Open Letter to Ed Reiskin on Upper Market Street

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

After receiving over 300 letters of support, District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy recently publicly stated his support for two blocks of protected bike lanes on Market Street between Octavia and Duboce. Instead of following Sup. Sheehy’s lead, however, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) leadership instead delayed a hearing on those two blocks of safety improvements. That’s just unacceptable in a City committed to Vision Zero. As we’ve written to SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin:

It is a sad commentary on the City’s ability to deliver safe streets that we are fighting to preserve two blocks of protected bike lane as part of a project that should have included protected bike lanes for its entire length. Our members and everyone who bikes in San Francisco deserve better.

See our full letter to Director Reiskin below, and sign on to show that you support the City delivering protected bike lanes and ending the culture of delay that’s held too many changes up for too long.

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Dear Director Reiskin,

On behalf of the over 10,000 members of the SF Bicycle Coalition, we write to strongly urge you and your agency to seek approvals and implement protected bike lanes on Upper Market Street from Octavia Boulevard to Duboce Avenue without further delay. Despite over 300 letters of support, the two blocks of protected bike lane were recently removed from consideration as part of the Upper Market Safety Project when the rest of the proposed changes were considered at an engineering hearing on Friday, March 3.

I want to remind you that Mayor Ed Lee issued an executive directive in August of 2016, clearly stating that “all infrastructure implemented on the City-designated high-injury network be the highest achievable quality, including Class IV protected bike lanes. …” These two blocks are not only part of the City-designated high-injury network for people who bike, they are also among the most heavily-traveled in city, with upwards of 2,400 trips per day.

Furthermore, District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy has publicly endorsed the Upper Market Street Safety Project, including the parking-protected bike lanes from Octavia to Duboce that have been left out of consideration of the project as a whole. We commend Supervisor Sheehy for making such a strong and clear commitment to safe streets so early in his tenure.

Finally, the City has specifically identified parking-protected bike lanes connecting Octavia to the beginning of the Wiggle as a Vision Zero Priority project for 2017. To reverse course at this juncture, after years of planning, outreach and compromise, would be a baffling abandonment of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero.

It is a sad commentary on the City’s ability to deliver safe streets that we are fighting to preserve two blocks of protected bike lane as part of a project that should have included protected bike lanes for its entire length. Our members and everyone who bikes in San Francisco deserve better.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience when a hearing has been scheduled to consider and approve protected bike lanes along Market Street from Octavia to Duboce.

Sincerely,

Brian Wiedenmeier
Executive Director
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

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Sign onto our letter today and hold SFMTA staff to Mayor Ed Lee’s Executive Directive, which ordered completion of three physically protected bike lanes by May 2017.

Next Steps for Page Street

Posted on by Julia Raskin

Community-driven planning continues to improve your Page Street experience. Join the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and our City’s Planning Department at an open house. See how far the plans have progressed and provide feedback to ensure a bike-friendly design.

RSVP

This month the City is hosting a third round of public outreach for two community-based proposals that will improve the streets and sidewalks in the Lower Haight and Hayes Valley. Last year the City held two public open houses to kick-off planning for Page Street. Our members were there in full force and spoke directly to City staff about ways to prioritize biking on this popular route. The options for Page Street between Market and Webster included bulbouts with rain gardens and wider sidewalks for calming traffic, as well as an extension of the center running green bike lane to increase the visibility of people on bicycles.

District 5 Community Projects Open House #3
Wednesday, March 15, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
John Muir Elementary School

As the design process moves along, we want to make sure that your voice is heard before plans are finalized for this stretch of Page Street. Join us next week and tell the City that you want them to prioritize the safety of people walking and biking in their plans for Page Street beyond Webster from Market to Stanyan.

Designing Neighborhood Streets in the Richmond

Posted on by Julia Raskin

Are you ready for an easy ride to your favorite Inner Richmond destinations? Join the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and your SF Bicycle Coalition to redesign Eighth Avenue and surrounding corridors to prioritize people biking and walking.

I’m There

Back in October the SFMTA collected over 150 comments from local residents about their experience using Eighth Avenue between Fulton and Lake Streets. They found that speeding vehicles and the visibility of people walking and biking were top issues. Now the SFMTA wants to transform the corridor to slow down vehicle traffic and make it easy for people walking and biking to get to the park, to school and to the many beloved destinations in the Richmond.

This redesign is part of a larger project to examine the north-south corridors throughout the neighborhood, including 23rd Avenue. With your input, the Richmond can become the model of a walkable and bikeable neighborhood. Join us at the open house to continue that vision for Eighth Avenue.

