Now Hiring: Membership Manager

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is seeking a Membership Manager.

Hours: Full-time. Flexibility to work nights and weekends; this position may require approximately three-to-seven nights per month and one-to-three weekend days monthly.
Reports to: Development Director

About the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Through day-to-day advocacy, education, and working partnerships with government agencies and community organizations, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is dedicated to creating safe streets and more livable communities for all San Franciscans by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. 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. Our members donate over 10,000 volunteer hours per year.

Job Components

The Membership Manager will oversee all aspects of the SF Bicycle Coalition’s robust Membership program and lead our work towards membership growth and retention. They will engage individual and business members in our advocacy work, furthering the strategic goals and mission of the organization. The Membership Manager will advance our outreach and list growth strategy to the large and growing number of people biking. They will oversee the member experience, including member communications, benefits and affinity groups. Working within the Membership and Development department, but also across teams with the Advocacy, Program and Communications teams, the Membership Manager will represent our members’ interests and demonstrate a command of issues and campaigns relevant to a broad cross-section of our membership.

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Supervise full-time Membership and Volunteer Coordinator, and part-time Phone Bank Coordinator;
  • Develop and execute Membership strategy, including annual plans and budget goals for Membership programs focused on growth and diversification of membership base, aligned with organizational strategic plan;
  • Plan and execute all direct and electronic mail campaigns related to member acquisition and renewal with an eye towards growing the number of new and renewing members;
  • Design and administer biennial member survey;
  • Plan and support Program and Advocacy staff in conducting streetside and event outreach activities, achieving specific goals related to list and member acquisition;
  • Work with programs staff on multilingual and culturally competent membership outreach initiatives;
  • Support Phone Bank Coordinator as needed in meeting budgeted goals for phone bank membership renewal;
  • Work with Membership and Volunteer Coordinator to develop goals and strategies for achieving membership acquisition and renewals related to major events;
  • Oversee Monthly Giving program, including setting goals and strategies to grow the program while supervising Membership and Volunteer Coordinator to manage monthly giver accounts;
  • Plan and execute regular member engagement events such as New Member Meet & Greets;
  • Oversee all other miscellaneous outreach initiatives, including bike shop outreach, aligning with strategic goals and objectives for membership growth and advocacy campaigns, delegating responsibility for execution as needed; and
  • Work with board of directors’ membership committee to grow individual and business membership.

Strong candidates will possess the following key qualifications:

  • A deep commitment to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s mission;
  • Previous management and leadership experience including five years of progressively increasing responsibility;
  • Budgeting and forecasting experience;
  • Successful design and execution of multi-channel campaigns using direct marketing, digital engagement, online solicitations and related marketing vehicles;
  • Successful project planning and strategy implementation;
  • Strong organizational, multi-tasking and time-management skills;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Exceptional writing skills for a diversity of media and audiences;
  • Experience with Salesforce or other CRM;
  • Experience with WordPress or another CMS;
  • Experience with Marketing Cloud or other email software;
  • Familiarity working with diverse communities;
  • Volunteer experience or community involvement; and
  • Fluency in languages other than English, specifically Spanish, Cantonese or Tagalog.

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary for this exempt position is mid-$50,000s or higher, depending upon relevancy of experience. Full-time benefits include medical, vision and dental insurance.

How to Apply

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit them by clicking “Apply for Position” below. Be sure to mention where you saw the opening advertised. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply via mail, please enclose your resume and cover letter in a sealed envelope and mail to:
Tracy Chinn
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
1720 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

You are also welcome to drop the envelope off in-person.

Hiring Timeline

Applications will be reviewed starting on Feb. 19 and considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

UPDATE: We are no longer accepting applications for the Membership Manager position. If you have questions, please contact tracy@sfbike.org.

Get Ready to Bike the Vote

Posted on by Janice Li

The first of two San Francisco elections this year is rapidly approaching on June 5. Whether you’re an experienced canvasser or someone who’s looking to get involved in San Francisco politics for the first time, we need your help to Bike the Vote.

Volunteer to Bike the Vote

With our endorsements process getting underway, your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is gearing up for an important June elections where San Francisco voters will choose our next mayor and District 8 Supervisor. In addition, we will know by mid-March which measures will also make it to the June ballot.

