As a 501(c)(4), the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition* makes political endorsements, helping to ensure San Francisco is a better place to live, work, and bike. Our endorsements process is led by our 15-person board of directors that is directly elected by our membership.
It’s not every election year that a former SFBike Board member steps up to run for public office – so of course we were really proud to see former Board member Danny Sauter launch his campaign for District 3 Supervisor. Danny worked hard to show the strength of his commitment to this movement through his questionnaire, and showed a remarkable knowledge of his district’s bike network gaps, as well as ideas as to how to fix them. Additionally, Danny understands the importance of housing density to ensure the success of bicycle networks while also welcoming reasonable community input.
Danny Sauter is a proven leader in bicycle advocacy, we are proud to give Danny our sole endorsement. We look forward to having an ally in the District 3 office.
As a 501(c)(4), the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition* makes political endorsements, helping to ensure San Francisco is a better place to live, work, and bike. Our endorsements process is led by our 15-person board of directors that is directly elected by our membership.
Jen Nossokoff is the candidate that District 1 has been waiting for – in its often car-centric neighborhoods, she bikes everywhere and fights for safe street infrastructure as a crucial element that will help us truly achieve Vision Zero; she’s also the only candidate supporting Prop K, for a permanent Ocean Beach Park. Jen brings a progressive yet mindful approach to street projects; in her questionnaire, she said, “it’s crucial to communicate the broader benefits of transit projects: reducing congestion, driving traffic to local businesses, and decreasing parking demand.” We also appreciated her understanding of iterative progress, saying, “utilizing pilot programs can demonstrate these benefits, easing initial resistance and showing real-world impacts before making permanent changes.”
Ambitious, yet pragmatic, approaches that focus on creating buy-in from the community is a winning combination for District 1, so we are proud to give Jen Nossokoff our sole endorsement.
Last week, we hosted a member meeting in our office with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) – part of the National Parks Service – to talk about the improvements they’re making to the bike network through Fort Mason and around the Golden Gate Bridge.
We were a small group, but when GGNRA staff asked the room who bikes regularly around Fort Mason, every single hand in the room shot up. We are constantly amazed at the dedication of our membership to turn out to projects that matter to them, bringing great questions and comments about the proposals.
Here’s a summary of GGNRA’s proposals:
On the north side of the bridge, they’re opening the Vista Point Multi-use Path for people to ride on as an alternative to Alexander Ave. Construction is starting soon and will take about a year because they need to do lead remediation and address the steep grade. This will provide a car-free alternative between the bridge and Sausalito.
On the south side of the bridge near Fort Point, GGNRA is proposing a new cycle track around the visitor space. They’re also proposing to widen Long Ave – the short, hilly road that connects Fort Point/Crissy Field and the bridge. This will create more dedicated space for people on bikes climbing uphill.
At Upper Fort Mason, they’re redesigning the south east corner at the McArthur gate, where Van ness Ave, Bay St and North Point St converge. Collaborating with the city, GGNRA proposes to extend the sidewalk and create a spacious multi-use path that will help connect people biking from the Embarcadero. Through the parking lot area, they’re proposing a new cycle track and improved sidewalks and a formalized paved bike path to enter the Great Meadow. Through the Great Meadow they’re formalizing the bike route and reducing conflicts with people walking.
Finally, GGNRA is proposing to widen the sidewalk along “the squeeze” – the tight corner at the entrance to Lower Fort Mason – to more than double the width.
These projects will unfold over the next couple years as federal approvals and funding come through. We hope to do more events with GGNRA in the future to continue talking about how to create a seamless bicycle experience. If you have questions or thoughts on this bicycle project, you can email GGNRA staff directly at darren_brown@nps.gov.
Want to receive updates for this campaign? Sign up below.
For many adults, learning to ride a bike or gaining confidence on two wheels can feel like a challenge — but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help! In alignment with our mission of promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation, we’re excited to announce the expansion of our free education programming, designed to remove financial and knowledge-based barriers and make riding a bike accessible for everyone.
This new season of classes will not only cover traditional biking but also include specialized courses on e-bikes and rideshare scooters — helping you reduce your carbon footprint while getting around with ease. You’ve probably seen rideshare e-bikes and scooters zipping around the city – now is your chance to learn more about these programs and get up to speed with best practices and traffic law know-how!
