Now Hiring: Summer Interns

Posted on by Kelsey Roeder

Applications are now open for our summer internships! Our interns are talented and motivated folks who jump right into the bicycle action. We accept both student and practical experience internships, and request that interns make a minimum commitment of 10-to-20 hours per week for the summer semester.

This season, we’re hiring for 10 different positions:

  • Bicycle Advocacy Intern: Put on your advocate hat! Join our Advocacy team to support our various street campaigns both inside City Hall and out on the streets.
  • Bicycle Education Intern: Get firsthand experience in all aspects of bicycle education programming with the leading provider of bike safety education in San Francisco.
  • Bike It Forward Intern: Learn more about this amazing program and give back to those in need.
  • Development Intern: Can you fundraise and fun-raise? Help us keep the wheels of advocacy spinning on with our Development team!
  • Event Planning Intern: Bike to Work Day is the best day! Help us make this massive event a success.
  • Graphic Design Intern: The Creative Suite is your thing. Make graphics to support our work.
  • Political Intern: Get an inside look at our city’s political process.
  • Public Affairs Communications Intern: Learn the ins and outs of public relations, and put language to work on behalf of people who bike.
  • Volunteer Coordination Intern: We rely on over 1,000 volunteers each year to push our work forward. Put your people management skills to work in collaborating with these amazing folks.
  • Youth Programs Intern: If you love getting little ones on two wheels, this is the internship for you.

In addition to spicing up your resume with practical experience, interns get other great benefits like a one-year free membership to the SF Bicycle Coalition, ongoing professional development opportunities, discounts on store swag, first dibs on exciting events and opportunities, and more! Still not convinced? See what past interns have had to say about their experiences here and here.

We’re accepting applications now and will review them on a rolling basis. What are you waiting for? Apply today!

If you’re not able to commit to a full internship, but still want to help us out — don’t worry! We’d love to have you join us at one of our many volunteer opportunities.

Now Hiring: Organization Development Director

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

UPDATE: We are no longer accepting applications for this position. If you have questions, please contact info@sfbike.org.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is seeking the newest member of its leadership team. The Organization Development Director will help the SF Bicycle Coalition achieve its mission and the goals set forth in its strategic plan by providing leadership in the areas of organization development, including operations planning, systems development and organizational culture. This position will also supervise a team of two finance and technology staff. The Organization Development Director has leadership responsibility for finance, human resources, office and facilities management, contract management, and risk management.

We are looking for a resourceful and focused leader to partner with the Executive Director on taking our organization to its next stage of development. This is a unique opportunity to join a successful, dynamic advocacy organization that continues to make demonstrable impacts in San Francisco neighborhoods and communities.

Primary areas of responsibility

  • Organization-wide planning and evaluation, encompassing our strategic plan, annual project plans, compensation strategy and emergency planning;
  • Development and implementation of SF Bicycle Coalition’s equity and inclusion policy and initiatives in partnership with the board and Executive Director and in consultation with staff;
  • Leadership of annual budgeting process to support mission-aligned growth;
  • Support the Executive Director’s role in board development, including preparing the board of directors for monthly meetings and reporting on the organization’s progress toward achieving strategic plan goals and objectives;
  • Management of Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology staff and functions;

Strong candidates will possess as many of the following qualifications as possible:

  • A deep commitment to the SF Bicycle Coalition’s mission;
  • Substantial executive or senior management experience in the areas of human resources, finance and/or information technology management, including people management experience;
  • Demonstrated ability to articulate and implement compelling strategies for organization development that take account of organizational culture and collaboration;
  • Proven track record of success in organization-wide planning and system development;
  • Demonstrated ability to be analytical, persuasive and work in partnership with a dynamic leadership and staff;
  • Experience developing evaluation systems, including creation of dashboards;
  • High level of organization and time management skills;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
  • Experience working within diverse teams and communities.
  • Experience developing and managing budgets in excess of $2 million;
  • A strong track record of managing complex projects, including holding teams accountable for delivering desired outcomes;
  • Ability to analyze and plan for organizational technology needs, including budgeting and resources allocation;
  • Familiarity with Salesforce or comparable cloud-based CRM; and
  • Familiarity with Google Apps suite.

