Meet Jenn Chan: Community Director of SF Cycling Club

Posted on by Anna Gore

Meet Jenn Chan, a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition member-volunteer and the current Community Director of the San Francisco Cycling Club (SFCC). She is a former Bicycle Advocacy Intern at the SF Bicycle Coalition and is passionate about increasing accessibility to bikes and bike routes in San Francisco. Read on to enjoy Jenn’s contagious enthusiasm for biking in San Francisco, and — if you’re not already a member — invest in your city today.

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

Jenn: I was just getting into cycling as the initial safety improvements were implemented after the bike injunction was lifted. So as a new cyclist, I really appreciated the visible indicators that the streets were also meant for use by people biking – not just people driving. I became a member because I wanted to support the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s missions to make the streets safer for people biking of all ages and abilities, and to establish more crosstown routes.

What was your first volunteer experience with the SF Bicycle Coalition? What about your favorite volunteer experience?

I think my first volunteering experience was working Valet Bicycle Parking at Winterfest in 2012. My favorite volunteer experiences were 1) being a Bicycle Advocacy Intern and 2) the few times I was able to help with any aspect of Bike it Forwards. I think it’s just as important to increase accessibility to bicycles and opportunities to empower people to perform basic bike maintenance on their own equipment as it is to have safe routes to ride.

What’s your favorite thing about biking in the city?

There are so many things I love about biking in the city it’s hard to choose just one. Biking is both a functional and social activity for me. It allows me to experience the city on a different scale, so I can better explore the city while connecting with my friends. I also love being in command of my commute. It’s usually the fastest way for me to get from place to place, and I don’t have to worry about when the bus is coming or circling the block for parking.

Can you tell us about your work with SFCC?

As SFCC’s Community Director, my goal is to to find ways for our club members to give back to the community through cycling. Last year, we took over the planning and execution of the Supermarket Street Sweep, and we’ll soon be ramping up preparations for the 2017 edition. This year, we’ve had club members participating in burrito deliveries every month with Burrito Project SF and we donated the items collected from a parts drive to our friends over at the SF Yellow Bike Project.

I’ve also teamed up with a couple friends at Velo Vixens SF (Nia Ransom, Rachel Critelli) to put together a series of cycling-related events for women. Previous topics have included: fixing a flat tire, getting into racing, preparing for bike camping or touring, a craft night/bike swap, and a special session with the 17th Street Athletic Club covering basic bike fitting, stretching and core exercises.

Are there women-specific SFCC events or initiatives coming up?

Yes! On Wednesday, July 19, we’ll be having another women’s workshop at the Sports Basement on Bryant Street. At this event, SFCC members Kortney Parman and Caetie Ofiesh will speak to how we can eat to feel and perform our best on and off the bike. More information about the speakers as well as the event can be found on the Facebook event page here.

Our work making San Francisco’s streets more liveable and bikeable depends on the support of Jenn and over 10,000 more members. Today’s your chance to invest in the health and well-being of your city and become a member like Jenn: Join today!

Fatal Collision at Alemany and Silver

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Today as we remember an unprecedented night exactly one year ago when two people died biking in San Francisco, we are mourning yet another loss. City action is urgently needed to prevent further bloodshed by San Franciscans simply trying to commute, run errands, and see friends and family.

Moises Chavez, 51, endeavored to bike through the intersection of Alemany Boulevard and Silver Avenue (pictured above) shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. There, he was struck by a person turning their vehicle through the intersection. Police indicate that the person driving stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Emergency responders took Moises to San Francisco General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

With the deepest sympathies, our hearts go out to everyone mourning this tragic loss of life, including family and friends of the departed, community members in the Mission Terrace neighborhood, and people who bike across San Francisco.

Blood was spilled on San Francisco’s streets again this week, and make no mistake: this crash was preventable.

Alemany Boulevard is identified by the San Francisco Department of Public Health as a high-injury corridor: it is among the 12 percent of San Francisco streets where 70 percent of severe and fatal collisions occur. The latest public data, from 2007-2011, show three collisions reported at this exact intersection involving people biking.

