Presidio Picnic: A Perfect SF Sunday

Posted on by Jo-Anne Burgess

Get some fresh air by biking to the Presidio Picnic’s season launch on March 31. We’ll be providing free valet bicycle parking every Sunday, in a new location, next to the Visitor Center at 210 Lincoln Blvd.

The Perfect SF Sunday

Picnic in view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay and enjoy a rotating lineup of 30+ international food trucks from Off The Grid. Our partners YBike will be facilitating free “learn-to-ride” lessons for kids (no need to bring your own helmet or bike) on the first Sunday of each month.

There’s plenty to do beyond food and wheels (as if that weren’t enough). LubbDubb will be providing free yoga class every Sunday from 11 am to noon, so don’t forget your yoga mat. And come prepared to experience a cultural dance performance from a local company every third Sunday from noon to 2 pm. This season will open on March 31 with a welcome blessing at 11:30 am from the Ohlone Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe, which honors the tribe’s deep connection to their ancestral land in the Presidio.

Coming from the Bay Trail or through the park? Find our bike parking at the foot of the Main Post Lawn on Lincoln Boulevard. If you’re coming from the downtown area, or even the East Bay, shorten your ride by putting your bicycle on the free PresidiGO shuttle from the Transbay Terminal, Embarcadero BART or Union/Van Ness. Valet will be open for the duration of the Picnic, so leave your bikes with us!

Last Week We Rallied Together: Here are the next 90 days

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

Last week, hundreds of people gathered on the steps of City Hall to demand protected bike lanes to put a stop to losing lives on our streets. Keep that momentum going by joining our campaign.

Join Our Campaign

With Supervisor Matt Haney leading the charge, the crowd went up to the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors’ meeting to flood public comment with their stories. So many people turned out that an overflow room had to be opened to accommodate the speakers. Public comment lasted for hours and many shared powerful stories and memories.

Thank you to all who are pushing for change on our streets. With your help, we were able to win significant commitments from multiple elected officials and decision makers. Here’s a recap of what we won:

  • Supervisor Haney committed to pushing through protected bike lane projects on the most dangerous streets in his downtown district. He literally chanted for protected bike lanes!
  • The SFMTA committed to extending Howard bike lanes past Moscone to Third in April. They also committed to creating plans for Howard Street from Third to the Embarcadero.
  • The SFMTA Board directed staff to develop a 90-Day Action Plan to address bike safety citywide.

These are great first steps but more work needs to be done. The 90-day Action Plan, in particular, is an exciting opportunity that will require collaborative input to guide and shape. We’ll continue to work with the SFMTA to make sure it is far-reaching. We also want a broader policy shift to change how we approve bike lane projects; we are working hard with Supervisor Haney and Mayor London Breed to figure out the mechanism.

Celebrating Progress on Valencia Pilot

Posted on by Andy Gonzalez Cabrera

It’s time to celebrate a successful, people-powered campaign for protected bike lanes on Valencia Street! Change doesn’t have to take years, and we want to thank you and City staff for making this campaign win possible as we continue to advance the future vision of Valencia.

Celebrate Valencia!

Thanks to the efforts from the project team at the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and strong support from Mayor London Breed, this project delivered safety improvements quickly, turning around protected bike lanes on Valencia within five months. Now that these bike lanes from Market to 15th streets are a reality, we know that the City can act with urgency as we look to bring improvements to the full length of Valencia.

Join us and celebrate all we’ve have accomplished together. RSVPs are strongly encouraged so we know how many people to expect.

Valencia Celebration Happy Hour
Standard Deviant Brewing, 280 14th St., San Francisco 94103
Friday, March 29, 2019, 4:30 to 6:30 PM

PRESS RELEASE: Hundreds of Bicycle Advocates Join Sup. Haney in Calling for Protected Bike Lanes

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

“What do we want?”

“Protected bike lanes!”

“When do we want them?”

“NOW!”

Earlier this afternoon, more than 200 bicycle advocates swarmed the steps of City Hall to demand urgent action and safe streets now. Along with a chant led by Supervisor Matt Haney, speaker after speaker called on our City to deliver protected bike lanes immediately, without delay.

