Bicycle Advocacy Intern

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to promote bicycling for everyday transportation. Our member-based grassroots organization is considered one of the largest, most active and effective advocacy groups in the country. For more than 50 years, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has a proven track record of winning better bicycling improvements.

Commitment to Equity and Justice

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition acknowledges the harms biking culture and unequal access to transportation have inflicted upon underserved communities — especially people of color, folks with disabilities, people from working-class backgrounds, women, and those with LGBTQ+ identities. We believe that these communities must be centered as leaders in the work we do; therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities.

Position description

The Bicycle Advocacy Intern will support our Advocacy Team, with a focus on engaging our members and community partners in all phases of our street campaign work. This will include using our various communication channels (website, blog posts, social media and emails) mixed with on-the-ground outreach and in-office research to build support for new and improved bike infrastructure throughout San Francisco.

What you’ll learn:

  • Various stages of winning a campaign, including internal State/Regional/City planning, public outreach, and policy making
  • Strategies to engage a large membership and the community-at-large to build support for bike infrastructure and policy change in San Francisco
  • The inner workings of various City and State agencies and what bicycle advocacy looks like in through meeting with project managers, elected officials and/or other decision-makers

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Assisting Advocacy Team with grassroots outreach, which may include streetside outreach or phone calls and emails to individual members, community based organizations, and city staff
  • Attending a variety of meetings to take notes and make public comment, as needed
  • Assisting Advocacy Team with research to strengthen our knowledge base
  • Drafting content for emails and our blog regarding our advocacy work
  • Data entry for tracking campaign progress

Required skills or abilities:

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience in public and professional settings
  • Some experience and/or knowledge of copy editing to produce high-quality communications
  • Ability to work on tasks independently, set personal and professional goals and manage time productively

Desired skills or abilities:

  • Ability to get around the city to attend meetings and/or perform outreach
  • Comfortable riding a bike in an urban environment
  • Passion for making San Francisco a better city for living and biking

Internship Length:

  • Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 – Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Internship Mandatory Attendance Dates:

  • Tuesday, February 14th (Intern Orientation Day)
  • Friday, May 19th ( Bike to Wherever Day)

Compensation:

  • $16.99 per hour with a 10 – 15 hour/week minimum commitment
  • One year’s free membership to the SF Bicycle Coalition;
  • First hand experience in one of the country’s oldest and largest bicycle advocacy organizations
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities, including:
    • Networking with SF Bicycle Coalition staff and professionals in a variety of fields, including but not limited to urban planning, transportation and nonprofits;
    • Training on and experience with nonprofit industry-standard software (Salesforce, WordPress, Marketing Cloud, etc.); and
    • Presentations and trainings aimed at development of professional workforce skills.

This paid internship offers a flexible schedule with a 10-15 hours/week minimum commitment. This is a Monday through Friday internship, with occasional, infrequent evenings and weekends. Interns are expected to make a three-month commitment, which may be extended. 

To Apply:

To apply, please submit a resume and a PDF with your answers to the below four questions. A formal cover letter is not required. Please make your answers roughly one paragraph each:

  • What makes you excited to intern at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition?
  • How would this internship contribute to your long term personal and professional goals?
  • Please discuss any community outreach and/or volunteer recruitment experience.
  • Tell us about yourself (hobbies, interests, etc) 

Applications will be considered 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.

WE ARE NO LONGER HIRING FOR THIS POSITION

Bicycle Education Intern

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to promote bicycling for everyday transportation. Our member-based grassroots organization is considered one of the largest, most active and effective advocacy groups in the country. For more than 40 years, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has a proven track record of winning better bicycling improvements.

Position background

The Bicycle Education Intern will gain firsthand experience in all aspects of bicycle education programming in one of the largest bicycle advocacy organizations in the country. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition provides free classes for all experience levels – from those learning to ride a bike for the first time as an adult, to more advanced riders looking to ride in inclement weather. You can learn more about the different classes we offer here. This internship is eligible for remote applicants. 

What you’ll learn:

  • Tactics for engaging people from many backgrounds in learning bike safety and confidence on the street.
  • Program coordination, including constituent outreach & engagement, and logistics management. 
  • How to use non-profit industry-standard databases and applications to engage with a wide audience.
  • Skills in developing bicycle education curricula.

