Our Endorsements: November 5, 2019 Elections

Posted on by SF Bicycle Coalition Board

“Build public support and political power to win affordable and sustainable transportation for all San Franciscans.”

Of the four goals in the SF Bicycle Coalition’s strategic plan, this goal makes clear the need to participate in our city’s political process and elect champions to promote the bicycle for everyday transportation. This year, your 15-person member-elected board of directors had difficult decisions before them as we considered endorsements for all local ballot measures and for three local races: Mayor, District Attorney, and District 5 Supervisor.

After candidate questionnaires, a candidate forum and plenty of engagement with membership through polling and communications to the board, we are proud to present the following endorsements for the Nov. 5, 2019 elections:

  • Mayor: London Breed
  • District Attorney: Suzy Loftus
  • District 5 Supervisor: No endorsement
  • Yes on Proposition D

Mayor: Elected in June 2018 as our city’s first black woman to serve as mayor, Mayor London Breed has championed several initiatives to advance biking and street safety in her first thirteen months in office. She successfully directed the SFMTA to construct a protected bike lane on Valencia Street within four months and then set the bar even higher on Bike to Work Day, where she announced that our City will install 20 miles of new protected bike lanes over the next two years. This is the sort of leadership we need to achieve Vision Zero by 2024, the goal of ending serious injuries and traffic fatalities on our streets. We are excited to continue working with Mayor Breed to urgently advance street safety, decrease congestion and keep our city’s transportation affordable and accessible for everyone.

District Attorney: Of the four candidates running for District Attorney, only one candidate has demonstrated leadership, implemented reforms and has a history of fighting for street safety. In her five years on the Police Commission, Suzy Loftus fought for and won commitments to Vision Zero to reduce bias in traffic enforcement. As candidate for District Attorney, she has distinguished herself by being the first to develop a robust platform for street safety that promises real justice for victims of traffic violence. We hope to be able to work with Suzy Loftus to see those commitments through.

District 5 Supervisor: We’ve heard loud and clear from our members that there is significant support for the two frontrunner candidates, Vallie Brown and Dean Preston. We have been impressed by their commitments to street safety, particularly as they seek to represent a supervisorial district with some of our city’s most popular bike routes. In her first year of being in office, current Supervisor Vallie Brown has lent her support to siting bike share stations in her district, repaving the Kezar path, making a block of Octavia Boulevard car-free and fixing the traffic jam on Page Street. If elected, Dean Preston has pledged that he would hold Uber and Lyft accountable for safety and congestion on our streets and would seek aggressive policies to prioritize people biking, walking and taking transit.

Given the many SF Bicycle Coalition members who live in District 5, we acknowledge that there is both strong and divided support for these two candidates amongst our membership. There is no way to endorse in this race that fully represents our membership, but we believe that there are two strong candidates in Vallie Brown and Dean Preston. Both understand and would fight to advance our mission of promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation in District 5. 

Therefore, our board has voted for no endorsement in this race.

Yes on Proposition D: On the ballot this November, voters will be asked whether there should be a local tax on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft at a rate of 3.25% per trip. With half of the revenues raised going to Muni service and the other half to bicycle and pedestrian safety, we are in strong support of this measure. This measure will raise an estimated $30-$35 million per year and will be the first opportunity for the City to raise revenue to address the inordinate impact that Uber, Lyft and other transportation network companies are having on our streets. 

We are proud to endorse this measure alongside Mayor Breed, all 11 Supervisors and our transportation advocacy allies at Walk San Francisco and SF Transit Riders.

Half a Century on Market: Ron Miguel

Posted on by Darren Newell

Plans for a new Market Street are in the works with the possibility for construction beginning in 8 months and restrictions on private cars as early as December.

While some may think this is the first time Market Street is getting a makeover — it’s not. Market Street was transformed decades ago, and folks like Ron Miguel were part of that. We sat down with Ron, a former head of the Planning Commission and a long-time resident of San Francisco, to talk about the changes he’s seen and the opportunities we have to truly revolutionize Market Street now.

Join Our Committee

What is your history with Market Street?

Wow, that brings back some long-ago memories and the answer is quite long and a bit complicated! I don’t use Market Street as often as I did in my earlier years. I think it’s best to give you a retrospect of those areas of Market Street which I particularly remember. At 88, they are nearly all in the distant past. 

