Pledge: More Women, Trans*, Femme Riders Biking This May!

Posted on by Erin Durkee

May is Bike Month, making now a perfect time to grow the movement of women bicyclists in San Francisco, and we need your help! Only one-third of people who bike SF identify as female. Having a friend to try biking with is one of the best ways to help someone overcome their barriers and get rolling.

Pledge today to get a women, trans*, femme (WTF) rider on a bike in May and both of you will be entered into a raffle for some great swag from Keirin Cut Jeans and WTB (Wilderness Trail Bicycles)!

Women Bike SF is an SF Bicycle Coalition program that aims to connect and inspire more WTF riders in San Francisco, and we’re here to help you get your friend(s) rolling. The pledge opens today and closes on Bike to Work Day (Thursday, May 12). Sign the pledge today!

Huge thanks to Keirin Cut Jeans and WTB for supporting WTF riders. Sign the pledge and you could win a Keirin Cut t-shirt, WTB pro saddle, new PadLoc grips and more!

Google Drivers Improve Understanding of Road Safety

Posted on by Libby Nachman

Despite many of the recent improvements on our streets giving people on bikes separate road space, people biking and driving still need to do so respectfully throughout our city. That’s one of many reasons why we’re committed to educating professional drivers, who spend more time on our streets than do others, how to share them safely with people biking.

Since 2014, the SF Bicycle Coalition has taught over 2,000 professional drivers – including taxi drivers, Recology truck drivers, Genentech and Google shuttle bus drivers, and AutoReturn tow truck drivers – how to share the roads safely with people on bicycles.

Last month, your SF Bicycle Coalition had the pleasure of training over 200 Google shuttle bus drivers how to navigate our city safely around people on bikes. Some folks were brushing up on our 2014 training for Google shuttle bus drivers, while many more recent hires were seeing the material for the first time.

The hour-long training covered the most common concerns for people driving around those on bikes: How to turn across a bike lane, safely loading and unloading on a street with a bike lane, and using mirrors to look for people biking. We also covered bicyclists’ rights, including the three-foot passing law. From the driver’s perspective, we discussed difficulties seeing people biking in blind spots and the need for people biking to pass right-turning vehicles on the left.

For the first time, we surveyed the drivers attending our training to see how well our education efforts were meeting their needs. We’re pleased to report that drivers overwhelmingly found the course valuable and applicable to their job. After taking the class, over 80 percent of drivers reported having a better understanding of the rights of people on bikes, the top causes of bike-car collisions and how to use common bicycle infrastructure.

Want to help spread the safety message? Share our driver education resources, including the Right Turn graphic, video for Muni operators and video for Large Vehicle Drivers.

To support our ongoing education programs, consider also becoming a member of the SF Bicycle Coalition.

Who You Gonna Call: Bike Doctors

Posted on by Anna Gore

Does your bike need a check-up? Stop by a Bike Doctor on your way to work!

A mechanic from one of our fabulous local shops will be there to support you at 16(!) Bike to Work Day Energizer Stations this year. Stop by, and they’ll help you with basic bike maintenance — lubing chains, adjusting seats and fixing flat tires — for free! Mark your calendar for Bike to Work Day (Thursday, May 12) and map your route to a Bike Doctor. They’ll be at all of the stations below:

MORNING ENERGIZER STATIONS:
Alamo Square: Fulton St & Scott St. (7:30 – 9:30 am) (Sports Basement)
Caltrain Station: 4th St at Townsend St. (7 – 9:30 am) (Caltrain Bike Station)
Civic Center: City Hall, Polk St. steps (7:30 – 9:30 am) (Huckleberry Bicycles)
Downtown: Market St. at Battery St. (7:30 am – 2:00 pm) (Golden Gate)
Mid-Market: Market St. at 12th St. (7:00 – 11:00 am) (Market Street Cycles)
Mission: Valencia St. at 17th St. (7:00 – 11:00 am) (Valencia Cyclery)
Embarcadero: Ferry Building (6:30 – 9:30 am) (Citizen Chain)
Panhandle: Fell St. at Masonic Ave. (7:30 – 9:30 am) (Avenue Cyclery)
Presidio: Main Post, Halleck St. at Lincoln Blvd. (6:30 – 9:30 am) (Roaring Mouse Cycles)
SOMA: Folsom St. & 7th St. (7:00 – 11:00 am) (The Bike Connection)

EVENING ENERGIZER STATIONS:
Caltrain Station: 4th St. at Townsend St. (5:00 – 7:00 pm) (Caltrain Bike Station)
Mission East: Harrison St. at 17th St. (5:00 – 7:00 pm) (Sports Basement)
Mission West: Valencia St. at 19th St. (5:00 – 7:30 pm) (Mission Bicycles)
Octavia Island: Market St. at Octavia St. (5:00 – 7:30 pm) (Box Dog Bikes)
Panhandle: Fell St. at Masonic Ave. (5:00 – 7:30 pm) (Avenue Cyclery)
Polk Street: Polk St. at Bush St. (5:00 – 7:00 pm) (Spoke and Hub Bikes)
Soma: Howard St. & 8th St. (5:00 – 7:30 pm) (Mike’s Bikes)

A New Opportunity for Ocean Avenue

Posted on by Janice Li

When it comes to building out our city’s bike network, we need to seize every opportunity possible.