We’re also expanding our beginner courses for adults who are just starting their cycling journey! People often say something is “just like riding a bike,” but for many of us, perhaps we never got the chance to learn or haven’t pedaled a bike since childhood. Our classes for adult beginners are designed to help adults of any age swing their leg back over a bike and get rolling with confidence.
Whether you’re new to cycling or getting back on the saddle, our free classes will give you the confidence and skills to make micromobility a part of your everyday routine. Keep an eye on our Events page on the website for more information about upcoming classes! We update it on a continual basis. If you have any questions please reach out to Qamuuqin Maxwell at qmaxwell@sfbike.org.
This summer our Board endorsed Proposition K, a ballot measure to turn the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Blvd into a permanent park space: Ocean Beach Park.
We are excited about this proposition and the potential to gain a new 17-acre oceanfront park in our city. When I joined the staff at SFBike in 2021, a rally to keep the Great Highway as a car-free space for people was the very first event I attended. It was incredible to see the love and passion for car-free spaces and how they can completely transform the way we live and get around our beautiful city. It had an enormous impact on me as a San Franciscan, and as a community organizer for SFBike.
We’ve all seen the success of the JFK Promenade since the last election when Yes on Prop J swept the polls. The JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park has shown us just how much people want car-free spaces both for recreation and for commuting. At SFBike, we’re working toward a citywide, interconnected network of car-free and people-prioritized corridors that are safe and universally accessible – and Ocean Beach Park has the potential to help us achieve that more livable, connected, and sustainable city.
Currently, the Sunset District does not have a single protected bike lane – and it’s severely lacking in safe bike routes, both north-south and east-west. The Sunset has the potential to be an amazing hub and connector for biking, walking, and rolling and Ocean Beach Park can help us realize that vision.
San Francisco and the world are facing a looming climate crisis. Transportation emissions account for the city’s second largest contributor to greenhouse gasses. Ocean Beach Park will help more people to choose sustainable modes of transportation for their everyday trips and revolutionize the way we get around. Passing Prop K will allow us to better adapt to sea level rise and take the necessary steps to protect our coast. Climate mitigation and adaptation are needed urgently and Proposition K achieves both.
Connie Jeung-Mills, senior, long-time Castro resident and superstar volunteer for Ocean Beach Park, shared with me last weekend at a door-knocking event why she’s devoting her time to Yes on K.
“I can walk up and down [Ocean Beach Park] without getting hit by a car – that’s really important to me. I’ve lived in the city for a long time and this is a great opportunity to create community space. I’ve met people who live on the eastside of SF and have never been to the beach, especially kids. We have public transit to get to the beach – which is great. It would be even better to have park facilities, like benches and bathrooms, there for the people who come all the way from across the city to enjoy the beach.”
Help us win a permanent Ocean Beach Park this election season. Vote Yes on K! Talk to your friends about why Ocean Beach Park matters to you. Most importantly, volunteer at one of our upcoming events to help get the word out.
We are going to be stationed at the Fort Mason and Ferry Building Farmers’ Markets on alternating weekends leading up to the election. Join us to win Yes on K!
Upcoming dates:*
Sun Sept 8 Fort Mason 10am-12pm
Sat Sept 14 Sunset bike ride 12-2pm
Sun Sept 15 Fort Mason 10am-12pm
Sun 22 Fort Mason 10am-12pm
Sat Sept 28 Ferry Building 10am-12pm
Sun Oct 6 Fort Mason 10am-12pm
Sat Oct 12 Ferry Building 10am-12pm
Sat Oct 19 Ferry Building 10am-12pm
Sat Nov 2 Ferry Building 10am-12pm
Sun Nov 3 Fort Mason 10am-12pm
*Dates and times are subject to change. Check the calendar to get updated information.
The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has voted to endorse Prop L, Fund the Bus! (formerly the ComMUNIty Transit Act), a ballot measure which aims to increase funding for Muni.
Prop L proposes to use revenue from a new business tax on ride-hail companies to prevent Muni service cuts and improve Muni access to public schools, libraries, and parks. Funding can also be used to fund discount programs for youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes.
Board member Joanna Gubman, who has been an active volunteer with the Fund the Bus! campaign, says: “By voting for Prop L, we’re saying yes, we love our vibrant, diverse city. And yes, our public transportation system is actually one of the best in the country – and it’s worth doing everything we can to sustain it.”