When I think back to the Embarcadero, I remember both my wife and me taking the B streetcar, which ran down the center of Geary St. in the Richmond District to the Ferry Building. In 1939, I remember taking the ferry to the World’s Fair at Treasure Island. 

There used to be quite a lot of movie theaters on Market. I saw lots of films at the Fox Theater. It had 4,651 seats, was built in 1929, and demolished in 1963. I was lucky to enjoy the final organ concert in January 1963.

Back in the day, I would visit the Furniture Mart showrooms which is now the Twitter building. At the time, it was the largest venue for furniture and wholesale/manufacture showrooms west of Chicago.

If you could change one thing about Market Street right now, what would it be?

I would redesign and revitalize the north-side plazas to serve their surrounding infrastructure and neighborhood interests. Their design has always seemed to have been more for ‘show’ – a grand gesture — rather than for actual use by the public.

What is your favorite thing about/part of Market Street today?

I love that Market Street has many different and diverging personalities as it moves west from the Ferry Building. To me, the important concept to keep in the forefront is that it continues to serve as San Francisco’s “Main Stem”; continuing to constantly recreate itself.

If you want to help continue evolving Market street into a world-class people’s street, join us at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Market Street committee meeting on August 29.

Our New Development Director, Adam Comeau

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition welcomes Adam Comeau as our new Development Director!

Tell us about your role at the SF Bicycle Coalition.
I am very lucky to be able to work with such a dedicated group of folks who want to help change the way San Franciscans bike around this city. As the Development Director, I get to work with our amazing members, sponsors, and other folks to raise money to help fund the work of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Programmatic and Advocacy work.

What about our work excites you?
I get really excited when I’m able to see real-time changes get implemented that make biking safer. Newly painted green bike lanes really make me smile! Everyone should be able to ride through our streets and feel safe and protected, so it’s always nice to see when there are improvements made and know that our team has helped play a part!

Where’s your favorite place to bike in the city?
My favorite bike ride is going through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge, and then riding down to Ocean Beach and out to Lake Merced. There’s nothing like riding your bike right next to the ocean — it’s the best way to start a weekend morning!

When you’re not working or biking, what fills your time?
I try to travel as much as possible — anything from a weekend getaway in the mountains or a random spur of the moment solo adventure in Korea. When I’m not traveling, and it’s a sunny day in SF, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. You can find me lounging with friends in one of SF’s many amazing parks.

Support our work in promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation and give today.

Learning to Bike as an Adult

Posted on by Kelly Tam

After getting injured while biking as a kid, Kerri-ann grew up with a fear of riding a bike. As she got older, she decided to face that fear, but was reluctant to invest in a bike and teach herself. Years later, Kerri-ann discovered one of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s free workshops, the Adult Learn to Ride Class. “Knowing I’m not the only [adult who doesn’t know how to bike] and being able to do it all together [in a group],” inspired her to take the class.

The class started by taking off the pedals to focus on balancing and gliding. While Kerri-ann easily glided on her bike, it was difficult for her to trust that she wouldn’t fall over once they were put back on. With a determination to conquer her fear, and hands-on assistance from her instructor, she left the class with fun memories and newfound confidence. 

Since taking the Adult Learn to Ride Class, Kerri-ann has been riding around her neighborhood and in Golden Gate Park on Car-Free Sundays. She loves that biking keeps her in the moment. “I could be having a tough day,” she admits, “but I feel so much better going for a bike ride. I kind of forget why I was even upset in the first place.”

And, after taking the post-class survey, Kerri-ann won the giveaway for an SF Bicycle Coalition T-shirt, a complimentary SF Bicycle Coalition membership, and a $50 gift card to Sports Basement in addition to her new love of biking. “I walked away from the Adult Learn to Ride Class not just knowing how to ride a bike, but learning about what it is the SF Bicycle Coalition does,” she explains.

Visit our website to learn more about our free bike education classes, sign up for updates, and see our list of upcoming workshops. We offer free classes for every age and experience level! If you’ve taken a bike education class recently, be sure to respond to our post-class survey (which you’ll find in your inbox 6 weeks after the class) so we can continue to improve our classes. By taking the survey, you’ll have a chance to win the giveaway like Kerri-ann.

Let’s Pack the Room for Page Street

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

Page Street is long overdue for aggressive improvements, with over four years of planning that has yet to lead to transformative change. With the support of Supervisor Vallie Brown, we now have the chance to put people first on the street. So if you live here or bike on Page Street regularly, we need you to help us pack the room full of supporters at an open house next week.