Reports to: Executive Director
Direct Reports: Operations Manager, Technology Coordinator
Salary and Benefits: The annual salary for this exempt position is between $85,000 and $100,000, depending upon relevancy of experience. Full-time benefits include medical, vision and dental insurance.
Hours: Full-time. Flexibility to work nights and weekends; this position may require working approximately two weekday evenings and one weekend day monthly.

About the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to transform San Francisco’s streets and neighborhoods into safe, just and livable places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. Our work is guided by our five-year strategic plan and the core values of Transportation Justice, Sustainability, People Power and Joy. The organization’s culture reflects its grassroots origins and professional advocacy in equal measures. Our active membership of over 10,000 represents San Franciscans of all ages and backgrounds from all neighborhoods who are working towards safe, sustainable and more affordable ways to move around our city. The SF Bicycle Coalition is the largest city-based bicycle advocacy group in the nation and one of the largest member-driven groups in San Francisco.

Climate Ride Scholarship

Posted on by Gina Schumacher

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is proud to present the Climate Ride Community Leader Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes individuals promoting transportation justice, practicing climate change advocacy, and creating change via the bicycle by providing an opportunity to participate in Climate Ride California as a member of the SF Bicycle Coalition Climate Ride Team.

The California North Coast Ride is an epic five-day bicycle journey with 120 people united by their passion for sustainability and renewable energy. Camp each night and listen to inspirational talks from climate change activists. Climate Ride Community Leaders may also choose to address attendees themselves.

This is a fully supported ride: planned route, meals provided, luggage is transported each day, plus, plenty of mechanical and moral support is available! And the SF Bicycle Coalition is offering scholarship recipients support beforehand too, including training resources and rides, and assistance securing the necessary equipment, from a road bike to camping gear.

The ride starts on May 20, with a May 19 pre-ride shuttle between San Francisco and Fortuna free available to scholarship recipients. The ride itself is between 292 and 327 through giant redwoods, wine country and beautiful coastline, with different mileage options available each day. Complete ride details are available here.

Fill out the form linked below and submit no later than 10:00 pm PST on Sunday, Feb. 25. People of color, people who identify as women, trans*, femme, non-binary and people who would not be able to participate in this event without fundraising assistance are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply Now

Para Solicitar

Questions? Contact Gina Schumacher, SF Bicycle Coalition development associate, at gina@sfbike.org. (Se habla español.)

Wheel Talk: Hold the Phone! (Or … Don’t?)

Posted on by Christopher White

Wheel Talk for Wheel People is a monthly advice column written by Christopher White, our adult education program coordinator. Though bikes, biking and getting around SF is our area of expertise, feel free to ask anything! To submit your questions, please click here.

Wheel Talk, while biking I saw another biker holding a cell phone to his ear while in motion. I felt like I should say something, so at a light, feeling a bit like an ass, I reminded him that biking with a cell phone is illegal. He told me, witheringly, that it’s totally fine. Who’s right? —Donkey on Wheels

Dear Donkey on Wheels: When I’m teaching both people who bike and people who drive, I generally stick to the same mantra: same rights, same responsibilities. In the eyes of the law, it’s mostly true that operators of cars or bikes are viewed the same. But in this case, your blithe lane-mate has it right: according to our friends at CalBike, people on bikes are not legally banned from using cell phones.

Where the law may turn a blind eye, however, common sense does not. And common sense tells us that, when using your hands to balance and brake, doing something totally unrelated with them isn’t particularly clever. The National Safety Council tells us that even talking on the phone hands-free while operating a vehicle (and I’ll include the bike in that category) doesn’t mitigate for safety, because we still experience “inattention blindness.”

So please, blithe lane-mate (which might be my new drag name), let that phone call wait until you dismount. Stop with the texting. Look up your destination BEFORE you start pedaling. And if you need directions, keep your phone in a handlebar mount and, preferably, wear a single earphone to let the nice Google lady tell you where to go.