Given a condensed mayoral race, we know we have to get the word out about the elections and make sure San Francisco elects bike-friendly leaders who will champion safe streets and affordable, sustainable transportation. Major political changes like this don’t come around often, so we need your help to make a difference this year.

By signing up here, you will receive regular updates about our organization’s endorsements process along with invites to trainings to learn campaigning basics, from phonebanking to voter registration. Once the SF Bicycle Coalition board finalizes our slate of endorsements, we’ll Bike the Vote all over town starting in April.

Have questions about our endorsements process? Email janice@sfbike.org for more.

Political Intern

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Political Internship

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

Position description

The Political Interns will work directly with our Advocacy Director and support SF Bicycle Coalition’s political endorsements process leading up to the November 2018 elections.

The SF Bicycle Coalition’s “Bike the Vote” endorsements and campaigning includes legislative research on ballot measures, candidate questionnaires for qualified candidates running for office and grassroots campaigning for endorsed measures and candidates. Our interns will help at every step of the process throughout the summer as voters gear up for important local races.

What you’ll learn:

  • San Francisco politics, political processes and how to engage in local elections
  • A behind-the-scenes look at San Francisco government and politics with respect to transportation policy and bike advocacy
  • Effective endorsement processes, including grassroots campaign skills like canvassing and phonebanking, for local candidates and ballot measures

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

  • Drafting content for emails and our blog to promote Bike the Vote and engage our membership
  • Managing and training volunteers to help Bike the Vote efforts
  • Attend outreach to help get out the vote and support SF Bicycle Coalition’s endorsed ballot measures and candidates

Required skills or abilities:

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

Desired skills or abilities:

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

Required dates for this internship include:

  • Summer intern orientation; date TBD

Benefits:

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

This unpaid internship offers a flexible schedule with a 10-15 hour/week minimum commitment. This is chiefly a Monday through Friday internship, with occasional evenings and weekends. Interns are expected to make a three-month commitment, which may be extended. While the position is not paid, we are happy to work with any academic requirements the intern may have to help them earn course credit for their efforts.

To Apply:

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit using the form. Be sure to mention where you saw the internship advertised. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. People of color and women are strongly encouraged to apply. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political orientation.

We are no longer hiring for this position.

Advocate for Bikes and BART

Posted on by Janice Li

A transit-friendly city is a bike-friendly city. And a truly connected city takes additional steps to ensure that transit systems are accessible by bike. If you share this vision, please help make it a reality: here’s your chance to join BART’s Bicycle Advisory Task Force and represent San Francisco.

Apply Today

With new BART trains beginning to roll out and voters recently investing $3.5 billion in our aging transit system, there are plenty of opportunities to shape the future of BART. As part of our new Strategic Plan, your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition remains committed to ensuring that our transit systems are accessible by bike, whether it’s getting to and from stations, or bringing your bike onboard.

Joining BART’s Bicycle Advisory Task Force gives you a unique opportunity to shape our region’s transit system that moves over 430,000 passengers a day. The task force meets every other month and is charged with “reviewing and working with BART to improve bicycle access to and on BART.” Members of the task force span across five counties, and currently, two of San Francisco’s three seats are vacant. BART recommends applicants to attend at least one task force meeting before applying. The next meeting is on Feb. 5 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

If you have questions about applying or what serving on a task force entails, contact janice@sfbike.org.

Postmates: Expanding Deliveries by Bike

Posted on by Julia Schaber

SF Bicycle Coalition Business Members are champions for better bicycling in our city. One of our newest Business Members, Postmates, is pedaling forward a new e-bike program that will expand bicycle deliveries in our city and beyond.

As developing technology provides new opportunities for businesses to distribute their products, Postmates recognizes their responsibility to help cities build a thriving, inclusive and sustainable transportation model that works for everyone. As a part of that commitment, Postmates launched its first ever electric-assist bike program, enabling couriers from Seattle, Portland and San Francisco to complete deliveries faster on emission-free electric-powered bicycles, and allowing individuals to connect to their environment while lowering their carbon footprint. E-bikes open up biking to a new audience of San Franciscans, including people with disabilities.

We’re thrilled that Postmates supports a network of over 150,000+ bicycle couriers in over 250 U.S. cities who bring goods to our doorsteps while adopting one of the most environmentally friendly transportation modes.