Transit-friendly cities are bike-friendly cities! People who walk, transit riders, and people on bikes have the same goals for San Francisco – we all want a people-first, climate-resilient and economically vibrant city, where everyone from young students to senior citizens can rely on public transit to get around safely and conveniently.
This is the second ballot measure our Board has endorsed this year; in June, we were proud to be among the first organizations to endorse Ocean Beach Park, now known as Prop K. As the Bike the Vote 2024 season heats up, we’ll reach out to members and volunteers to help spread the word on our endorsements and get out the vote to support a more sustainable and accessible future for San Francisco. Sign up today for updates and volunteer opportunities!
We often hear stories of particular streets, bike lanes, or intersections we wish were better – safer, easier to use, more thoughtfully designed. Meet member Alyssa Cheung who recently did something about that, in her own neighborhood of Lakeview/OMI. We sat down with Alyssa to find out what drives her to get involved, and what she learned about being an advocate for change, in her corner of the city and beyond.
What prompted you to start advocating for street safety?
I’ve been a bike commuter for nearly 10 years, most of that time commuting from the westside of SF to downtown. When my daughter was old enough to be a passenger on my bike a few years ago, I started biking around the city with her. It’s brought us so much joy as a family. My husband and I made a commitment to only drive when absolutely necessary – even though we live in the far southwest corner of the city.
Even as an experienced cyclist, I still feel nervous every time I get on a bike with my daughter. I want my daughter to be able to ride on her own when she gets older, but that doesn’t feel possible right now with the state of bicycle infrastructure in SF. I imagine other parents feel similarly.
Our neighborhood of Lakeview/Oceanview/Merced Heights/Ingleside (Lakeview/OMI) is often forgotten when it comes to city improvements, including safer bike infrastructure. Too many times I’ve heard neighbors say “no one bikes here in Lakeview/OMI” as a justification for not improving streets for cyclists. That’s simply not true, and I want to make sure that even more of my neighbors feel safe enough to walk, bike, and roll in Lakeview/OMI in the future.
Tell us about this curb cut. What is the story behind this project and why does it matter to you?
I live on St Charles Ave, which is also a bike route that links Lakeview/OMI south to Daly City BART and a shopping complex, which houses H-Mart, the only grocery store within walking distance of my neighborhood. St Charles Ave dead-ends at a path that allows pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross Brotherhood Way. There are a lot of cyclists and scooter users that ride this path daily.
When I moved in a few years ago, there was no curb cut from the street onto the path; it was an 8-inch standard curb. Cyclists, especially parents with kids on their bikes, would need to dismount between the street and the bike path and manually lift their bikes onto the curb. When I asked my neighbors, I found out it had been this way for decades, with several failed attempts to get the city to improve it.
I thought it would be easy, but between reporting it to 311 and getting Supervisor Safai’s office involved, we spent over a year bouncing around between Public Works, Rec & Parks, and SFMTA. In December 2023, I gave public comment at a Public Works Commission meeting, as well as a meeting with the Mayor’s Office of Disability, in hopes of getting somewhere. After many back-and-forth emails with Public Works employees, it became clear that a bike ramp, not a curb cut, would be the correct request – and that a bike ramp would be the SFMTA’s domain. 18 months after that initial 311 request, SFMTA installed the bike ramp in March 2024! It’s a small win, but makes me really happy when I see people using it on a daily basis.
What was your biggest takeaway from this experience?
Be persistent and try to leverage all the resources you can. Develop relationships with city staff early on so you can link up with the right people in the city from the get-go to raise this issue. I think part of the reason this took so long is because my requests kept going to staff who weren’t sure where this issue belonged.
What do you think would help more parents and families start biking in SF?
If biking felt safer and less stressful. I know so many parents who love biking on car-free JFK and the Great Highway Park. When I ask them if they bike around other parts of the city, they say they would like to, but they don’t feel safe doing so. The physical separation from cars is what makes them feel comfortable enough to ride on JFK and the Great Highway Park. If we had routes where cyclists were physically protected from cars, I think many more parents and families would bike in the city with their kids.
What are you hoping to accomplish next? What’s your biggest aspiration for your neighborhood?