Wheel Talk, are bicyclists subject to the same requirements as motorists for signaling their maneuvers, as laid out in the California Vehicle Code? For example, if I’m braking, does the law require me to signal it? —Clueless in the Asphalt Jungle

Dear Clueless in the Asphalt Jungle: Imagine you’re speeding down the green-painted bike lane on Page Street, towards Octavia. It’s a steep downhill with a red stoplight at the end. The brake lights of the cars to your right are all illuminated. Shouldn’t you similarly be communicating to the folks behind you that you’re stopping? The problem is, of course, that your “brake light” is your palm — which needs to be squeezing your hand brake if you’re not going to fly through the light

This is another case where the rules governing people in cars and people on bikes are a bit different. When operating a car, you must communicate your plans with brake lights and turn indicators. In the saddle, using your hands to do so is recommended for your own safety: when others know what you’re going to do, they can react appropriately. But if keeping both hands on the handlebars or your brakes will actually keep you safer, that should take priority. And the law agrees, with signals recommended but not required. Remember, you can signal your intentions in other ways, such as lane positioning or a quick glance over your shoulder.

Wheel Talk, thanks for addressing questions of driving safely around people on bikes and bike infrastructure. I’ve been wondering, how do I parallel park when there’s a bike lane between traffic lanes and the parking spot? —Weekend Rider

Dear Weekend Rider: My pleasure! For our education program to help make SF a safer, more pleasurable place to bike, I believe that we must train all road users.

The California Vehicle Code says that people in cars can and should pull into the bike lane in order to initiate parallel parking. But it’s the driver’s responsibility to do so safely. Before pulling into the bike lane, you should turn on your right turn indicator, check your right mirror and also check over your right shoulder for any people biking. If any are coming, let them pass — they have the right of way. Only when it’s safe and nobody is coming down the bike lane, pull into the bike lane. Park with alacrity, in case somebody else comes down the lane.

And once you’re parked, check the bike lane again before opening your door to avoid hitting anyone! We recommend the “Dutch Reach” for opening car doors: get in the habit of using your hand FARTHEST from the door handle so that you must turn towards the street in order to open the door, and therefore see oncoming bikes and cars.

Now Hiring: Communications Designer

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition seeks a Communications Designer to join our team to design new marketing collateral and optimize current ones for growing our member and subscriber base and increasing engagement. If you are passionate about increasing the reach of bicycle advocacy in all San Francisco neighborhoods, this is your chance to create highly visible work that makes our city a better place to live, work and play.

Hours: Full time, with some evenings for special events throughout the year
Reports to: Communications Director

About the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to promote the bicycle for everyday transportation. Our member-based grassroots organization is considered one of the largest, most active and most effective advocacy groups in the country for people who bike. For more than 45 years, the SF Bicycle Coalition has developed a proven track record of winning better bicycling improvements through engaging the public in our work.

Position description

The Communications Designer will collect and analyze data related to our existing communications and lead the way on designing improvements in response to learnings. The Communications Designer will provide direct support to the Communications Director and collaborate with colleagues across the organization’s staff. Along with the Communications Director, the Communications Designer will lead the way in designing communications that further the SF Bicycle Coalition’s work towards the membership, list growth and volunteer goals including in our newly adopted Strategic Plan.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Create marketing materials in support of SF Bicycle Coalition campaigns and events ranging from emails, digital ads, bus and bus stop ads, pamphlets, flyers, infographics, posters, landing pages and other web-based (HTML) projects, and more;
  • Communicate effectively with colleagues across teams to articulate how your work help them do their jobs effectively;
  • Design impactful marketing collateral informed by data;
  • Run audits and present to colleagues regularly on ongoing digital campaigns;
  • Conduct ongoing research and implementation of digital marketing industry standards and best practices;
  • Employ digital strategies to increase our volunteers, members, email subscribers and social media followers;
  • Manage print orders and coordinating with printers and other contractors;
  • Update the SF Bicycle Coalition’s website to accurately reflect the latest information, developments and campaigns;
  • Assist with digital asset management, such as tagging photos, creating photo albums, selecting photos for social media use or resizing images;
  • Copy writing and copy editing;
  • Queue communications up on WordPress and Salesforce Marketing Cloud; and
  • Photography assignments.