The program is also helping to grow our collective movement of people who bike: Jeremy Kuester, an e-bike courier for Postmates, started riding an e-bike for environmental reasons. “I chose to opt into the e-bike program because of sustainability …. I knew that by not using my car to complete all deliveries, I would have a [better] impact on the environment.

“I am making an environmental impact with the e-bike that I’m proud of,” Jeremy said. “I really do enjoy the e-bike, especially for personal use. As long as I continue to work with Postmates, I’ll continue to be part of the Postmates e-bike program.”

As a Business Member, Postmates is helping to promote the policy and infrastructure changes that will transform San Francisco into a more livable and bikeable city. Want to know how your business can support our work? Learn about all the perks here.

2018 Board Voting

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
  • Online voting begins on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 and ends Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at 11:59 pm.
  • Members will each receive an individual e-mail on Jan. 31 with a code and link enabling them to vote. This code will be sent to the e-mail address on file through which the member receives communications from the SF Bicycle Coalition. If you do not see your invitation in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
  • Voting in person is also available during office hours at the SF Bicycle Coalition office (1720 Market St.) for the duration of the voting period.
  • Opportunities to meet and hear from candidates will be available at our annual Member Meeting and Open House.
  • Only current SF Bicycle Coalition members as of Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at 11:59 pm may cast a ballot.
  • Results will be announced in the Biker Bulletin email and the Tube Times magazine.
  • If you have technical questions regarding voting, please contact our election administrators at boardvoting@sfbike.org.

 

About SF Bicycle Coalition Board Elections

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Any SF Bicycle Coalition member can run for the board. The board is responsible for ensuring the organization’s financial health and achievement of its mission. The 15-member board is elected by the membership. There is a board election each year and terms are two years. Seven seats on the board of directors will be elected by the membership this year for the term beginning at the first board meeting following this election until the new board is seated following the 2020 board elections. A full timeline and detailed description of the process can be found here.

In each election, members of the board who are not running for re-election may select and recommend a number of candidates. These board-recommended candidates meet the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s goals for board leadership with respect to commitment to the mission, specific skills (e.g., organizational development, finance, fundraising), representation of bicycle and allied organizations, and diversity. The SF Bicycle Coalition Board developed the following list of top skills/qualities to consider when recommending candidates given this year’s organizational priorities as well as ongoing needs from the organization’s leadership.

This will be our first board election using ranked-choice voting, giving members the chance to rank their votes in order of preference. Our board of directors adopted ranked-choice voting in the hope that it will encourage increased member participation in our elections and our work. For more information about multi-winner ranked-choice voting, click here.

If you are a member who is interested in learning more about board service in future years, please contact us at boardnomination@sfbike.org.

Candidate Statements

*Individual candidate questionnaire responses can be viewed by clicking on candidates’ names below. You can view all candidate questionnaire responses here. 

 

Robin Abad Ocubillo

Board recommended

My name is Robin and I am passionately committed to the work of the SFBC! I have the skills and experience to serve you well on the Board of Directors. I have extensive professional experience in nonprofit and public sectors; also in volunteer leadership capacities on several nonprofit boards and board committees.

In my current role as an Urban Designer in the Policy Division of the SF Planning Department, I’ve worked with dozens of community and advocacy organizations on partnerships to advance open space, active transportation, and public space projects and legislation. I bring technical and policy fluency in urban planning and design, especially in street design; as well as deep knowledge of how our local government functions. Previously, I worked with LADOT People St. and the Mayor’s Great Streets Project on advocacy and performance evaluation of Complete Streets projects throughout L.A.

Please support me and SFBC United!

 

John Beckmann

Board recommended

I am a long-time SFBC member, have been a daily bike commuter for 10 years, and cycle my 2 year old son to school in Glen Park. As an advocate of cycling, I believe it is an important part of making San Francisco a livable, enjoyable, world-class city. Cycling is an environmentally friendly, and fun way to get around – but can be scary! I am running for the board because I want to help make cycling SAFE and ACCESSIBLE for ALL residents to explore our amazing city. For example – dedicated bike lanes make a huge difference!

The SFBC is instrumental in shaping transportation policy, and needs to continue to be transparent, democratic, and encourage strong member involvement to achieve its goals.

A strong board requires a mix of skills. I bring professional experience in finance, strategic planning and management to the board, as well as a parent’s perspective.