“We need real citywide change. We need proactive, transformative changes,” said Janice Li, Advocacy Director at the SF Bicycle Coalition, as she called out the failures of elected officials and City agencies to act urgently to end the epidemic of fatal and serious traffic collisions. “This is about life or death, and our city’s failures have meant death, time after time.”

Supervisor Haney expressed his impatience. “There are things that are complicated in our city. This one should not be,” he said, referring to the immediate implementation of protected bike lanes. “What we are demanding is quite simple: fully protected bike lane infrastructure, and for those to be approved and implemented quickly.”

Supervisor Haney joins the SF Bicycle Coalition in their three demands, and over 300 people have emailed Mayor London Breed, the Board of Supervisors, and the SFMTA Board of Directors in support of the following:

  • Protected bike lanes for the full length on Howard and Folsom streets
  • Fast-tracked progress on our bicycling high-injury corridors citywide in the next year
  • A streamlined approvals process for protected bike lanes.

After a solemn moment of silence to remember Tess Rothstein, the woman hit and killed while biking on Howard Street on the morning of March 8, two of her friends spoke in her memory. Sasan Saadat recalled how Tess encouraged him to ride a bicycle, and as a housemate of hers, he shared that Tess “created a home with warmth and light.”

The rally was organized by the SF Bicycle Coalition, in partnership with grassroots advocates at People Protected Bike Lane, Our Bikes and YIMBY Mobility. Supervisors Vallie Brown, Rafael Mandelman and Hillary Ronen were also present to stand in solidarity. After the rally, dozens of people headed into City Hall to speak at the SFMTA Board of Directors where over 40 people expressed their grief and demanded action. Supervisor Haney joined, where he reiterated the remarks he made at the rally.

# # #

A letter written by close friends and family of Tess Rothstein was shared with Mayor London Breed, the Board of Supervisors and the SFMTA Board of Directors. The point of contact is Eva Orbuch, who joined in today’s City Hall rally. Read the letter here.

Bike on Bayshore, 3rd Street or in the Bayview? Take our Survey

Posted on by Andy Gonzalez Cabrera

Over the last several months, City planners have been engaging Bayview-Hunters Point residents on transportation issues to develop a real plan of action on how to improve mobility in the neighborhood and beyond.

Now, your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition wants to hear from you about your experience in the Bayview. How do you get around by bike? What are the barriers you see to biking? And what can we do to make the Bayview more bike-friendly?

Take our Bayview Survey

A couple of weeks ago, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) held a workshop for an ongoing community-driven planning process. This gave an opportunity for City planners to answer community members’ questions about the project’s timeline, how to get involved, and where improvements will happen first. Folks identified places for comfortable bike routes, intersections where they feel unsafe, and which improvements they want to see as soon as this summer. They also talked about what other changes to propose for the 5-year investment plan. Other attendees wanted to make sure that residents and members of the community who no longer live in Bayview-Hunters Point could voice their opinions too.

The SFMTA team, along with community-based organizations, will continue with more outreach in the neighborhood, including a youth summit this month. During this summer, the list of near term projects for funding will be finalized. Community members will have the opportunity to vote on which projects get funding first.

We want to hear from you. By filling out this quick survey, you will help us identify what we should focus on immediately in the Bayview. Don’t let your voice go unheard.

Rally for Protected Bike Lanes at City Hall

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

This past week, we’ve been mourning the loss of another bicyclist on San Francisco’s dangerous streets. Now it’s time to turn that grief into action.

Join us and Supervisor Matt Haney on the steps of City Hall next Tuesday, March 19 at 12:30 PM to call for urgent, accountable action on our high-injury corridors citywide.

Hundreds of you have written letters, hundreds of you stood on Howard Street with People Protected Bike Lane. Now it’s time to bring that energy to City Hall and ensure our elected leaders and policymakers hear us.

We’ll meet on the steps of City Hall at 12:30 PM for a rally, then head up to the SF Municipal Transportation Agency board meeting to push for protected bike lanes the entire length of Folsom and Howard.