Required skills or abilities:

  • Strong visual aesthetic and proven expertise in composition and layout, color theory, photography, illustration and typography;
  • Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite;
  • Experience designing within brand guidelines but also leading the evolution of an organization’s brand;
  • Ability to multi-task and triage in a busy work environment;
  • Acute attention to detail;
  • Strong collaborative skills;
  • Clear interpersonal communication;
  • Strong working knowledge of HTML;
  • Dedication to efficiency and timeliness; and
  • Strong commitment to the SF Bicycle Coalition’s mission and the values in our Strategic Plan.

Desired skills or abilities:

  • Strong, concise writing;
  • A keen eye for copy-editing and/or inconsistencies;
  • Project management experience;
  • Language skills, including Chinese, Spanish or Tagalog; and
  • Digital asset management experience.

Compensation:

  • Salary starting in the mid-$40,000s to $50,000, depending upon qualifications and experience;
  • The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition offers a competitive benefits package;
  • All federal holidays off; and
  • Indoor bike parking provided.

To Apply:

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, including a link to your design portfolio, and submit them as pdfs using the form linked below. Be sure to mention where you saw the job advertised. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer.

UPDATE: We are no longer accepting applications for the Communications Designer position. If you have questions, please contact chris@sfbike.org.

Thanking Anna for Five Strong Years

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

We’re hiring a Membership Manager to meet the needs of our 10,000-plus members and keep the movement for bikeable SF streets rolling strong. After five years on staff, Anna Gore left her position on our Membership team in order to transition to new opportunities in Portland, Ore. Before she left, we took the opportunity to catch up with her about what it’s like working so closely with our members and connecting them with the campaigns and programs promoting bicycling in our city.

SF Bicycle Coalition: What has been your most memorable, celebratory experience working at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition?

Anna: This is such a tough question! One thing I love about working for the SF Bicycle Coalition is seeing first-hand how hard everyone — staff, board and members — work to improve to our city. When you work so hard at something, each event, campaign win or program milestone feels huge. And no one here shys away from celebrating each other’s successes.

What are some of your favorite parts about the specific role you played on the SF Bicycle Coalition team?

Getting to know so many amazing people. We have over 10,000 members and nearly 100 Business Members, and a big part of my job was connecting people with our work. I had the opportunity to get to know so many incredibly talented, driven and wonderful people.

What stands out as your favorite or most exciting campaign?

I’ve seen many exciting projects get approved and make it to completion in my time at the SF Bicycle Coalition: New and innovative designs like the protected bike lane on Polk Street and the protected intersection at Ninth and Division; protected bike lanes on San Jose Avenue, Seventh and Eighth streets, Oak and Fell streets; the completion of the east span of the Bay Bridge People Path; the opening of the Mansell People Path — the list goes on and on.

Can you tell us about a project you were proud of working on?

Of all my projects and program areas, Women Bike SF has a special place in my heart. I was one of the founding staff members of the program, and it’s been incredible to watch the program grow. Now in its fourth year, Women Bike SF has reached well over 1,000 people in San Francisco and beyond.

A big part of the program centers around elevating the amazing work women, trans*, femme and non-binary people are doing in our community. I’ve learned and grown so much from working with so many inspiring people, and am so excited to see what Kelsey and the SF Bicycle Coalition team continue building through the program.

What do you hope to see come to fruition in the future of the SF Bicycle Coalition?

I was honored to be part of the Strategic Planning Committee for the SF Bicycle Coalition, and I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of the new plan. If there is one thing I hope to see come to fruition it’s the execution of that plan, but honestly I have no doubt that it’ll happen.

I know how hard the staff and board of the SF Bicycle Coalition work to achieve the goals adopted, and how accountable they hold themselves. In five years, when the plan comes to fruition, we will have taken another important step toward achieving our mission of transforming San Francisco streets and neighborhoods into more livable, safe and just places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.

We want to thank Anna for all she’s done to make riding in SF safe and accessible for everyone and build on her incredible work supporting our members. Are you (or someone you know) dedicated to making SF a better place to live and bike? Check out this incredible opportunity to make a difference within your community!

Let’s Talk: Better Market Street

Posted on by Janice Li

People power wins campaigns, but building up our people power also takes time. That’s why we’re bringing our members together for a Bike Talks event on March. 1 to build excitement and momentum for Better Market Street, a project to transform San Francisco’s symbolic downtown corridor from Embarcadero to Octavia.