 

Bekki Bolthouse

Board recommended

Hi, I’m Bekki, a longtime member and volunteer. I’m excited to offer my skills in project and program management, strategic planning, group facilitation, and impact analysis to the Board and the wider organization.

I moved to San Francisco a few months before the Bicycle Plan Injunction (aka the “bike lane moratorium”) was lifted. During the seven years since, the SFBC has fostered an impressive collection of safety and usability improvements to our streets. I want to support the amazing staff that translate the Strategic Plan into projects and campaigns for better biking in SF.

This year I’m running for the Board to serve the organization in a new and meaningful way. I’ll keep selling raffle tickets and championing memberships at our wonderful events and look forward to this new chapter of service. I hope you’ll cast your top-ranked votes for me and SFBC United.

 

Mary Kay Chin (incumbent)

Board recommended

I am running for re-election because I believe the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition can lead our transportation community into a more just and active future. During my first term on the board, I served as board secretary and submitted timely and extensive minutes. I also served on the membership, board development and strategic planning committees.

In 2015 I was a recipient of the Golden Wheel award for my work with the SF Yellow Bike Project, a community-led bicycle resource in the Tenderloin.

I am committed to making our streets safer and more accessible for all community members, with an emphasis on women, women of color and underserved communities.

As a 10-year member, I believe in keeping biking as my primary mode of transportation. I live car-free in the Tenderloin.

Please visit SaveSFBike.org for a voter guide.

 

Shirley Johnson (incumbent)

Board recommended

I’ve served two years on the board and am running for re-election to help the SFBC become an even stronger and more effective advocate for you. Our streets need to be safer and more welcoming for all bicycle riders!

An active 17-year member, I was awarded the SFBC’s Golden Wheel in 2014 for my leadership of the volunteer-run BIKES ONboard project, which was instrumental in significantly increasing bike capacity on Caltrain and eliminating the rush-hour bicycle ban on BART. Along with advocacy expertise, I bring experience serving in leadership positions on other nonprofit boards and bicycle advisory committees.

Living car-free, I commute by bike to work in South SF and enjoy international bicycle tours. I hold a doctorate in chemical engineering from Stanford University and work as a biotechnology consultant.

I strongly support a member-driven, democratic SFBC. Our strength is in our members!

Visit SaveSFBike.org for a voter guide.

 

Marie Jonas

I am an active SFBC member and committed volunteer. SFBC helped get me on the bike and keep me there: for that I’m forever grateful! I have been involved in many aspects of the organization, including as a regular volunteer at events like BTWD and Sunday Streets. Now I commute by bike daily, even riding to court when I have local hearings. Rec rides keep things fresh, and I’m riding the AIDS/LifeCycle for the second time in 2018 – giving me key fundraising experience.

Off the bike, I’m an attorney who represents nonprofits, with valuable expertise on issues like fiduciary responsibilities and resolving organizational challenges. I will bring my strong and insightful voice to the Board, along with experience in fundraising and organizing, to prioritize what matters to members and help achieve the vision of the Strategic Plan. Please support me and other SFBC United candidates!

 

Jean Kao

Board recommended

I’ve been an SFBC member and active volunteer ever since moving to SF in 2006. Though I love working events (you may have seen me in my blue or green wig!), I’m excited by the opportunity to do even more for the organization and community.

Since I ride my bike everywhere, I’m passionate about the work the SFBC does and the role they play in making our streets safe and equitable. I feel lucky and grateful that their work has benefited me on a daily basis, and I want to help make biking in San Francisco welcoming and practical for everyone. As a former startup cofounder and entrepreneur I bring my skills in strategic planning, business analytics, and project management to help the organization keep growing and moving forward.

I’m also the organizer of the Norcal Bicycle Touring meetup and a trained Legal Observer with the National Lawyers Guild.

 

Jane Natoli

Board recommended

Hi, my name is Jane Natoli. I’m a Financial Crimes analyst for a startup here in San Francisco, a board member at the SF LGBT Center, and I’m honored to be a recommended candidate for the SFBC Board.

Those of us riding deserve better infrastructure, but it will be transformative for folks who don’t feel comfortable or safe riding here.

Let’s make a truly connected, livable city with complete streets where we see those folks who tell us it’s too unsafe to ride here pull up next to us at a light on a bike someday soon. I want to see the entire city connected by lanes and all types of folks riding their bikes, especially more trans folks like me. We can make this happen and I’m eager to keep doing the work with you to create that city.

