to work and play. The only way to do that is to increase opportunities to walk, bike or ride public transit. If we don’t build the infrastructure for more active transportation, gridlock will only get worse. In addition, investing in active transportation improves everyone’s health by making it easier for people to get out and get exercise by traveling around San Francisco on their bikes while also reducing pollution from vehicles.

How often do you bike and where are some of your favorite places to bike in and around SF?

I only get to bike occasionally, but my two favorite spots in San Francisco are Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway. Additionally, I have a bike in Sacramento, because as a legislator, I work part time in the State Capitol. I enjoy biking around downtown Sacramento because it’s much flatter than San Francisco!

What’s your number one policy priority when it comes to biking? What do our streets look like after you’ve achieved that goal?

My number one goal is to get more funding for active transportation. If we fund active transportation at 1 percent of what we fund all other transportation priorities, it would be a huge boost to the state’s infrastructure. With that money, we could install more bike lanes and make biking in San Francisco significantly safer. The state budget just passed by the Legislature includes funding for active transportation, which we hope to augment with funds from the state’s cap and trade program. Active transportation has long been a priority for the Assembly and will remain so while I’m Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

As a result of our efforts to build out our bicycling infrastructure, ridership will increase significantly, and more people will have alternatives to move around San Francisco and California.

What’s something that fellow SF Bicycle Coalition members would be surprised to learn about you?

I spent my last year of college in Beijing, China, where my bike was my primary mode of transportation. I got to bike to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace to name a few sites. I saw a city where cars and bikes shared the road and the streets were built with cycletracks everywhere. Back then, 80 percent of people got around by bike. It was a sight to see millions of people transport themselves, their families and their stuff by bike. I perfected my urban bicycling skills in Beijing riding around vehicles, people and any obstacle you can think of.  

What’s the number one goal you have for San Francisco’s streets in the next five years?

My top goal is to make roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. We’re on our way. San Francisco continues to add bike lanes, including a new one in front of my San Francisco office on Golden Gate Avenue that opened last week. I proudly authored AB 1193 which authorized the cycletrack around the state. I was happy to see the first cycletrack go in on Polk Street a few years ago and look forward to seeing more of them in San Francisco.

You’re being honored for your leadership on bike policy, including the passage of AB 40, banning tolls for people biking and walking the Golden Gate Bridge. What are the necessary steps to improving the experience of biking in and around San Francisco?

We need to invest in funding bike lanes and other infrastructure for non-drivers with the same sense of urgency that we invest in building roads and filling potholes. Making it easier for people to get out of their cars reduces congestion for people who must drive, reduces fossil fuel consumption, improves air quality, and helps people to be active and healthy. It’s a great return on our investment.

One of my favorite projects has been working with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Presidio YBike on bike safety fairs at various schools around San Francisco. I’m so proud that my seven-year old daughter learned how to ride a bike at one of these fairs. It demonstrates the benefit for so many families and kids around the City, including my own.

Join us Wednesday, July 13 and thank Assemblymember Ting in person at the 24th Annual Golden Wheel Awards. Attendees will enjoy hearing directly from Assemblymember Ting and fellow awardee Nicole Ferrara of Walk SF, along with special remarks by Supervisors Jane Kim and Scott Wiener, who are both vying to represent San Francisco in the State Senate. Reserve your seat today for an elegant night honoring champions of people biking. 

Board of Directors: 2016 Member Election

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is proud to have a very active and professional all-volunteer Board of Directors. Most board members have dedicated numerous years of service and lending of talents to a wide range of organizational needs. Board members are elected for 2-year terms. Every year approximately half of the board seats are up for election, and board members may or may not decide to run again as incumbents.

Active SF Bicycle Coalition members may self-nominate or be nominated by others for consideration as a board candidate. Eight seats will be considered and voted on in the fall 2016 election. Interested candidates should review the Qualities and Skills Identified as Priorities for 2016 SFBC Board of Directors’ candidate recruitment as well as the SF Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors Candidates’ Guidebook.

Key Upcoming Dates:

  • A full timeline and link to questionnaire and process are available here. Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m. PT is the deadline for interested candidates to submit completed questionnaire and resume.
  • Deadline to join or renew your members to be eligible to vote: Friday, Nov. 4 at 11:59 pm.
  • Voting begins: Monday, Nov. 14.
  • Member meeting & candidate forum: Thursday, Nov. 17.
  • Voting ends after in-person voting at Winterfest: Sunday, Dec. 4.

We will continue to update this page with more information as the elections move forward. Interested in learning more about the board? Email boardnomination@sfbike.org.