Inner Richmond Neighborway Open House
Saturday, March 11 — drop in from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Richmond Branch Library Community Room

From Intern to Program Coordinator, Welcome Back: Miles Stepto

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

We are thrilled to welcome back former intern Miles Stepto returning to the team as our new program coordinator. Get to know a little bit more about Miles and learn about the latest programs on which he’s working.

SF Bicycle Coalition: You were actually an intern with us a little while ago. What made you want to come back?

Miles: I moved back home to San Francisco motivated to work on projects which would help create more bikeable and livable streets. And as an intern I got the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of policy-making and infrastructure projects promoting those ideals. I was inspired by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s history of member-driven advocacy and saw a chance to engage people not historically represented at the advocacy table through the programmatic work.

In your opinion, what is the best thing about biking in the city?

It’d have to be the fusion of natural beauty and an urban environment. I also find endless joy riding in packs of people all sharing in something I love and have gotten to see blossom since my childhood on a bicycle. That love is spreading too! For the first time, in 2016 at least half of San Franciscans reporting biking at least occasionally. These days, I share a “hello” with someone I know who is riding almost everyday.

Can you tell us one of your favorite routes in or around SF?

My favorite place to ride these days must be one of the countless trails at Demonstration State Park or Skeggs Point. Twisty, flowy routes on a Mountain Bike are the perfect way to get out of town. However, I’m excited to ride the new Bicycle Skills Trails at McLaren Park and glad to see it located in a neighborhood that is easy for organizations like SF Composite MTB to access.

Can you tell us a little bit about the goals of the Valet Bicycle Parking and Bike It Forward programs?

One of the major barriers to more people bicycling more is insufficient safe and reliable parking. We provide Valet Bicycle Parking at over 100 events in SF yearly to help folks overcome that obstacle. Look for us at events including every Giants home game and A.C.T’s Bike to the Theater Nights.

Last Year, our Bike It Forward program helped to distributed more than 280 bikes to children and adults across the city. This program is in a position to grow substantially thanks to strong partnerships with community organizations like PODER, San Francisco Yellow Bike, the Chinese Progressive Association and others. I hope to work with those partners to keep the popularity of biking growing faster than ever in all neighborhoods of San Francisco.

Do you have anything else that you would like our members to know about you?

I’m really active, so when I’m not on a bicycle or working to get others riding, I’m spending my time outdoors. If I’m indoors, I’m playing chess. Please email me if you know of a hidden trail, an obscure SF fact or want to learn more about our Bike It Forward program. Miles@sfbike.org

Miles’ work leading our Bike It Forward program and Valet Bicycle Parking is getting more people biking all over San Francisco. Interested in lending a hand? He’s always keeping his eyes peeled for volunteers. RSVP to join him distributing or parking bikes today.

Dream Job? Join the Movement for Safe Streets

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

These days many of us are wondering how we can improve conditions for everyone in our city. For one lucky person, Walk San Francisco has an incredible opportunity to do exactly that.

Applications are now open to join Walk SF as their next executive director. Our Vision Zero Coalition partners in fighting for safe, sustainable San Francisco streets seek a results-oriented, collaborative and experienced leader.

If you believe in Walk SF’s mission of “making walking in San Francisco safe for everyone, so our community is healthier and more livable,” this is your chance to lead a dedicated team in this important work for equity and social justice. For the complete job description and to apply, please go to walksf.org/jobs.

Boarding Islands: A Solution for Bikes and Buses

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

A great transit system is good for everyone in a city, including people riding bikes. Healthy transit gives people riding the option of multi-modal travel and reduces congestion. Your SF Bicycle Coalition wholly supports smart transit infrastructure that increases accessibility and reliability. Figuring out how that infrastructure can be mutually beneficial for all modes can be a challenge, but one that is crucial to a top-notch transportation system.

When different modes of transportation intersect, there are often infrastructure tradeoffs for either mode. In the case of bikes and buses, however, there are solutions that avoid compromise and are advantageous to all users. Enter the transit boarding island.

A new transit boarding island on Bayshore Boulevard.

Transit boarding islands are infrastructure solutions being used more and more in San Francisco. We’ve had one at Church and Duboce for several years and now we’re pushing to see them added on streets citywide, including on 11th Street and Bayshore Boulevard.

Transit boarding islands have benefits for all users, including:

  1. Eliminating conflict between buses and bikes: Transit boarding islands deviate bike lanes from the bus loading zone. This separation designates space so that buses do not need to cross over the bike lane to pick up passengers.
  2. Continuous, protected bike lanes through bus stops: The boarding island not only allows for a continuous bike lane through the bus stop, but also serves as physical protection for people riding.
  3. More space for passengers: Boarding islands create more space for transit passengers and open up the sidewalk, which would otherwise be used for boarding. This improves access for people taking the bus and walking.
  4. Increasing transit speed: Boarding islands allow buses to load and unload passengers while staying in their travel lane. This reduces delays, making buses much more reliable overall.