My dream is to transform Brotherhood Way from a 4-lane freeway that runs through our neighborhood into a vibrant greenway that is welcoming to pedestrians and cyclists – the Brotherhood Greenway. The current pathway is narrow, often covered by deep sand, and with large impassable stretches where tree roots have torn up the pavement.
Brotherhood Way links Lakeview/OMI directly to Lake Merced, the only large green space near our community. There are also schools, churches, and residences all along Brotherhood Way, as well as future development projects that would all benefit from using Brotherhood Way as a connection to Daly City BART.
Brotherhood Greenway could help link Lakeview/OMI to Lake Merced to the Great Highway and on to Golden Gate Park. Imagine riding from our neighborhood all the way to Golden Gate Park on protected bike lanes!
I’d love to see SFMTA assume full responsibility for this project and build a physically protected, multi-use pathway as soon as possible, with traffic calming and beautification projects. Pedestrian and cyclist safety cannot wait.
7. Where is your favorite place to bike in the city?
Aside from the obvious favorites (JFK, Great Highway), lately, it’s been along Frida Kahlo Way to witness the quick-build project come together. I’ve biked that stretch for years and part of me gets a little emotional seeing how much better it is now – a beautiful two-way bike lane. It gives me a lot of hope that we’re moving in the right direction.
“Watch me!” declared Reginarose as she pedaled by with the biggest grin on her new green Kona. The eight-year-old was one of 70 lucky kids, ages 5–15, who won our giveaway of a nearly-new bike provided by SFBike’s Bike it Forward program at the annual BMAGIC Back to School event for families in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco.
This year’s BMAGIC Bike Giveaway was a huge success thanks to our many dedicated volunteers, who supported the families through every stage of the process. After signing in, the youth selected their own helmet and our volunteers helped them choose a bike that would be a good size for them. New bike joy was everywhere you looked, and by the time the kids came to my station for their locks and lights, they looked excited to get riding.
And ride they did, using a fun bike course set up by our licensed cycling instructors and staff. Reginarose was wobbly at first, but with a little coaching and practice she quickly mastered the power start with one pedal raised to help her roll with confidence and grace. She was so stoked to master this new skill, and her enthusiasm was infectious.
At the end of the event, our friend Oscar Grande from Excelsior Bike Club emceed our live bike giveaway for the dozen or so bikes that remained on our racks. Families gathered in anticipation as the winners were called out to cheers. We left with light hearts and an even lighter load in our rental trucks as all the bikes were given away.
Ensuring access to biking for all in our community is critical to the growth of our movement. All of us can relate to that first bike feeling. Watching that new-bike energy from the smallest balance-biker to the tallest teenager was a heartwarming reminder of the power in this movement.
Bike it Forward relies on donated bikes, mostly from individuals and sometimes our local bike shops are able to help us out – and the reality is, there is always more demand than supply for this program. We want to give a huge shoutout to Mike’s Bikes for donating about 18 kids bikes for BMAGIC this year, and the dozens of members who showed up at our office with sentimental dropoffs of kids bikes their families have outgrown! We are also so grateful for the hundreds of hours of wrenching time our amazing volunteers put into these bikes reviving them to near-new sweetness.
We need more bikes and financial donations to expand our reach and get more bikes into our communities. This fall, you can help out by signing up for one of our weekly Bike it Forward Community Repair Night on Tuesdays. Together, we can keep supporting powerful new skills in Bayview, and beyond!
Gershwin wrote the lyrics, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” At SFBike, we try to add a little of that summertime joy each time we help a child ride a bike, whether it’s their first time learning to balance or their first time shredding trails in McLaren Park.
In July, our team spent a couple of days with students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Middle School working on bike riding skills and taking rides in the neighborhood. Over the course of two days, with the help of licensed cycling instructor, José, students strengthened their bike riding skills, deepened our understanding of the rules of the road and learned about bicycle infrastructure in the neighborhood. But most importantly, we found joy in moving around on two wheels under our own power.
The first day, after some nervous ice-breakers and introductions, we got right to practice on the school’s blacktop, with a painted three lane race track. José taught the students how to signal and scan. Just before the kids gots bored, we went over how to perform an emergency stop. Although how to stop is one of the first things you learn when riding a bike, stopping quickly is actually a very technical procedure. We got a few giggles as we demonstrated shifting our center of gravity back by throwing our weight back – “stick out your butt and apply both brakes evenly and firmly!” The ice was beginning to thaw.