In neighborhoods where bike lanes are scarce, it’s hard to enjoy biking as an easy, fun and affordable way to get around. This is true of Ocean Avenue, particularly the segment from where the new bike lanes end at 19th Avenue to Balboa Park Station.

That’s why we have been closely following the development at the Balboa Reservoir. This large expanse of asphalt adjacent to the City College on Ocean Avenue is going through an extensive public process as one of the projects in the City’s Public Land for Housing program.

What the Balboa Reservoir site looks like today. Source: Planning Department.

What the Balboa Reservoir site looks like today. Source: Planning Department.

To ensure there was plenty of room for public input early on in the process, the City formed the Balboa Reservoir Community Advisory Committee, which meets monthly to help advise City staff on a variety of topics. This month’s topic focuses on transportation with the goal of approving a set of parameters for future development at this site.

Balboa Reservoir Community Advisory Committee
Wednesday, April 13 at from 6:15-8:00pm
City College Multi-Use Building at 50 Phelan Avenue

The Balboa Reservoir project provides a unique opportunity to significantly improve biking and walking connections to Balboa Park Station, which is bordered by some of the city’s most dangerous streets. We need to make sure this new development takes advantage of this opportunity and encourages biking, walking and transit as the main modes of transportation to and from the site to increase affordability and sustainability. In the future, this may open the door to new multi-use paths or off-street bike routes to give an alternative to Ocean Avenue.

Can’t make it? Send your comments in via email to BRCAC@sfgov.org.

SF Bikes Around the Bay

Posted on by Francisco Grajales

Editors: This story was originally published in Issue 155 of our quarterly Tube Times magazine.

Ever tried riding across the Golden Gate Bridge? Yearning to take you and your bike to explore the beauties of the Marin Headlands and North Bay? Adventure is only a bike ride away.

1. Hawk Hill

16 miles, Elevation gain: 2,146 feet
sfbike.org/routes/hawkhill
Known as one of the most scenic rides in the Bay Area, the vista points from this ride are breathtaking and well worth the climb. Ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and up into the Marin Headlands where you’ll enjoy unbeatable views.

2. Paradise Loop

37 miles, Elevation gain: 2,182 feet
sfbike.org/routes/paradiseloop
Whether you’re looking to make a quick getaway from the city or going more fast-paced, Paradise Loop takes you on an easy-going trip through Sausalito, cruising around Mill Valley, to the edge of Tiburon and back along the coast. There are plenty of stops along the way for some coffee or a light snack.

3. Bolinas Ridge Loop

77 miles, Elevation gain: 8,029 feet
sfbike.org/routes/bolinas
From dense redwood forest to open chaparral with gorgeous views of the Tomales Bay, the Bolinas Ridge trail will take you through some of the most beautiful scenery California has to offer. While not very technical, the Bolinas Ridge trail is extremely bumpy; a mountain bike is recommended.

4. Mt. Tamalpais

If you’ve only climbed Mt. Tam via the usual road routes, try some new routes that offer the most serene unpaved climbing in the Bay Area.

Easy loop:
46 miles, Elevation gain: 4,598 feet
sfbike.org/routes/mttameasy
For those new to dirt riding or without squishy bikes with big tires, try climbing via Old Railroad Grade. It’s a mellow climb and the trail conditions are generally favorable for road bikes. From the summit you can descend via the usual road routes.

Hard loop:
50 miles, Elevation gain: 6,075 feet
sfbike.org/routes/mttamhard
For more of a challenge, you can approach or return via the Headlands trail network. From SF, start down Miwok Trail towards Muir Beach. For maximum ride enjoyment, stop at Pelican Inn for some food and refreshments before the short climb up Highway 1 towards Coastal View Trail.

5. Santa Rosa Multimodal Weekend

69 miles one way, Elevation gain coming south: 3,380 feet
sfbike.org/routes/springlakepark
How about a multi-modal mountain biking adventure starting Friday after work that you can finish by Sunday night? Catch Golden Gate Transit (GGT) bus routes 101, 72 or 74 from downtown SF into Santa Rosa. (Be sure to confirm with GGT that your chosen stop is a designated bike loading stop.) From the Santa Rosa Transit Mall it’s just a five-mile ride to the Spring Lake Park campground, complete with a seasonally open swimming lagoon and several miles of mountain bike trails. Have a casual Sunday morning and visit Russian River Brewing Company on your way back to the transit center, or pack out early and enjoy the ride back to San Francisco.