Please support me and other SFBC United candidates! Thank you!

 

Preston Rhea

I’ve been in the Bike Coalition since I moved to SF, and I bike to and from my Outer Richmond home and work in Soma every day. I want to share with SFBC my skills as a team manager at a local ISP, experience on the board of the Community Technology Network, and enjoyment of cycling communities like SF and East Bay Bike Party. Since 2014, I’ve also led a weekly ride to Ocean Beach called “bike religion” — riders touch the ocean and reflect before heading to work.

The new SFBC Strategic Plan aims high, and I’m committed to realizing it. Vote for me if you want SFBC to prioritize:
– expanding and activating membership
– safe and enjoyable infrastructure for all people to benefit from cycling
– building a mass movement in the city around SFBC’s priorities, including realizing Vision Zero! We can save lives!

 

Dana Seabury

Board recommended

My three-year old son and I bike regularly to/from school and work. I know first-hand how important it is to have well-designed, safe streets, for all ages and abilities.

I’d like to use my professional experience, including budget oversight and new/renewed fundraising sources to support the SFBC. I also offer team leadership, collaboration, and problem solving skills to continue to fulfill the mission of the SFBC.

And I’m especially inspired to take the time to help implement the new 2018-2022 Strategic Plan and advocate for you, our members. Let’s all work together, members, staff and board of directors, to embody the values of this plan, and lay the foundation for the next generation of biking in SF. I will make it a priority to support the achievement of these goals, to benefit our members, our local communities, and our city.

 

Kelli Shields

Board recommended

As a 10+ year SFBC member and bicycle commuter, I am committed to making San Francisco a better city- cleaner, healthier, safer, more sustainable, more accessible- through bicycling.

I am a tenants’ rights attorney representing tenants exclusively throughout the Bay Area. In addition to tenant advocacy, I am a longtime social and environmental activist, have represented organizations in nonprofit formation and nonprofit governance and compliance issues, and have been a fundraiser for environmental, social justice and public interest organizations.

I would use this experience as a member of the board to ensure the SFBC continues to have the financial and organizational backing needed to shape the city’s transportation policy.

I support bicycling as a form of public transportation that should be safe, affordable and accessible for everyone. I believe we can and should fight privatization of our city’s transportation infrastructure.

I am proud to be recommended by the SFBC board.

 

Andy Thornley (incumbent)

Board recommended

I’ve been an active and engaged member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition since 1994. During that time I’ve energetically evangelized and embodied the SFBC’s mission to promote the bicycle for everyday transportation, a constant contributor to the growth and mainstreaming of bicycling in San Francisco, as well as to the growth and strength of the SFBC itself.

I’m an everyday bicycle rider, a bicycle commuter, a bicycle shopper, a bicycle joyrider, a bicycle lifestyle salesman. My wife and I are Richmond District renters, and my day job is with the SF Municipal Transportation Agency, managing the right of way for safe equitable sustainable streets for everyone.

I’ve been honored to serve a term on the SFBC’s board of directors, and I believe I’ve helped the organization in that role; I’m eager to serve another 2-year term, and I’d be most grateful for your support. [endorsed by SFBC United]

 

Abigail Tinker

Board recommended

I moved to SF in 2009 and joined SFBC right away, I’ve been car free and biking ever since. When not commuting (rain or shine!) I love riding dirt and bike camping.

I benefit daily from improvements to bike infrastructure that SFBC has helped win, but there’s still so much to do and so many changes coming. I see this first hand; my work at PG&E focuses on electric vehicle implementation. I’m running for SFBC Board to ensure that biking isn’t compromised by emerging transportation technologies.

Over the last year I participated in SFBC’s Strategic Plan Committee and am fired up to help execute on what members told us they want. Financial health will be crucial to reach these goals. My business background, board/leadership roles at 3 non-profits, and experience in financial modeling can help perform the Board’s fiduciary duties.

Please support me and other SFBC United candidates!