Responsibilities and duties include (but are not limited to):

  • Grassroots outreach with local businesses, neighborhood groups, residents, families and members to coordinate bike education classes
  • Member engagement, database management, email/phone communication, and execution of classes, including: 
    • Managing pre- and post- class logistics and communications
    • Class scheduling and promotion 
  • Ability to pursue independent projects, based on intern’s skills and areas of interest

Required skills or abilities:

  • Extremely strong written and oral communication skills
  • Highly organized and self-starter; ability to take on new tasks quickly and easily
  • Detail-oriented
  • Comfort riding a bike in an urban environment or interest in learning how to
  • Interest in and passion for equity, education, and transportation justice

 Desired skills or abilities:

  • Experience in education programming or outreach
  • Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and/or Tagalog
  • Graphic design skills and experience (Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Experience with Salesforce or other databases, Google Apps (Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc.), Eventbrite, WordPress and/or SurveyMonkey helpful but not required

Required dates for this internship include:

  • Fall internship orientation on October 7th, 2021

Compensation:

  • $16.32 per hour with a 10 -15 hour/week minimum commitment 
  • One year’s free membership to the SF Bicycle Coalition
  • Firsthand experience in one of the country’s oldest and largest bicycle advocacy organizations
  • A behind-the-scenes view of a bustling nonprofit organization
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities, including: 
    • Networking with SF Bicycle Coalition staff and professionals in a variety of fields, including but not limited to urban planning, transportation and nonprofits
    • Training on and experience with nonprofit industry-standard software (Salesforce, Basecamp, etc.)
    • Presentations and trainings aimed at development of professional workforce skills

This is chiefly a Monday through Friday internship, with occasional evenings and weekends. Interns are expected to make a three-month commitment, which may be extended. 

To Apply:

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit using the form. Be sure to mention where you saw the internship advertised. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. People of Color, women, and non-binary folks 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.

WE ARE NO LONGER HIRING FOR THIS POSITION

Welcome to our Interim Executive Director, Cory Pohley

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is thrilled to announce our new Interim Executive Director, Cory Pohley. Cory’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Cory comes to us as a long-time Bay Area resident and a lifelong nonprofit professional.

“Cory stood out to us as the person that we know will be able to lead our team through this transition and support us in prioritizing our values as an organization,” said Board President, Jean Kao. “Her depth of work with nonprofits, experience in interim roles, and deep passion for our values bring us so much excitement to welcome her as our new Interim Executive Director.”

We sat down with Cory to get to know what she is excited about in working with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s staff, board, and members.

Tell us a little bit about your past experiences working at nonprofits.

I’ve been a long time nonprofit leader and have held just about every title essential to the healthy functioning of an organization. When I first moved to San Francisco in the 80s, my first role was working at the Tenderloin Self Help Center — I spent nine years in the Tenderloin community and I’m deeply grateful for all I learned there. More recently, I’ve held Executive Director and Interim Executive Director roles for various Bay Area organizations as well as holding executive search and other consulting roles. 

What I’ve learned? Leadership transitions are a natural and inevitable occurrence. And while it’s true that they can spark concern and anxiety, they also create an opportunity for reflection and renewal. An interim can provide staff and board with the support they need to give themselves permission to take a step back while they work towards alignment on the vision for new leadership. This is essential, as the cost of rushing into hiring an Executive Director without doing the work up front can be costly — not only to the organization’s bottom line, but also to morale and mission impact. 

I really enjoy applying my skills as a manager, coach, and strategist to help organizations navigate challenges and narrow in on and prioritize among key issues and opportunities. And, if I can do this in an organization that centers justice and equity in how they approach their advocacy and work – like you do here at the SF Bicycle Coalition – then that’s golden!

What excites you about the work the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is doing? 

It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of Brian Wiedenmeier after his tenure. It’s clear that the staff and board are extremely passionate and committed to their work. Just in my first week, I’ve already seen the energy the team radiates each day, and that the organization is confident in their ability to continue to push forward on their goals and values.