With all of these advantages, transit boarding islands are an effective solution to many common issues on our streets. They make our streets safer for people riding and walking, all while streamlining our transit system. We will advocate for this smart infrastructure solution to be implemented as much as possible in the coming year. Look out for these transit boarding islands coming to a street near you.

Along with our 10,000-plus members, the SF Bicycle Coalition is campaigning for safety improvements for people walking, biking and driving in every neighborhood across our city. Join our community of members supporting this advocacy and elevate the voice of people committed to more bikeable, livable streets.

What’s Cooking at the Bike Kitchen? Let’s Ask Tracy Weiss

Posted on by Kelsey Roeder

Tracy Weiss is an SF Bicycle Coalition member-volunteer, an active participant in Women Bike SF and also runs the Women, Trans* and Femme (WTF) Night at the SF Bike Kitchen. Want to find out how she does it all? We caught up with her recently to find out.

SF Bicycle Coalition: How did you first start biking in San Francisco?

Tracy: When I first moved to San Francisco in 2000, I was so happy to be free of owning and driving a car. I was so amazed at the accessibility of public transit here compared to Cleveland, where I moved from. After a few years of living here, I got tired of how long it took to get places by bus or walking. A friend from work had a bike she never rode and was willing to trade it for my sewing skills, so I made her a custom bag and she gave me her Bianchi bike. We were both pretty happy with that trade.

Biking gave me freedom: I no longer had to rely on the public transit schedules, I could leave whenever I wanted to and I could actually attend multiple events in different parts of the city in one night!

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

I first joined on Bike to Work Day in 2009. After that introduction to the SF Bicycle Coalition, I saw just how hard the staff works at representing people biking to our City government, making sure we’re seen as a valued part of the community that deserves to be safe. Now I volunteer at different SF Bicycle Coalition events. You meet some great people volunteering for the SF Bicycle Coalition.

(Want to become a member like Tracy? Join today!)

What has been your favorite Women Bike SF experience?

I really enjoyed the recent Women Biking and the Law event, in which lawyer Shaana Rahman went over the laws for people biking and driving, what type of crashes are most common between cars and bikes (right hooks being the most common), what to do if you’re in a crash and what steps to take the following days after a collision. Also, if you are not injured in the crash (or no ambulance has been called), the police won’t come to the scene. You have to go to the police station to file your report.

Shaana also went over the rise in ridership among women due to the increase of protected bike lanes. Women are often more sensitive to the safety of the experience and are more willing to go out of their way to ride on a street with the protected lane compared to other streets. Overall, it was a great talk, and I’d love to see it given again.

Tell us about the Bike Kitchen and your WTF program.

The San Francisco Bike Kitchen is a non-profit shop that teaches people how to fix their bikes. The easiest way to become part of it is to drop by during our open hours and work on your bike.

Our Women/Trans*/Femme (WTF) night happens every second and fourth Monday of the month from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. This night offers a safe and supportive atmosphere for WTF folks to work on their bikes and learn from our WTF staff and volunteers. We often offer mini-classes on different common bike fixes, such as changing and patching a flat, adjusting your shifters or changing your brake pads. Alternatively, you can just come by and ask us how to perform a fix. Bike Kitchen’s goal is to empower you through teaching you how to fix your bike and our hope is you will take what you learn and pass it on to others. WTF night provides a safe space for what is usually a cis-male dominated field. You can learn more about WTF night here or join our meetup group for the most updated WTF events. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions about our WTF night.

Also, The Bike Kitchen is a “do-ocracy”, run completely by volunteers. We always need more dedicated volunteers and staff (especially for our WTF night) to help keep the kitchen running and open. If you want to get involved, just mention that you want to volunteer, or email us if you have a specific skillset you’d like to volunteer. 

Want to get more involved with Women Bike SF? Come have a cup of coffee with us at our next coffee club meeting on Friday, Mar. 3 at Sweet Inspiration.

Let’s Make #WomenBikeSF History

Posted on by Anna Gore

March is Women’s History Month and we need your help to set a new course for women, trans* and femme (WTF) people biking in our city. We know that there are fewer WTF people on bikes in our city than there could be and we know that one of the best ways to encourage someone to ride is to be their bike buddy.