Without an appropriate response to these collisions, another occurred on Tuesday. Tragically, it proved fatal.

The SF Bicycle Coalition calls on the City to identify, fund and construct the next three physically protected bike lane projects along high-injury corridors like Alemany Boulevard over the next nine months. Following the Executive Directive issued by Mayor Ed Lee after two people died biking on June 22, 2016, the City proved its ability to promptly deliver such life-saving safety improvements, despite other projects mired in years of delays.

Moises deserved better, as do all who knew and loved him. City leaders should seek to honor his memory and take the steps necessary to prevent further loss of life on our streets.

Like Alemany Boulevard, there are too many bike routes on high-injury corridors that have no plans for safety improvements, from Valencia Street to Ocean Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard. The City’s own data shows that high-injury corridors are present in every part of San Francisco and are disproportionately travelled by seniors, communities of color, families and people getting by on limited means. They deserve better, and delivering better is merely a question of City leadership and fortitude.

Make your voice heard. Tell City leaders that immediate action must be taken to ensure safety for all.

Tom Radulovich: Decades of Leadership

Posted on by Janice Li
Photo credit: Streetsblog/Roger Rudick

 

At our 25th Annual Golden Wheel Awards on July 20, we are proud to honor Tom Radulovich for his decades of service as a director on the BART Board and as executive director of Livable City.

See You There?

Whenever I want to dig deep on the history of city planning or untangle the knot of Municipal Code policies, there’s one person I know I can count on: Tom Radulovich. Few rival his understanding of our city’s Planning Code, which comes from his passion for making San Francisco a better city for everyone.

So what brought Tom to our city in the first place?

“I settled in San Francisco because it was urban yet friendly, rooted yet cosmopolitan, beautiful and convivial, in a splendid natural setting. Progressive values are at home here,” he told me. But as our city changes and cost of living skyrockets, how do we keep San Francisco’s character alive?

“Sustainable transportation is key to preserving all those qualities,” Tom said. “Walking, cycling, and public transit are also key to making our region more affordable — automobile dependence imposes a huge cost burden on households and makes housing more expensive and scarce.”

As a true believer of sustainable transportation, you’ll often see Tom pedaling around the city. Tom says that it’s “great news” that more and more San Franciscans are biking, but that our streets continue to be “unacceptably dangerous for cycling and walking.”

“Traffic on many city streets is too fast. Our bicycle network is sketchy and disconnected, and compromised by feeble design and lax enforcement,” Tom said. “The work of redesigning our streets for safe and accessible walking, cycling and transit is still at the beginning stages and changing very slowly.”

How do we change that? The simple answer is that it isn’t easy, but change is possible.

“The good news is that local action can effectively make our home place more livable, more equitable and more sustainable, and serve as an inspiration and practical example for communities that share our values,” Tom said. “Land use and transportation decisions are overwhelmingly local. If we’re determined to be a Sanctuary City, we have to protect residents from displacement and build affordable new housing in walkable neighborhoods.”

Just as Oscar at Bicis del Pueblo challenged us to “act locally as allies,” Tom shares his challenge for our city and its people, bringing it back to the reason he moved to San Francisco in the first place:

“We can reclaim and create public spaces in the City that bring us together, and help counter increasing inequality and privatization by dignifying all San Franciscans as they use or move through the public spaces of the city,” Tom said. “Now more than ever, San Francisco needs to live up to its values.”

To toast Tom and his enduring vision for San Francisco, please join us on July 20 at this year’s Golden Wheel Awards.

Learn more about Livable City at their website here.

 

Panhandle Path Under Construction

Posted on by Julia Raskin

If you’ve biked on the Panhandle path recently, you’ve probably seen your fair share of construction here. The good news is that your bike ride will be getting smoother in due time, but for the next few weeks, there will be detours and construction.

While the construction is in progress, we ask that you take it slow and be sure to respect others on the path. When there are detours, follow the signage to take the southern path. Be mindful of the rough terrain during the repaving process.