Join us on Tuesday, August 27 at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Page Street Open House to give your feedback and help us push for a calmer, more comfortable street for those walking and biking.

Let’s Win This

Every single morning during peak commute hours, 50% more people are biking on Page Street than driving. And yet, the street continues to be plagued by chronic vehicle congestion since the Central Freeway was torn down 16 years ago, making it difficult and at times unsafe for those biking and walking to navigate. It’s time we make Page Street the bike corridor it needs to be.

At next Tuesday’s open house, City planners will present designs that prioritize the safety of those walking and biking along the street. This is your chance to give your feedback on their design proposals including:

  • Diverting traffic off of Page Street at Webster Street;
  • Adding a protected downhill bikeway and an uphill bike lane between Octavia Boulevard and Laguna Street;
  • Making Page a one-way street in the westbound direction between Octavia Boulevard and Laguna Street, and;
  • Prohibiting left-turns and westbound through-traffic at Octavia Boulevard.

Next week’s open house also serves as a public hearing for the project, which is why attendance is even more important than ever. This is your chance to show up and make sure the SFMTA commits to drastic changes along this popular bike route.

Join us on August 27 and help us envision a Page Street that puts people first.

Page Street Open House and Public Hearing
Tuesday, August 27, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
John Muir Elementary School, Auditorium (380 Webster St)

Welcome Darren, Campaign Coordinator

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition welcomes Darren Newell as our new Campaign Coordinator!

Tell us about your role at the SF Bicycle Coalition.

I will be focusing on the SF Bicycle Coalition’s campaign to improving Market Street. My goal is to be the resident expert at SF Bicycle Coalition on this project, which will re-design Market Street with fully protected bike lanes from the Embarcadero to Octavia. I will be reaching out to our members, volunteers and community allies to participate in meetings, rallies, and legislative hearings to make sure Market street becomes a safe, inviting bike route for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

What organizing experience do you bring to this role?

I’ve been a community organizer since I was 18,  when I joined a full-time grassroots organizing drive for service and domestic workers in Sacramento. I helped families ensure their lights stayed on, were able to fight evictions, and coordinated in food distributions for those in need, I truly felt the power of organizing the most when I fought to change city and state policies on behalf of families who were faced with impossible financial obstacles made worse through systematic punishment. 

I moved to Redding from 2013 – 2017 to help an effort there with municipal utility reform and advocate for domestic worker’s rights to overtime pay. I then came to Oakland in 2017 to help low-income families gain access to medical care and the things one needs to stay healthy. I had the opportunity to work with doctors, dentists, nurses, and optometrists to provide pro-bono care and take part in community health education. 

Throughout the work I’ve done, my biggest takeaway has been that those who are the most marginalized need to be involved in and lead in the solution-making process. That philosophy drives the way in which I engage with stakeholders in the advocacy work I continue to take part in.

What is most exciting to you about working on bike issues in San Francisco?

I’m excited to see bicycling recognized as one of the most viable methods for transportation in urban environments. I think the affordability and the community/individual health benefits stand out as factors that draw me to advocate for the bike as a mode of everyday transportation. San Francisco aims to be forward-thinking in environmental sustainability, so it makes sense that there is an emphasis on pro-biking reforms.

Favorite bike ride? One you’re hoping to do in the near future?

My favorite bike ride was a ride I did as a teenager with my family. We started at the ferry station on Pier 43,  rode along the waterfront to the Golden Gate, crossed into Sausalito, and rode into Tiburon to catch the Ferry back to Pier 43. It was the most picturesque ride I’ve ever done! I’d like to do an extensive ride on the Bay Trail, just to see where it takes me and ultimately ride as far as I can go before I’m too exhausted to pedal.

Work with Darren and apply to be our Advocacy Intern today!

Making Sure Future Market is Accessible for All

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

How do we get a Market Street that is accessible to all? With Better Market Street up for approval in October, the City has been extensively testing proposed design elements to make sure what is constructed works for all users.

Weigh In

This project will be transformative and illustrate what accessibility for all means to San Francisco. With this redesign comes the opportunity to revolutionize Market Street — and separating a sidewalk level bike lane from the actual sidewalk used by pedestrians is a first step. The buffer between bicycle and pedestrian space needs to be passable by people biking who need to get to their destination. It also has to be detectable by blind and visually impaired people and passable by people with mobility disabilities. 