 

Matt Wisniewski

Board recommended

As someone who has used their bicycle to get around San Francisco for the past ten years, I look forward to the transformation of this city into a safer, more fun, and more equitable place to ride. I started using a bicycle in San Francisco because it was the best thing for my budget- and as a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Board member I would be sure to elevate people who ride for similar reasons. While my relationship to riding a bicycle has changed- I now also see it as a way to keep my city, my body, and my planet healthy- a constant has been the SFBC. I’m looking to give back to an organization that has made a tangible difference in my life, and it would be a pleasure to put my skills and experience in the nonprofit sector to use as a Board member.

Upper Market Protected Bike Lanes Approved

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

Years in the making, we are proud to celebrate the approval for a protected bike lane on Upper Market Street to connect Octavia to the Wiggle. Even better? Construction is beginning next week and the new bike lane will be ready to ride by the end of March.

As many recall, this project was initially approved months ago, and our members helped defeat an appeal to ensure this street safety project would move forward. As part of the appeal, City planners needed to make slight revisions to the design. This new design was approved once again by the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board last week, finally giving the green light to move ahead to construction.

This new design also includes a physically protected bike lanes fully separate from faster moving traffic. You will no longer have to worry about Uber or Lyft drivers dropping off passengers in the bike lane or having to weave through moving traffic and open car doors. Instead of parking separating the bike lane from other lanes, a mixture of loading zones, soft-hit posts and concrete islands will protect people biking and walking one of the city’s most important bike routes. We hope that infrastructure like this will help welcome new people to try biking with better connections for getting around.

Source: SFMTA

The approval for protected bike lanes took years of effort and dedication. Our members sent hundreds of emails to Supervisor Sheehy and the SFMTA, made countless phone calls, and took the time to show up and speak in City Hall when the time came. One letter of support, from member Sarah Graham, is a reminder of just one reason we all fought so diligently for the Upper Market Street Project to include protected bike lanes: “Biking on Upper Market Street with children can be a scary experience with cars parking in and crossing over the bike lane.”

The City is adding no parking signs by the end of this week, with paving to start by the end of the month. Construction should take a month overall, with the work to be completed by early March. We will monitor progress throughout construction and encourage people to slow down and be mindful of your surroundings. Report any construction hazards using SF 311.

As always, we give thanks to our members for sticking through this long and hard-fought campaign. We also want to thank SFMTA staff for their hard producing a quality design for Upper Market. With a big year ahead in 2018, we need your support to help us continue the fight for protected bike lanes. Now is a great time to join or renew your membership here.

Weigh in on SoMa’s Next Bicycle Corridor

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

Every day, thousands of people get off of Caltrain with their bicycles to ride downtown and have to make a difficult decision: Do I brave the two lanes of traffic and freeway ramps on Fifth Street, or do I take a detour to the Seventh Street protected bike lanes? That decision may become a thing of the past, though, with a new bicycle infrastructure project kicking off on Fifth Street.

Fill Out the Survey

At a community open house on Tuesday, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) kicked off the Fifth Street Improvement project. The project’s goals are to improve safety for all modes of transportation along the entirety of the corridor from Market to Townsend. Fifth Street is on our bike network but only has sharrows, offering no dedicated or protected space for people who bike.

The goal of the open house was to introduce the project and solicit feedback from the public about priorities for the street. Plenty of SFMTA staff were on hand with boards set up to give attendees a chance to ask questions, learn about the project’s context and provide feedback. Like many streets throughout SoMa, Fifth Street is on the High-Injury Network, the 13 percent of our city’s streets where 75 percent of severe or fatal traffic collisions occur. It also serves as an important connector in the bike network, being the only north-south bicycle route in between Second and Seventh streets.

Residents and SF Bicycle Coalition members survey the plans for a walkable, bikeable Fifth Street at an SFMTA open house.

We’re gearing up our push for protected bike lanes on Fifth Street and will need member voices to win this campaign. As a first step, the SFMTA has an open survey which will help inform the future designs for the street. Fill out the survey here and let them know what you want to see when they bring back the designs to the public at open houses later in the year. Once designs are revealed, we’ll be able to push for the best option for people biking all the way through approvals.

Meet Alexandra: Shedding Light on Street Harassment

Posted on by Kelsey Roeder

Alexandra von Klan is a new member of the SF Bicycle Coalition studying american studies, gender and women’s studies, and City Planning at UC Berkeley. She devoted her undergraduate thesis project to the issue of street harassment of women biking. Read on to find out what got her rolling and what her research uncovered.