This is how we make change. This is how we get safe streets.

Rally to Demand Protected Bike Lanes
Tuesday, March 19 at 12:30 PM
City Hall steps

We Can’t Wait for Another Life Lost

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

Last Friday, Tess Rothstein was killed on Howard at Sixth while riding a bike on her way to work. The location of the crash was 60 feet away from a stretch of hard-fought protected bike lane. If a protected bike lane had been in place on the block of Howard between Fifth and Sixth, Tess would still be with us.

In response to our asks on Friday, the SFMTA, with leadership from Mayor London Breed, has committed to adding a protected bike lane on Howard between Fourth and Sixth streets. While we recognize the Mayor’s direction and SFMTA’s quick response, too often this type of immediate remedy is a result of a fatal traffic collision. The loss of life is too high of a price to pay for urgent action.

It’s time to hold our elected leaders accountable and demand action. Our Mayor London Breed and our Board of Supervisors need to make urgent, transformative safety changes on our streets.

Hold Our Elected Officials Accountable

Our demands:

  1. Protected bike lanes for the full length on Howard and Folsom streets
  2. Fast-tracked progress on our bicycling high-injury corridors citywide in the next year
  3. A streamlined approvals process for protected bike lanes.

We’ve put together the above demands, but to make them a reality, our elected leaders need to hear your stories and experiences riding in San Francisco.

Write to your mayor, your Supervisor and to the SF Municipal Transportation Agency with the following link and let them know that your safety should not come at the price of another’s.

To: MayorLondonBreed@sfgov.org, Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org
Cc: charles@sfbike.org, MTABoard@SFMTA.com, ed.reiskin@sfmta.com
Subject: Don’t wait for another life lost

Last Friday was a somber reminder of the conditions of bicycling on San Francisco streets. How many other tragedies will it take to address the glaring safety issues I face daily while riding my bicycle?

We don’t want to lose another. Please take urgent action now with a comprehensive plan to address bicycle safety in San Francisco.

PRESS RELEASE: SF Bicycle Coalition Calls for Urgent Action Following Fatality from Howard Collision

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

This morning at approximately 8:30 am, a woman riding a bicycle, an electric Ford GoBike, on Howard at 6th Street was hit and killed by a truck driver. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition mourns yet another life lost on our streets at a location where thousands of people bike daily.

This is the first bicycle fatality in 2019 and the latest in a series of tragic traffic collisions over the last couple of weeks. This crash at 6th and Howard was less than a hundred feet away from a protected bike lane that would have saved this woman’s life. Where infrastructure stops, people die.

Howard is a known high-injury corridor, the location of several delayed street safety projects, and one of San Francisco’s most traveled bicycle corridors in one of our city’s densest neighborhoods. The fatal collision occurred less than a block from the Gene Friend Recreation Center, the United Playaz Clubhouse and Bessie Carmichael Elementary School.

After years of support and member advocacy, the City installed a protected bike lane from 11th to 6th in December 2018, while a long-term streetscape project from 11th to 4th is due for approvals this year. However, these more robust improvements have been delayed and are not expected to be completed before 2023. Howard has claimed four lives over the past two years. Without change, more lives will be lost due to the City’s inaction.

Gaps in our bicycle network are a failure of the City to address the urgent safety needs that we know exist on our streets. Today, delays on Howard have cost us another life. To prevent further loss of life, the City needs to immediately act on the following safety treatments on Howard:

  1. Extend the existing protected bike lane to 5th Street, including a dedicated bicycle signal at 6th.
  2. Accelerate approvals of the Folsom and Howard Streetscape project to April.
  3. Replace all existing mixing zones on Howard from 6th to 11th with signal protected intersections.

Time and time again, we only bring about change in response to a fatality. This is not good enough, and we are working with Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Matt Haney and the SF Municipal Transportation Agency to make short-term safety enhancements without delay along with proactive, transformative change citywide. Enough is enough.