 

There are so many ways to enjoy the Bay Area by bike. For more routes, check out the “Route Archive” and “Permanents” listed by the San Francisco Randonneurs: sfrandonneurs.org.

Co-authored by Mara Mabugat | Communications Intern.

SF Bikes All Over SF

Posted on by Erin Durkee

Editors: This story was originally published in Issue 155 of our quarterly Tube Times magazine.

San Francisco has some of the highest ridership rates in the country, and there’s a reason why! Whether you’re looking for an afternoon cruise or a more intensive workout, there’s a route for you. Grab a friend and enjoy these rides around the city.

1. Twin Peaks from Golden Gate Park

10 miles, Elevation gain: 876 feet
sfbike.org/routes/twinpeaks
This ride is a classic! Watching the sunrise over SF from atop Twin Peaks is incredible, but the sunset is just as nice. You can include this loop in any of your rides and add extra climbing. (Fitness!) This is a great ride to show off our beautiful city to visiting friends.

2. Ocean Beach to the De Young

6 miles, Elevation gain: 326 feet
sfbike.org/routes/goldengatepark
Looking for something mellow? Enjoy car-free Sundays in Golden Gate Park, along part of your route from Beach Chalet and Ocean Beach to the de Young museum. Bring a lock! You’ll want to park and check out the art.

3.Butterlap

17 miles, Elevation gain: 999 feet
sfbike.org/routes/butterlap
This route is named after an actual ride that goes out after work from the Ferry Building each week. Meet your friends at Cupid’s Span and enjoy the Embarcadero, Presidio, Legion of Honor and a gorgeous descent along the ocean into Golden Gate Park. End your ride at Bender’s Bar, and grab a grilled cheesus and a beer with your friends — you’ve earned it!

4. Golden Gate Park and Lake Merced

23 miles, Elevation gain: 1,084 feet
sfbike.org/routes/lakemerced
A flat route (for SF), this is a great morning ride. Ride along Ocean Beach in the bike lanes or on the off-street bicycle and pedestrian path. Stop by Trouble Coffee in the Outer Sunset for a mid-ride espresso or Devil’s Teeth Bakery for a special breakfast sandwich.

5. San Bruno Mountain and Twin Peaks

20 miles, Elevation gain: 2,169 feet
sfbike.org/routes/sanbruno
Head for the hills! This ride has a lot of elevation, but the views are worth it. On a clear day you can see Mt. Diablo across the Bay. Add on the Merced and Golden Gate Park loop and you’ll have a worthy day in the saddle.

 

If you want to get off the roads and into the dirt, SF has a surprising amount of mountain biking and off-road trails in the city. Check out SF Urban Riders for more info: sfurbanriders.org/trail-maps.

Who’s the Bike-Friendliest Employer of Them All?

Posted on by Mara Mabugat

Nominate Your Workplace for Most Bike-Friendly Business.

Does your workplace love people who bike? Does your team go above and beyond to encourage colleagues to bike to work? Show off your organization and nominate them for this year’s Bicycle-Friendly Business Awards!

Every year, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition holds a rally at City Hall celebrating Bike to Work Day, where we join City leaders in presenting awards to exceptional local organizations for their commitment to support commuting by bike. Whether it’s a family-run shop or a larger operation, we want to commend the businesses that are making it easier for their employees to bike to work.

We will award up to 5 bike-friendly businesses, with categories including private, public and nonprofit sectors. Winners receive a new Saris Bike Rack and a certificate for your office, as well as recognition for your business online, in social media and at our rally from the steps of City Hall.

Boast about your workplace and nominate them by April 30, 2016!

Nominate Your Workplace

Bicycling as Community-Building: Mara Mabugat

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Mara Mabugat discovered her passion for bicycling after a friend introduced her to the world of bikes. Since then, she has been pedaling around the Bay Area and has no plans of stopping.

Mara decided to dedicate her time sharing the joys and liberation of biking by becoming a Communications and Women Bike SF Intern at the SF Bicycle Coalition. Through this role, she works with the Communications team on editing and writing content to inform and engage members, such as the Biker Bulletin, blog posts and part of our quarterly print magazine the Tube Times.

Mara also advocates for women, trans* and femme-identified (WTF) riders, connecting them to biking and to each other. Her aim is to encourage and empower the WTF community through fun, supportive social events like our monthly Coffee Clubs, biking workshops and group rides.