SF Bicycle Coalition: When did you start bicycling in the Bay Area?

Alexandra: In 2009, I got my first hybrid and rode to and from my college campus. However, it was only after a semester in Copenhagen that my bicycling really took off. The ubiquity of bike transportation over there inspired me to make bicycling a part of my daily routine.

What is your favorite thing about bicycling in the city?

Bicycling is a form of mindful transportation — one that allows me to really appreciate and connect with sights, smells and sounds. I feel more in tune with the city and entirely self-sufficient. I love the freedom that bicycling affords me and, as a woman, I appreciate any activity that increases my physical strength and confidence in public space.

What inspired you to devote your undergraduate research to safety and street harassment in public spaces?

I wanted to know more about potential reasons behind the cycling gender gap and sought to understand the nuanced experiences of women, trans* and femme-identifying riders with street harassment. I, too, encountered enough firsthand instances of street harassment while biking that I figured others must have as well.

What aspect of your research did you find the most surprising?

Women, trans* and femme-identifying people often devise strategies to simultaneously be seen (to avoid collisions) and be invisible (to avoid harassment). People who bike are confronted with aggressive verbal behavior, honking, whistling, kissing noises, inappropriate comments, leering, staring and yelling. This harassment takes on gendered overtures when directed toward women, trans* and femme-identifying people.

Some of the people I surveyed reported instances of physical assaults and even public masturbating; something I, too, experienced while cycling on a busy thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Still, many people I surveyed choose to bike in the face of harassment and continue their decision to ride for decades as a form of empowerment.

From your research, what are the top three things that could reduce street harassment in our city?

First, provide an intentional space to link women-identifying, trans* and femme rider experiences with street harassment and brainstorm solutions, enabling us to advocate for all people biking along the gender spectrum.

Second, educate the community about the legal rights of people biking when harassment occurs. People gain agency through education about what to do if they are harassed or assaulted while bicycling.

Third, strategize the evolution of safe and complete streets with feminist transportation urban planning. Protected bike lanes can mitigate the range of street harassment and safety concerns for women, trans* and femme-identifying people biking. Increased street lighting is a possible solution as well.

What prompted you to become a member of the SF Bicycle Coalition?

I believe that bicycling and walking are the key to a happy, stress-free, sustainable, and ecologically responsible future. I’m so encouraged by the work of the SF Bicycle Coalition to make bicycling more accessible and support the mission of the Women Bike SF program.

Women, trans* and femme members of the SF Bicycle Coalition are making space for one another at regular Women Bike SF events, including our monthly Coffee Clubs and our upcoming panel discussion on intersectional feminism and biking. Want to plug into the Women Bike SF community? All women, trans* and femme people and allies are welcome at the free events listed here.

Eighth Avenue Town Hall

Posted on by Julia Raskin

Last year brought lots of excitement around biking to the Richmond, whether it was celebrating Bike & Roll to School Week at Lafayette Elementary or kicking off the Eighth Avenue Bike Boulevard project. Now, it’s time to continue this momentum into 2018 and make bike boulevards a reality.

The next chance is coming up on Jan. 31. Supervisor Sandra Fewer is hosting a town hall meeting for the Eighth Avenue project next Wednesday to make sure she hears from Richmond District residents, and you’re invited.

 

Eighth Avenue runs through the heart of the Richmond District, connecting Golden Gate Park to the Presidio, crossing major commercial corridors like Geary and Clement. Since 2016, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has engaged local stakeholders through on-street outreach, public open houses and targeted engagement with nearby schools. Throughout the City’s planning process, we’ve heard strong support for traffic diversion and people-friendly street design, and now it’s time to make sure Supervisor Fewer hears you too.

The proposal for traffic diversions at Anza and Balboa streets would prioritize people who bike and walk here by managing vehicle volumes on this north-south corridor. The SFMTA’s proposal includes a traffic diverter for northbound traffic at Anza and southbound traffic at Balboa. This proven design solution is popular in other cities like Berkeley and Portland, and we want to see it succeed here in San Francisco.

We want to thank Supervisor Fewer for hosting this town hall meeting to hear from local residents on how to prioritize safety on Eighth Avenue. Come out and show your support for traffic calming designs that work.

Eighth Avenue Town Hall
Zion Lutheran Church at 495 Ninth Ave.
6:00 – 7:30pm