The construction is expected to be completed on July 1. If you prefer an alternate bike route, we recommend Page Street, which is one block south of the Panhandle. You can connect all the way downtown to Market Street or turn off at Scott Street to follow the Wiggle bike route.

Take it slow! Construction is expected to complete by July 1.

What’s to come? As part of the Panhandle Improvement Project, which brought new lighting, benches and bike racks, additional improvements will include:

  • Patching up the northern path where tree roots have created hazards;
  • A new dotted line and stencils to remind people to share the path respectfully;
  • Markings where paths cross to give a heads up; and
  • A completely repaved southern pedestrian path.

While we’re looking forward to these improvements, we expect the construction to slow down your ride. If you have questions or concerns in the meantime, we encourage you to contact City staff directly at the SF Recreation and Park Department. Please email the project manager at laura.pate@sfgov.org.

We’ve been advocating for a more bike-friendly Panhandle for years. Want to help build our numbers and strengthen citywide bike advocacy? Become an SF Bicycle Coalition member today.

A Gorgeous Sunday in the Park

Posted on by Julia Raskin

We had plenty of sunshine in the Outer Sunset as we celebrated Sunday Streets last weekend. There was no doubt that on Sunday, Golden Gate Park was a park for people first. What if every day felt a little bit more like that?

The streets that run through Golden Gate Park are long overdue for an upgrade to make walking and biking in this beloved slice of nature an unbeatable experience. The SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Recreation and Park Department are working together on a plan to do just that. Take the survey to let them know what you think of their recommendations.

Take the Survey

Last weekend was the biggest Sunday Streets of the year, featuring a car-free JFK Drive all the way to the ocean and along the southern half of the Great Highway. People had the opportunity to review the City’s recommendations for park improvements and share their biking and walking experiences directly with City planners.

The near-term measures include designs for slowing down traffic such as speed humps, raised crosswalks, stop signs and traffic signals all along JFK Drive and MLK Drive. But this is only the beginning, and a long-term plan is in the works. San Francisco deserves a world-class park that supports and encourages walking and biking, not a thoroughfare for fast-moving traffic. Advocate for what you want to see by filling out this survey, which will influence these near-term changes and shape the long-term vision of Golden Gate Park.  

Bicis del Pueblo: Changing Lives through Biking

Posted on by Janice Li

At our 25th Annual Golden Wheel Awards on July 20, we are proud to honor Bicis del Pueblo as a leader of transportation justice in San Francisco.

Will We See You There?

We took a moment to connect with Oscar Grande, a lead community organizer at PODER. Bicis del Pueblo is a community-based bike project managed by PODER, and in Oscar’s own words, “Bicis del Pueblo exists to create bicycling infrastructure and environmental justice awareness in transit-dependent and historically disenfranchised lower-income communities of color by engaging in bike-based community education and cooperative practices.”

That might sound very conceptual, but trust me: the impact is real. Whether it’s sharing bike education and skills or increasing access to bikes through their “Earn-a-Bici” program, Bicis del Pueblo is taking action while also challenging norms around bike advocacy. When asked about the state of biking, Oscar says, “We believe that San Francisco must embrace grassroots-based people of color leadership, equitable investments in public health and public infrastructure, community-centered collaborations, as well as make accessible the tools, knowledge and resources vital in getting our communities on bikes.”

Earlier this year, I made a commitment to embracing intersectionality as the lens through which I see my work here at the SF Bicycle Coalition. We need to push ourselves to have new starting points and perspectives because the bicycle does not stand alone, separate from the realities of our changing city.

The need then is not only to embrace intersectionality, but to go beyond the buzzword and turn concept into action. When I asked Oscar what Bicis del Pueblo’s vision for San Francisco is and where the bike fits into that vision, he shared this elegant answer:

San Francisco is a city of immigrants, a city of political, economic, and social refugees and rebels that fled oppressive conditions to make their start in this city. Biking and transportation justice fits into our vision of everyday people working collectively to make profound change in our neighborhoods and in our lives. From community planning to people-powered solutions, black and brown poor and working people can tell you what’s the truth on the ground.