Be a Part of the Most Awesome Bike Event of the Year

Posted on by Chris Bannister

It’s time to get excited: Bike to Work Day 2019 is Thursday, May 9. This will be the 25th anniversary of Bike to Work Day in the Bay Area, and we need over 300 volunteers to help make this incredible event a success.

We need your volunteer support both leading up to the big day and on Bike to Work Day itself. Help us make May 9 the best biking day of the year by signing up for one of our many volunteer opportunities. Signups close Thursday, May 2, so don’t wait — sign up today!

Here are all the great ways you can help make this event a success:

Event promotion and prep

Poster Distribution: through Tuesday, April 16 — Help us put up posters at cafes and bike shops all over town! We’ll provide the posters, tape and a map of locations; you provide the pedal power. View the list of neighborhoods and sign up to spread the word.

Put up Posters

Bike to Work Day Volunteer Night: Thursday, April 18 — We’re throwing a special Bike to Work Day volunteer night at our office. Help us prepare supplies for the big day and enjoy good company and dinner on us.

Vol Night? Alright👌

Bag-Stuffing Party: Thursday, May 2 — Join us for our annual bag-stuffing party at the Bryant Street Sports Basement as we prep 6,000 bags in preparation for Bike to Work Day! Whether you can join us for just one hour or all five, we’ll be happy to have your help. As a special thanks, we’ll reward you with a free dinner and our endless gratitude. Sign up to be a part of this busy, high-energy night.

Stuff Bags

 

Join us on the big day

Energizer Stations*:  Over 200 member-volunteers help out at Energizer Stations citywide on Bike to Work Day, brightening commutes with free coffee in the morning, or cheering folks on as they bike home in the afternoon. View our 26 Energizer Station locations and sign up today. Be sure to sign up for a training, too!

Get Energized

Photographer:  Do you have professional or professional-level photography experience? Use the power of your lens to help capture the magic of Bike to Work Day. If you’re interested, please sign up and leave a link to your online portfolio in the comments.

Bike-Arazzi

Errand-Runner*: Love biking around the city? Want to be on call to make emergency supply drop-offs and deliveries? Must have own bike and be comfortable hauling a trailer with supplies. We’ll provide the trailer; you provide the pedal power!

Go Go Power Biker

End-of-Day Unpacker: At the end of an amazing day, bring your fresh energy and help us unload at our office.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

For more information about Bike to Work Day, check out our event page.

*You must be a current member of the SF Bicycle Coalition to volunteer in this role. Not a member? Join today!

What’s Next for SoMa

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

So what’s next for SoMa? With the momentum that we’ve built up over the past year, we want a whole new crop of projects approved in 2019, including Fifth, Folsom and Howard.

As members, you drove a record-setting year in 2018, helping to build more protected bike lanes than ever before. No neighborhood saw that change more than SoMa where Folsom, Howard, Eighth, Townsend, and Second streets all got stretches of protected bike lane. With your help, we can build off that momentum and win the next round of transformative projects.

Join our 2019 SoMa Campaign

As a start, the Folsom and Howard Streetscape Project will complete fully protected connections along the length of those two well-used east-west corridors. We’re hoping to see those two projects approved by June. Still, improving our existing infrastructure isn’t enough. We want to see new projects with aggressive timelines that have a large impact on our bicycle network.

Enter the Fifth Street Improvement Project. Fifth Street, believe it or not, is currently on our bicycle network. In theory, Fifth would be a great north-south connector in SoMa, bringing people from downtown directly to Caltrain. In practice, though, Fifth is four lanes of fast-moving traffic with nothing more than faded sharrows to guide the way.

Fifth Street today

That’s why this project is so important not just to SoMa, but to everyone who bikes in San Francisco. We have an opportunity to demand a full redesign of Fifth Street. Going from sharrows to the highest level of bicycle infrastructure is a real possibility here and one we don’t see often, never mind on such an important thoroughfare.

How do we get there, then? The first step is to add you name to our campaign below. Over the next few months, there will be public meetings, walking tours and approvals hearings, all of which we’ll need strong member presence at to make our asks loud and clear. Together, we can turn Fifth Street around.