After several quick stops we introduced an avoidance weave, a very useful skill to have when riding on our often potholed urban streets. After several minutes of that, we took a short break. Our colleague Dayra was waiting for us in the lower yard with our very popular bike blender, which the kids loved.
Following a bike blender smoothie break, we headed out on the streets. José and I were impressed with their level of communication when riding together, taking turns yelling “Stopping!” and “Rolling!” as we traveled. On our short ride we rode down Goettingen Street, a slow street. “What do you know about slow streets?” “Not much.” “Remember the pandemic?” Every teenager loves a good dystopian story. The ice melted further.
Day 2 was all about a ride to Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA). After a few stoplight crossings, train tracks and car-heavy streets we arrived at one of San Francisco’s many unique parks. Still in the shadow of the now demolished Candlestick Park stadium, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA) offers 204 acres of space to enjoy many outdoor activities including, of course, biking. The trails weave through a narrow green space often just inches from the water of the Bay. Mostly paved, but some dirt and gravel as well, the ride added a challenge and thrill for a few of the students. I heard whoops of joy and saw looks of accomplishment on their faces. Though it took us less than an hour by bike to reach our break spot, none of the students had ever visited CPSRA. I felt my own sense of accomplishment knowing that I was bringing something to these kids that’s not always easy to find – that summertime joy, and a chance to explore and learn about things outside of their immediate surroundings.
When we returned to MLK, we had a closing circle where students talked about what they most enjoyed, and what they found the most challenging. They all loved riding fast, seeing the bay, and just getting out on the streets. Many felt challenged by the hills and riding on the busy streets. One student said they both enjoyed riding down the dirt path the most and felt most challenged by it. Gone was most of the nervousness, replaced by confident voices and proud smiles. Mission accomplished!
If you’d like to bring our Safe Routes to School programming to your kid’s school, please reach out to Kenny Kruse at kenny@sfbike.org and we can make that happen!
Where are you from? What led you to working at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition?
I was born in Iowa and grew up in Bethesda, MD, where as kids we rode bikes to get around and explore our world. I moved to San Francisco in 1998 to work at the Asian Art Museum in the education department. I loved collaborating with artists and community organizations on programs and exhibitions, and engaging donors and raising funds to support the educational mission of the museum. I’ve always known about SFBike and became an active member and volunteer after I made the life-transforming decision to cycle commute, which led to all sorts of bike joy. I started riding for pleasure on the weekends, racing triathlons, and have ridden across Iowa and California in RAGBRAI and AIDS/Lifecycle respectively. I’m excited to devote my passion for cycling and community transformation at SFBike as director of development. I have a lot to learn, and I see so much potential to grow the organization’s capacity to make San Francisco a more bicycle friendly city.
Tell us about your biking journey.
I remember my dad teaching me to ride when I was about 5 or 6 years old. My first bike was a banana seat cruiser that didn’t survive my brother Brian’s stunt jumps over trash cans in the front of our house. In college, I rode a Nishiki mountain bike, which I drove across the country with when I moved to San Francisco in 1998. I rode beater bikes for commuting when I lived in Tokyo and in Cambridge England in the 1990’s. Those experiences imprinted on me the joy of using the bike as a daily transportation.
As a longtime member yourself, why is membership important to you?
I’ve witnessed first hand the benefits of SFBike’s work to improve bike safety in my 27 years in the Bay Area. The essential Biking and Walking Map, various business discounts, and low-price membership made joining a no-brainer. As a volunteer, I learned about SFBike’s advocacy work and attention to the needs of community members. Members can count on staff to be a consistent voice at hearings, holding our city accountable for public safety, and engaging productively with community leaders and city departments involved in planning and implementing transit, bike, and walking infrastructure.
What do you do for fun in your spare time?
I enjoy planning bike adventures, seeing where I can go combining transit with cycling, although I tend to imagine a lot more than I actually get out to do! Visiting museums (by bike if possible) is top on my list anytime I travel. My partner Adam and I enjoy seeing live music ranging from punk to jazz. I love talking to people about art, politics, music, and bikes. Let’s go for a coffee ride!