And, I’m especially moved by the SF Bicycle Coalition’s commitment to transportation justice, fighting climate change, and building collective power.  I’ve been impressed with the deep antiracism work that is happening within the organization. Bringing a racial justice lens and intersectional approach to every campaign and program is powerful, impactful, and necessary work. And, tying that in with the simple acknowledgement that bicycling can bring joy, community, and connection are beautiful and inspiring values to be working for. 

What does Interim Executive Director work entail?

Interim work can vary by organization, but in general, in addition to holding many of the responsibilities of a permanent Executive Director, my work here will allow me to serve as a manager and thought partner, ensure organizational continuity and momentum, and provide a bridge between former and new leadership. I see interim work as an opportunity to guide the staff and board toward their goals while helping to lay the groundwork for the permanent leader’s success. 

I’m looking forward to being with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition over the course of the next six to eight months while the board of directors launch their search for the organization’s next leader.

It’s an honor and joy to be here and I look forward to jumping in and connecting with our staff, board, and members!

Another Step Closer to a 24/7 Car-Free Great Highway

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

Currently, the Great Highway is car-free, creating acres upon acres of new, beautiful park space, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. But, its future is at stake as City officials decide the future of the space. Over a hundred of you called in yesterday to a City Hall meeting to make sure all eleven of our Board of Supervisors heard your call to keep the space car-free 24/7 unequivocally.

After hours of public comment, they ultimately voted to adopt a City staff report that will explore a variety of options for the long-term future of Great Highway, including a fully car-free option.

From essential workers to parents to a reverend who depends on this new park space, our San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members showed up to make sure our Supervisors heard how important this space is. “You have a difficult decision before you,” said Richmond District member Jane Natoli, directing her comments to the Supervisors. “But we have to make hard decisions and that’s part of what we’re counting on you to do as our leaders. Climate change isn’t going anywhere and we’re not going to fix it by opening up streets to cars.”

The meeting began with a presentation by City staff on each of the five options that were being considered, followed by intense questioning by each of the supervisors. A variety of amendments were made, pushing City staff to do deeper outreach and address traffic congestion concerns.

“While I would support a pilot, I do not support a full-closure pilot,” said Supervisor Gordon Mar, preferring a compromise in the near term. “I do support and am excited about exploring the bigger, long-term full closure of the Great Highway. But in order to get there, there’s going to need to be much better, more significant planning with public outreach and work in infrastructure on the west side.”

While your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is relieved that all options remain on the table, we’ve heard from our members and from our in-person outreach that what we need more than ever is for this incredible park space to remain forever. As Supervisor Dean Preston said, the Great Highway today is “simply amazing” and we are committed to finding every way to make this space remain as it is.

The final decision will come before the Board of Supervisors this fall, and it’s going to take a lot of work and outreach to make this happen. If you’re ready to take action and join in, sign up for updates today so that you get the latest.

Sign Up for Updates

Your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition remains guided by our four key values: transportation justice, sustainability, people power, and joy. We believe that a 24/7 car-free Great Highway embodies all of those values, and we need you to be part of our campaign for a better future.

 

Help us give away 60 bikes to students this August

Posted on by Jo-Anne Burgess

Every year since 2004, Bayview Hunters Point Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in our Communities, or BMAGIC, has partnered with community-based organizations to provide students in the 94214 zip code with thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies and countless other resources at their annual back-to-school event. Since 2018, the SF Bicycle Coalition’s Bike It Forward program has been part of the annual event, distributing bikes to dozens of students and offering a learn-to-ride class and practice space.

It takes a village to fit students to bikes, teach little ones to bike for the first time, and practice safety drills with older students. In 2019, it took a group of 31 volunteers, staff, and board members to pull off our portion of the event. We could not have done it without their help.

Due to the pandemic, 2020’s event looked much different, we distributed bikes to a small group of students and little ones from Northridge Cooperative Homes. But this year, the back-to-school event is back at NOW Hunters Point, and we believe we can do more for students in 94124 than we ever have before. In addition to distributing bikes, we’re planning a fun-filled day centered around bicycles, featuring a traffic garden — a scaled-down model that mimics our city streets, where students can ride in a safe, car-free space and interact with others on bikes. 