I read his statement as both a vision, but also a challenge, that we need to fight for those people-powered solutions. So where do our 10,000-plus members fit into that equation?

“Bicis del Pueblo work is resiliency work, it’s social justice work,” Oscar begins. “Before we isolate the Trump administration and fringe right-wing elements for the current reality moving forward, we ask SF Bicycle Coalition members to act locally as allies with communities of color that are fighting for life and death, for existence and resistance. We ask members to support struggles around gentrification and evictions, police brutality, immigrant scapegoating, and equitable transportation investments in our frontline neighborhoods.”

With those powerful words, I challenge our members to think on what it means to act locally as allies — then do it. We are a better San Francisco when we work together and uplift one another, starting with the most marginalized in our communities.

It’s no surprise that we are proud to partner with Bicis del Pueblo, most notably through our Bike It Forward program. We hope you’ll join us on July 20 to give a toast to Bicis del Pueblo and their leadership as we honor them at this year’s Golden Wheel Awards.

Learn more about PODER and Bicis del Pueblo at their website here.

Follow Bicis del Pueblo on Instagram here.

Summertime on the Embarcadero

Posted on by Julia Raskin

Photo from the SFMTA.

Have you biked northbound on the Embarcadero recently? You may have noticed the shiny new bike signal with a fresh green bike box to help people biking turn left onto North Point Street.

The new bike box to guide people on bikes making a left turn from Embarcadero to North Point Street. Photo from the SFMTA.

This signal is part of a series of near-term improvements the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is making on the Embarcadero as the City continues long-term planning to redesign San Francisco’s iconic waterfront. The new designs will include protected bike lanes from AT&T Park to Fisherman’s Wharf. Sign up for updates on how to advocate for the best possible design.

Sign Me Up

Thanks to the new bike signal and bike box, people on bikes can now make the left turn onto North Point by crossing the intersection going north and then waiting in the green box for the bicycle signal to cross again going west. This is called a two-stage turn, which allows people on bikes to make right or left turns at intersections with multiple traffic signals. This design is appearing all around the city, including the intersection of Market and Polk where a bike box and a bike signal allow people riding to make a left onto the Polk Street contraflow.

Bike box at Market and Polk streets.

You may have also seen new stencils on the Embarcadero Promenade south of the Ferry Building. Earlier this year the SFMTA worked with the Port of San Francisco to install these markings to remind people that the Embarcadero Promenade is a shared space for everyone, whether you’re walking, biking, jogging or otherwise. In the next couple of months, bike lanes will be striped to fill in gaps going southbound between Mission and Howard streets as well as northbound between Folsom and Howard streets. Markings to guide bicycles through intersections will be added at Battery Street, and all bike lanes on the Embarcadero will be painted green to improve visibility and discourage double parking.

These new fixes have an immediate impact on our everyday riding experience, but our vision is much grander for what a world-class biking experience along our iconic waterfront should be. Make sure to sign up for our campaign updates above to help us shape that vision.

Evaluating Seventh & Eighth Streets

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

It has been two months since the completion of the new parking-protected bike lanes along Seventh and Eighth streets. Given that many bike projects take years to go from planning to construction, these protected bike lanes were completed in record time, thanks to the urgency outlined in Mayor Ed Lee’s Executive Directive on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety.

With concrete islands, vertical posts and high-visibility green paint, these lanes are far from the paint-only treatments we’ve seen elsewhere. Users of the street are adjusting to the new design, with people driving staying out of the bike lane and transit riders boarding from the new islands. Still, these two streets are unique in a number of ways and we are learning as we go about how best to use the streets to make sure that they work for everyone.

We’ll be doing special streetside outreach along Seventh and Eighth streets in the coming weeks to pass on some of the things that we’ve learned. Will you join us?