Bike Talks: A Better Market Street for Biking
Thursday, March 1 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm
SF Bicycle Coalition, 1720 Market St.

Right now, City planners are gearing up for two open houses in March to present the progress thus far in moving Better Market Street closer to reality. With opportunities to weigh in, this is a key moment to get involved in this campaign and your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition will need your help in getting the word out. City planners have quietly advanced the design for the past few years, and now is the time for the public to get loud about this project.

Come to our event on March 1 and learn more about Better Market Street and dig into the beautiful new design proposal. Why sidewalk-level bike lanes? Are there opportunities for near-term improvements? What will the Muni experience be like? This is your chance to meet directly with the project team from SF Public Works and ask all those questions and more.

Bike Talks are a benefit of your SF Bicycle Coalition membership. If you’d like to join for this event, please take a moment to join or renew your membership today here or through the RSVP below.

Be a Bicycle Champion at Work! (It’s Easy.)

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

By Tyler Case

Bike to Work Day is right around the corner on Thursday, May 10. We are looking for bicycle champions to motivate your coworkers to participate in Bike to Work Day. Getting started is easy. When you request an Employer Toolkit, you’ll receive everything you need to encourage your colleagues to participate.

Employer Toolkits include:

  • A Bike to Work Day poster for hanging up in a common area at work to help spread the word;
  • Information on how you can support colleagues in biking to work;
  • A detailed SF bike map to help you and your coworkers plan your commute;
  • SF Bicycle Coalition’s Tube Times magazine, including details on our Energizer Station locations where you and your colleagues can swing by for free canvas bags, snacks and refreshments on the big day; and
  • Information about SF Bicycle Coalition resources and services, like the rules of the road, free youth and adult bicycle classes, and how to securely lock your bike.

Employer Toolkits are free to all San Francisco businesses, but supplies are limited so act fast. Toolkits will be mailed the first week of April.

SoMa Needs You: Get Involved in Our Member Committee

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

Photo by Roger Rudick / Streetsblog SF

In 2017 we celebrated four brand new protected bike lanes constructed in SoMa. That’s amazing, and with two new protected bike lanes already approved in 2018, we have a great opportunity to keep building on that momentum.

I’m In

Protected bike lanes were constructed on Seventh, Eighth, Division and Folsom streets last year, marking a huge increase in dedicated space for people who bike in SoMa. A group of dedicated members passionate about our streets, our SoMa Member Committee has proven instrumental in winning these bike-friendly improvements. They led the way by organizing around public planning, turning out for approvals and holding the City accountable to construction timelines, powering these projects from start to finish.

The SoMa Member Committee meets regularly to talk through the latest street projects in SoMa and strategize how we can hold the City accountable for delivering urgently needed bike projects. With projects on Townsend, Fifth, Folsom and Howard streets all entering crucial planning phase, 2018 is a particularly exciting year. Now will be the time to organize around these projects and make sure that we win the protected bike lanes needed to keep all people biking safe in SoMa — one of our busiest neighborhoods.

SoMa Member Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm
SF Bicycle Coalition, 1720 Market St.

At this first meeting of the year, we will be regroup around new and upcoming projects to determine our strategy moving forward. RSVP below and take the next step towards the change you want to see on your streets.

Sign up for Bike & Roll to School Week

Posted on by Nancy Buffum

Bike & Roll to School Week is April 16-20, and registration is now open. Sign up your school today and make sure that your students and their classmates do not miss out on the fun.

San Francisco Bike & Roll to School Week takes place every April and is the largest event of its kind in the entire country. Thousands of students, along with their parents and caregivers, will roll to 100 schools throughout the city. Students of all ages, from preschool to high school, are welcome to participate by biking to school or otherwise rolling, whether on a tricycle, skateboard, scooter or jogging stroller.

As a parent or school staff organizer, you get to choose the best day of the week for your school’s of Bike & Roll to School celebration. Participating students will receive goody packets of giveaways, sponsored by SF Safe Routes to School partnership. Schools can win prizes, too! And once again, there will be a free drawing to give parents and organizers the chance to win a family bike donated by our friends at Xtracycle.

Don’t miss out on the fun: some prizes are limited. The registration deadline is March 31. Sign up your school today.