In past years we have given away 50 bikes, and this year we want to raise that number to 60! Our goal is to provide students with better bikes, better bike education resources, and a better experience — and we need your help to make this happen. So, we’re kicking off a bike and donation drive to help us bring the joy of biking to 60 students this fall. 

Help us serve students in the Bayview-Hunters Point! Through either direct donation of materials or of money, we need:

  • 30 new helmets
  • 60 new pairs of lights
  • 60 new U-locks
  • 30 24-in and 26-in bikes

Our greatest need is for 24-inch-wheeled bikes, which fit the average middle and high school student. Every bike recipient always receives a helmet, and those over 13 years old also receive a set of lights and a hardened steel U-lock, and we’ll be accepting donations of all these items.

Help us bring the joy of biking to students by donating today. Every dollar we raise this month helps us refurbish a bike for a student.

DONATE NOW

Already have a bike or bike accessories to donate? Fill out this form and drop off the bike at 1720 Market Street during July 6-14 .

The Fight Continues for Car-Free Great Highway

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

After hundreds of emails and close to six hours of public comments at the June 10 SFMTA and Recreation and Parks Department joint hearing, City leaders heard you loud and clear: we must keep the Great Highway car-free 24/7. While this meeting was only an informational hearing, most directors and commissioners publicly supported a full, 24/7 pilot closure to keep Great Highway for the people.

But our fight isn’t over: the project hits another milestone at the June 22 SF County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) meeting and we need to show up in numbers again. If you want to lend your support and help us keep the space, sign up to send a letter or give public comment today.

I’m In!

We heard countless stories of people finding joy along our coast, including SF resident Carol who turned 80 this past year and bought a travel scooter to assist with her mobility: “There I was at the edge of the ocean, it was more than getting my life back — it was getting my city back.” 

Many City leaders also shared their support for a permanent 24/7 closure of this new park space, including SFMTA Director Gwyneth Borden who reminded us, “If we are serious about our climate change goals and our Vision Zero goals, we should not have to mix a place where people recreate with a place where people are driving fast.” 

But, the long-term future of the space will be debated later this month and we need your help. On June 22, your eleven SF Supervisors will be presented with the results from the District 4 Mobility Study’s work on the Great Highway. This includes the SFCTA’s five proposals for the future of the space. The proposals include:

Concept 1 maintains the Great Highway as a four-lane roadway with two vehicle lanes in each direction.

Concept 2 reduces the width of the Great Highway to one vehicle lane in each direction and creates a promenade in the current southbound lanes.

Concept 3 opens the Great Highway as a promenade and closes it completely to vehicle traffic.

Concept 4 opens the Great Highway as a promenade, similar to Concept 3 above, but only during weekends/holidays and/or certain seasons.

Concept 5 reduces the width of the Great Highway to two southbound vehicle lanes in the current northbound lanes and creates a promenade in the current southbound lanes.

Your SF Bicycle Coalition has and continues to advocate for a permanent 24/7 closure of the entire Great Highway. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an amazing park space. In order to win, we’ll need you to make it clear on June 22 to your Supervisors that we cannot bring cars back to the Great Highway. Sign up to send a letter or give public comment today.

Sign up

A Departing Letter to Our Members from Brian Wiedenmeier

Posted on by Brian Wiedenmeier

To the members of the SF Bicycle Coalition:

It has been an immense privilege working to transform San Francisco’s streets and neighborhoods into safe, just, and livable places over the past seven years as a staff member at the SF Bicycle Coalition. The urgency of this work can be measured in the lives at stake on our streets, the health and wellbeing of our communities, and the need for dramatic reductions in carbon emissions due to automobiles. As an organization — members, staff and board — we have much to be proud of when it comes to the change we’ve brought to our streets. 

I know I am leaving this work in the very capable hands of the SF Bicycle Coalition staff. I have been able to watch them work magic up close, and they have inspired me daily. Get to know them better if you already don’t! Our volunteer Board of Directors is also hard at work searching for our next Executive Director. The passion and commitment of these folks gives me total confidence in finding a new a leader who can elevate our mission and values to the next level of impact. And of course you, our members, have continually buoyed my faith in our ability to come together and collectively solve big problems that would overwhelm any of us individually. Membership matters. Convince a friend who bikes in SF to join or renew today.