Sign Me Up

Even though most are adjusting well, we know there is room for improvement. Here are a few of the things that we’ve learned that will make the lanes better for everyone:

  • There’s more to come! More near-term improvements are on their way, including protected bike lanes on Eighth Street at Market.
  • Respect our transit riders. Transit boarding islands mean that pedestrians will be crossing the bikeway. People biking should slow down,look both ways and yield to pedestrians if a bus is on- or off-boarding.
  • Not all loading is created equal. Paratransit vehicles, accessible taxis and other vehicles with passengers with disabilities are allowed to access to the curb. The bike lane is designed so that there is plenty of room for bikes to slow down and pass in these cases.
  • Feedback is important. We are looking to our members to share their experiences biking here. If you have thoughts about the designs, shoot me an email at charles@sfbike.org.
  • We are all still adjusting. There is still some confusion about how to properly use this new infrastructure. It is important that we all be patient as all users learn how to navigate these redesigned streets.

To continue outreach on the new design, we’ll be out in the streets talking to all users about the new designs. We’re looking for volunteers to pass out material to people driving, biking and taking Muni about the new infrastructure and how to use it safely. Will you join us on one of the dates below?

Seventh and Eighth Streetside Outreach
Meet at 8th and Stevenson streets
Tuesday, June 20 from 7:30 – 9:00 am
Tuesday, June 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 22 from 7:30 – 9:00 am

Designing for Tracks on 17th Street

Posted on by Julia Raskin

If you bike around San Francisco, you know that historic rails can be a tricky obstacle.

On 17th Street between Church and Sanchez streets, several rail lines come together to form a complicated stretch that is difficult to navigate for people biking between the Mission and the Castro. The SF Department of Public Health collected data that shows what we all know: this location has a history of crashes, and the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is now focusing their attention here to find a solution. Will you come and give your input on the design?

I’m There

Last February our members and other local residents packed the room to kick off public planning to improve this notoriously difficult stretch of 17th Street. The options included protected bike lanes on both sides of the street, as well as a two-way protected bike lane on one side of the street. Following up on the community’s input, the SFMTA is now ready to present their recommendations for this stretch between Church and Sanchez streets.

After reviewing your feedback and analyzing the street, the SFMTA’s preferred option is curbside bike lanes on both sides of 17th Street to allow room for people on bikes to safely avoid the tracks. If you bike here regularly and want a better way to navigate the rails, come to this community meeting led by the SFMTA and give your input on the preferred design.

SFMTA Open House for 17th Street Bicycle Safety Project
Thursday, June 15 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Mission Police Station, 630 Valencia St.

Celebrate Diversity and Show Your Byke Pride

Posted on by Susan Gallentine

Ever wondered what it would be like to bike down a car-free Market Street surrounded by thousands of people cheering you on? Turn that dream into reality, show your commitment to our city’s inclusive, progressive values and RSVP to join the SF Bicycle Coalition’s Pride Parade contingent on June 25. We talked to Stan Parkford, SF Bicycle Coalition member and past Pride Parade participant, to find out what the day means to him.

SF Bicycle Coalition: What made you want to participate in past Pride Parades?
Stan: Pride is important! The legacy of the Pride Parade remains one of defiance and solidarity, and I think that spirit is still there. I had watched a few Pride Parades prior to joining the SF Bicycle Coalition contingent, but being in the parade is really important to the process of actually showing up for LGBTQI rights and visibility.

What was your costume for past Pride Parades?
My favorite costume was last year: Bright blue leotard, pink feather boa, colorful beaded necklace, short shorts!

How did the crowd react to the SF Bicycle Coalition’s contingent during the parade?
People are very responsive to a whistle or a gesture to high-five. The responses are enthusiastic: screams, whistles and “woo-hoo”s!

How did it feel to ride down Market Street with just you and the SF Bicycle Coalition contingent?
Exhilarating! You can feel the energy from the crowd, and I’m filled with a very real sense of awe and astonishment that I get to participate in this event at this time in the world. It’s actually kind of surreal.

What was your favorite part about the day?
I love the carefree attitude and the overall positive energy. People come to Pride to have fun. It’s a day filled with smiles, winks and laughter!

Don’t sit on the sidelines. Be like Stan and join us at the 47th annual Pride Parade on June 25. RSVP below.