SF Bicycle Coalition: What inspired you to start bicycling in SF?
Mara: I got my first bike when my friend encouraged me to try it out. At the time, I was commuting via Muni but wasn’t happy with it all the time because of various delays and inconsistencies with its service. After I got my bike, I was just biking all over the place, all the time!

What are some of your favorite places to ride in San Francisco?
I love looping around the city; going through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach, up to the Presidio and past the Marina all the way to Embarcadero, then ending up back home in the Mission.

If you had a magic wand and could change one thing about bicycling in the city, what would it be?
Even more bike lanes! Sometimes I don’t think a city can ever have enough. It’s been exciting to intern here because I see how much work goes into making that a reality. Major changes to streets like Page, Polk and San Jose Avenue have changed my rides in the city for the better.

What motivated you to intern with the SF Bicycle Coalition?
When I first moved to the city, I had some difficulty finding new friends outside of work and school. However, when I started riding my bike, it opened up a door to a whole community of people and new friends who have changed my quality of life here in the best ways possible. I wanted to give back to a community that gave me so much, so I applied when I found out the SF Bicycle Coalition was hiring interns.

As a member of the SF Bicycle Coalition, what aspect of our work is most exciting to you?It’s one of the coolest experiences to see the work of the people around you affect the city that you live in. Whether it’s changes to a major bike path going up after seeing all the work that has gone into it or the various events encouraging more WTF individuals to start riding, I am always in awe of the dedication that the SF Bicycle Coalition has to riders in the city.

Written by Lisa Ike | Membership Intern

Introducing: Bike Talks

Posted on by Janice Li

Transportation nerds, unite!

Here at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, we know our members love to dig deep on the details of the policies that guide our everyday lives. We are excited to start Bike Talks, a series of policy-focused discussions to engage our membership more deeply in our organization’s advocacy work. Each discussion will have a theme and bring in members and experts on the topic to grow the dialogue.

Can’t contain your excitement? Here’s a sneak peek at our first three Bike Talks, which will all be held at the SF Bicycle Coalition headquarters at 1720 Market Street. Click on each for more information, including guest speakers.

April 11, at 6pm: The Future of Caltrain
May 2, at 5:30pm: A Better BART
May 19, at 5:30pm: Reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (POSTPONED)
August 16, at 6pm: Growing our Movement

We’ll have more information coming soon. Keep in mind that Bike Talks are member-only. Not a member or need to renew? This is a great time to be an SF Bicycle Coalition member and attend one of our upcoming Bike Talks, so join today!

Katie Fick, Bike to Work Day Superstar

Posted on by Mara Mabugat

Editors: This story was originally published in Issue 155 of our quarterly Tube Times magazine.

Your SF Bicycle Coalition often finds new members and volunteers through outreach at our events. That’s how we found Katie Fick, an awesome volunteer who has been an Energizer Station Captain for Bike to Work Day since 2013. We first met Katie on her way home from work at one of our “Light Up the Night” events.

“I wanted to learn more and get involved as much as I could,” she said. “I love seeing the changes throughout the city and knowing that I helped make some of them happen.”

Seeing how dedicated she was to promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation, we invited Katie to celebrate Bike to Work Day as a Captain in 2013. Some of her favorite memories volunteering are from her first year as Captain in her neighborhood, the Panhandle. “I aptly chose ‘hippie’ for our theme, given the neighborhood’s history, and it was awesome seeing my fellow volunteers dress up and suggest songs for the playlist.

“Seeing so many people biking to work blows my mind, and every year there are more participants. It almost makes me wish I had a commute!” Katie said, noting that she has worked from home most recently.

“I like seeing people decorate their bikes, play music or just simply wish each other a ‘Happy Bike to Work Day,’” she added. “This is the biggest event for people biking all year, and our best opportunity to reach new members and get our message across. It always goes by way too fast!”

In addition to Bike to Work Day, Katie’s experience completing Bicycle Ambassador training also upped her excitement for volunteering with the SF Bicycle Coalition. She recalls her training led by now-Interim Executive Director Margaret McCarthy fondly.

“Just go to any Ambassador training and listen to Margaret talk for 10 minutes,” Katie said. “She’ll get you so fired up you won’t be able to say no! Seriously, we’ve made a ton of progress making our streets better for people biking, but there are still a lot of people scared to bike.”

Along with the help of our member-volunteers like Katie, your SF Bicycle Coalition is working hard to advocate for improvements to our city’s streets that will make as many people as possible comfortable and confident biking them.

Volunteers are at the heart of our work, and San Francisco’s biggest bike event of the year wouldn’t be possible without them. Want to volunteer like Katie at Bike to Work Day? We’d love to have your help! Sign up to volunteer and celebrate the best day to bike in San Francisco. There are no shortage of volunteer opportunities at sfbike.org/volunteer. Join us today!