As I leave this role for my next professional adventure as Executive Director at Friends of the Urban Forest, I have some parting thoughts I’d like to share:

  • Car-free streets must be made permanent. San Francisco’s pandemic response, including a car-free JFK Drive, Great Highway, and Shelley Drive in McLaren Park have helped us reimagine how our streets function. We have seen the benefits for families, neighborhoods, and businesses. As we emerge from the emergency health order that transformed these streets, a necessary process will take place that can make them permanent. We will need leadership from Mayor Breed and Board of Supervisors as well as the grassroots support of our members and a broader coalition of stakeholders for that to happen. There are communities that have legitimate claims to being left out of the conversation when it comes to transportation planning. Their voices must be heard, and I believe their concerns can be addressed while preserving the many benefits of keeping car-free streets.
  • The fight won’t be won on social media, though. Twitter, Facebook, et. al. are great for many things. Sharing information widely and quickly (if not always accurately), for instance. Especially in our isolation, we have relied on them more than ever to stay connected to one another. I have learned time and again, however, that they are not how real and lasting change happens. It can feel good to Tweet a hot take, but it doesn’t win a protected bike lane or keep JFK Drive car-free. Write a letter, show up to a meeting and make public comment, and attend events in your neighborhood to make a difference
  • Organizing matters. The way we win change on our streets and in our communities is by organizing and showing up. Building a broad coalition of stakeholders in support of car-free spaces and other street transformations is hard work. It means listening to voices who may not agree with our point of view. It also means showing up in solidarity for other movements and causes that are aligned with our value of transportation justice.
  • We need to keep talking about race. The historic and continued whiteness of our organization and the broader bicycle advocacy movement means that past decisions and positions have caused unaddressed harm, particularly to Black and brown communities in SF and beyond. If the loudest voices in the room when we talk about car-free JFK Drive, for example, are still mostly white and cis male, we will continue to perpetuate that history. To other white folks in this movement: please consider listening before speaking. Try to build awareness about how you are showing up in a discussion. Educate yourself on the structures of white supremacy within transportation planning. Do the work of listening to an opposing perspective and engaging in real dialogue. Recognize your privilege and uplift the voices of others. Our movement for a safe, just, and livable San Francisco must prioritize racial justice and equity. 

 

I leave this role incredibly hopeful about bicycling in San Francisco. It may not always make the headlines, but the SF Bicycle Coalition is making a real difference in the lives of San Franciscans every day through our free adult bicycle education, our work with young people and their families, and our Bike it Forward Program. Promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation means breaking down the barriers that people face when choosing to bike. Safety through better infrastructure is key, but we also are working to address the gaps in knowledge and access to bicycles.  

The bicycle is a machine, and our streets are merely concrete and paint. Our work means nothing if it does not improve people’s daily lives. The joy on a child’s face when they learn to bike is as important as winning a car-free JFK Drive, and one is dependent upon the other. Show up, listen, and then speak out. The future is bright, and I remain proud to be a member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

Brian

We’re Hiring: Valet Bicycle Parking Attendants

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is seeking energetic and organized individuals interested in providing first-class service to come be a part of our famous Valet Bicycle Parking team as Bicycle Valet Attendants. Candidates must have a flexible schedule, with availability on days, nights, and weekends. If you want to further the mission of the SF Bicycle Coalition by helping provide safe and secure bike parking at events all over San Francisco, we’d love to hear from you!

Hours: Flexible, part-time to full time, seasonal work. Includes days, nights, and weekends

Reports to: Valet Bicycle Parking Coordinator

Bicycle Valet Attendants oversee site-specific valet bike parking operations for events citywide. Bicycle Valet Attendants are responsible for representing the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, as well as our mission and policies, to event organizers, volunteers, and the general public. Bicycle Valet Attendants are also responsible for on-site volunteer training, care and management.