To test the various ways to separate a sidewalk level bike lane, SF Public Works set up a demonstration pilot. In a port warehouse, mock sidewalks and bike lanes were set up, each separated by stretches of different tactile materials for various users to test with their canes, wheelchairs, and bicycles.

Market Street Accessibility Test

SF Bicycle Coalition staff and members were able to sit in on these demos to test ride bikes over the different surfaces. With data from the tests, the City will be able to ensure that the new sidewalk level bike lanes are well made, safe, and comfortable to people riding and to people with disabilities. 

This level of design work is crucial at this point in our campaign for Better Market Street. With final approvals coming up this fall, we need to make sure all aspects of the project are where they need to be to make our vision for Market Street a reality — and an accessible one.

Join us and help us get approval for this project this fall.

What’s the score for the Valencia Pilot?

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

Protected bike lanes on Valencia Street were installed in February, but we won’t stop until the entire corridor has a bike lane free from Uber and Lyft drivers.

The great news is that the Valencia Street Pilot Project from Market St to 15th St was a success. To continue the momentum, Mayor London Breed tasked the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) with installing the next stretch of protected bike lanes from 19th to Cesar Chavez streets by spring 2020 so Valencia Street can truly become welcoming for people who bike and walk.

Let’s Make it Happen

While there are lessons learned and tweaks still to be made, the safety of those biking has significantly increased with the implementation of a protected bike lane on Valencia. Below are some of the pilot project’s highlights:

  • The potential for dooring has dramatically decreased, with a 95% drop in interactions between those biking and driving midblock.
  • Conflicts in the bike lane are almost gone completely, with a 99% decrease in cars parking in the new protected bike lanes.
  • The new school boarding islands are a hit, with no conflicts observed in the bike lanes.

These are just a few of the positive results that have rolled in from SFMTA’s evaluation. With results like this, it’s clear that the rest of the corridor needs protected bike lanes installed swiftly in order to prioritize the safety of those biking and walking.

But first, we need your feedback on how the current pilot serves you as we look into the potential design fixes for the next stretch. Let us know your thoughts on the pilot thus far so the next rollout is even more successful.

Who Will Lead the SFMTA?

Posted on by Janice Li

Whether it’s ending the epidemic of traffic fatalities or making Muni more affordable, San Francisco’s next Director of Transportation has their work cut out for them. With nearly 5,000 employees, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is one of the city’s largest agencies. As the head of the SFMTA, the Director of Transportation plays a critical role in guiding our city’s complex and intertwined transportation networks.

We want to thank Ed Reiskin for his eight years of service in this role and his commitment to improving safety for all road users as he ends his tenure this month. Now, the SFMTA Board wants your input as they begin the search for a new Director of Transportation.

Your Input is Wanted

As the SFMTA Board began contemplating the search process, your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition weighed in on what we believe are the qualities of a top candidate.

We believe mobility is a human right and that all San Franciscans should have access to healthy, safe, reliable and affordable transportation options. With this in mind, the next Director of Transportation must have a deep understanding of what it takes to build and maintain and safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation system while fully grasping the day-to-day operations.

We appreciate the SFMTA Board’s openness to receiving feedback, so don’t miss your opportunity to share your thoughts on the qualities you believe the next Director of Transportation should have, and what issues you want to see them address before the survey closes on August 30.

Our New Communications and Marketing Director, Melissa

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition welcomes Melissa Lewis as our new Communications and Marketing Director.

Tell us about your role at the SF Bicycle Coalition.

I work with the Marketing and Communications team, and collectively we’re responsible for all print and web communications, design needs, brand management, and media strategy. It’s our job to ensure folks know about the work the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is doing, and how they can become involved.

What are you excited to work on at the SF Bicycle Coalition?

I’m excited to be part of a passionate team who influence the way in which San Francisco’s landscape is changing. Reshaping the city to be people first vs. car first, and moving towards a future where more people are on bikes is very much something I’m excited to play a part in.

What does biking mean to you?

My pie chart would look something like an even split of fun, empowerment, and freedom. My bike has allowed me to live car-free for most of my adult life, travel from point A to point B, and experience the world in a unique way. Fun-fact: whenever I travel internationally, I always incorporate one day of cycling. There’s no better way to absorb the world around you, meet good people, and experience joy than by spending time in your saddle.

When you’re not working or biking, what fills your time?

Camping, backpacking, hiking, catching free music, and weekend warrior-ing.

Keep up with Melissa’s work and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.