Job Components

A Bicycle Valet Attendant:

  • Arranges drop-off/pick-up of supplies at event site
  • Sets up and breaks down events
  • Ensures appropriate location signage and banners are displayed, all parked bikes are tagged, donation box is out and visible, outreach materials and signage is displayed on table, when available
  • Troubleshoots issues and resolves problems facing the Valet Bicycle Parking Program and SF Bicycle Coalition Volunteers
  • Is sensitive to opportunities to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition work
  • Maintains an effective manner and demeanor and sets an example for others
  • Is a proactive problem solver dedicated to ensuring a high-quality experience for all
  • Keeps track of the membership envelope, any membership forms and any donations and arranges their secure return to the SF Bicycle Coalition
  • Attends SF Bicycle Coalition’s Bicycle Ambassador Training at least one time per calendar year and is effective in explaining current SF Bicycle Coalition policies, goals, objectives, programs and activities.

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to providing a top-quality Valet Bicycle Parking experience for all guests
  • Ability to train and manage volunteers
  • Ability to work individually and as part of a team
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Comfortable working outdoors
  • Ability to lift 25-35 pounds required
  • Ability to lift bikes and gently place them about 4 feet off the ground
  • Ability to use bike to pull trailer of supplies weighing approx. 60 pounds (trailer provided by SF Bicycle Coalition)
  • Must have own bike and be comfortable biking in San Francisco.

Volunteer experience with our Valet Bicycle Parking program is a plus.

Pay is $18/hour for all events.

How to Apply:

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit using the form. Be sure to mention where you saw the position advertised. Applications will be considered 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.

Apply Today

 

It’s Time to Turn Out for the Great Highway

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

On June 10, the Parks Commission and the SFMTA Board will hear from the public to inform their decision on a potential two-year pilot for car-free space on Great Highway. We’ve heard from our members and San Franciscans across the city that car-free Great Highway has become an invaluable space for recreation and community over the last year. We believe a 24/7 car-free Great Highway must stay and we need your help to make sure it does. Can you send in a letter of support today?

Write a Letter to Keep Great Highway Car-Free

We have more at stake than just keeping the Great Highway car-free for people biking and walking to enjoy. As the City continues to reopen, we must encourage as many residents to choose biking, walking, or taking transit — both for traffic congestion and the planet. Our city’s largest contributor of carbon emissions is transportation, and we have an opportunity to prioritize people-first space on a corridor already drastically impacted by rising sea levels and climate change. Your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition believes strongly and continues to advocate for keeping the Great Highway car-free 24/7 because it will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and make it possible to restore Ocean Beach’s natural ecosystems to the best of our abilities.

The stakes are high: the City’s decision on June 10 will impact people biking and walking in all neighborhoods for generations to come. If you want to help us maintain this beautiful space, write a letter today to keep 24/7 access to car-free Great Highway and create a more sustainable future for San Francisco.

Write a Letter Now

Want to get more involved in protecting car-free Great Highway? Spread the word about the project using our support toolkit.

Car-Free Space on JFK Extended

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

After hundreds of emails and close to 100 public comments at yesterday’s San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) meeting, City leaders publicly committed 10-0 to keep JFK Drive car-free through the current public health orders. Thanks to our members, we’re one step closer to winning permanent car-free space in Golden Gate Park. Want to help us keep up the fight? Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on what’s next.

Let’s Keep JFK car-free!

We heard from residents and visitors alike on why car-free JFK Drive is so important to them. Leslie, a Richmond District resident, shared her experience. “I live across the street and I’m relearning to walk and ride a trike again after a stroke with help from my husband. I love car-free JFK. We have lived here for 20 years and I have never seen more seniors and kids in the park,” said Leslie.

Brooke talked about how her family has used the space in the past year: “We bring our kids and dog to the park every day. Our two kids have been learning to ride bikes and it’s been a safe space for them to learn.” We must put people first in Golden Gate Park.

We know that car-free JFK Drive can be a permanent fixture of joy and community for San Francisco and that we can increase access to it for BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, families, and residents in southeastern neighborhoods. Accessibility and car-free space are not mutually exclusive — and we’re fighting to ensure that the City’s next step outlines an effective solution.

As we enjoy the continued car-free space, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Recreation and Parks Department will begin a public outreach process to determine how to make JFK Drive safe, equitable, and accessible. If we want to make sure we keep JFK Drive car-free and inviting for all, we’ll need to show up throughout the process this summer. This is where you come in. Sign up today to keep up to date so you can weigh in.