Pledge today to be a bike buddy for a WTF friend, coworker or loved one, and help them give bicycling a try this March. Sign the pledge, and we’ll enter you both into a raffle for an SF Bicycle Coalition hoodie or Timbuk2 saddle bag!

 

First: Know a WTF person who is bike-curious? Ask them to go on a ride with you. Looking for a place to ride? Check out our Women Bike SF Event Calendar for ideas. There’s a lot happening in March.

Second: Sign the pledge and get them rolling. Looking for information on how to support a WTF person who’s new to bicycling? Our Women Bike SF web page is chock-full of resources.

Women Bike SF is an SF Bicycle Coalition program that aims to connect and inspire more WTF riders in San Francisco, and we’re here to help you get your friend(s) rolling. The pledge closes on Mar. 31, and the raffle winners will be announced at our Apr. 7 Coffee Club.

Fresh-Faced and Energized: Meet New Development Associate Gina Schumacher

Posted on by Paloma Rezende

Fresh from San Diego, we are excited to introduce our new development associate Gina Schumacher. We recently sat down with Gina to learn more about her and what ideas she’s bringing to the SF Bicycle Coalition.

SF Bicycle Coalition: What made you want to be a part of this team?

Gina: I wanted to be a part of this team because I am extremely passionate about biking. To me, it represents sustainability in all its facets. It means climate justice because it is low-carbon, active transportation. It means equity because biking is one of the most affordable and efficient ways to get around. It means community because people are more connected to their surroundings. It means smart design because when roads are designed to incorporate people on bikes, it means we are designing our streets with people as priority.

Can you describe one of your fondest memories of biking?

Near where I used to live in San Diego, I had to bike over a terribly designed freeway overpass that is the only way to the beach. One day, another person biking pulled up right next to me which was a big surprise because most people I see resort to walking their bikes on the sidewalk for that stretch. Seeing another person “take the lane” on his bike, I enthusiastically said hello. He was an older gentleman, a typical chilled out southern California guy, and super nice. We chatted about the beautiful day as we waited for the light to change green. As we went our separate ways, I smiled to myself and realized how biking enables those tiny beautiful moments of togetherness, even if it means going on a freeway overpass.

What is one of your favorite biking routes in the Bay Area?

As a newbie, I had been to Golden Gate Park several times in a car, but only to attend an ultimate frisbee tournament at the polo fields. Just last week I got the chance to ride from downtown SF to Ocean Beach and planned my route to go through the park. It was absolutely gorgeous. It made my “commute” a beautiful and spectacular experience of its own. No one ever told me there’s bison in the park. Just chillaxin’ and hanging out, being bison. So cool. It reminds me of the San Diego Wild Animal Park back home. Now I can’t wait to go back to Golden Gate Park to ride around and explore, and see what other surprises await.

Tell us a little bit about your work as development associate.

The Development team’s role is to build relationships and partnerships in the community, and raise funds to support the work that our program and advocacy teams do. It’s so awesome because I get to talk about how great the SF Bicycle Coalition is and ensure we have the means to keep up all the great work we do. One of my roles is to work with local businesses through our Discount Partner Program. Through this partnership, members get discounts at tons of places around the city and we get to support local bike-friendly businesses.

What is a goal that you would like to accomplish here at the SF Bicycle Coalition in 2017?

I want to reach out to more people who don’t yet know about our organization. It is amazing how many fantastic, inspired members we have. But I still run into so many people who don’t know what we do. These same folks could really benefit from being a part of the movement, sharing their voice and joining in the amazing network of people who keep pushing to make San Francisco a more safe and bike-friendly city.

Is there anything else you’d like our members to know about you?

Riding around a new city on bike is my favorite way to get acquainted with my surroundings. If you have a favorite spot, weird spot, historical spot or any other kind of spot in the area you recommend I check out, I would love to hear from you. Or better yet, let’s do a ride together. Email gina@sfbike.org.

Get to know SF Bicycle Coalition staff, as well as your fellow members. See our complete Chain of Events for the next opportunity to join other people who support better biking in our city.

“The Hairball” Due for Upgrades

Posted on by Charles Deffarges

Very rarely do intersections get a nickname. When it does happen, it is usually for good reason.

“The Hairball” is where Potrero Avenue, Cesar Chavez Street, Bayshore Boulevard and Highway 101 meet. The nickname didn’t come about by chance. Getting through this knot of streets and highways is often confusing, with a series of tangled paths making up the bicycle and pedestrian network.

Unravel the Hairball

The Hairball, however confusing it may be, is an important connection for people biking. Its central location means that it connects multiple neighborhoods to one another, serving as the only east-west and north-south route for many people who bike. From our members, the need for better bicycle infrastructure is clear: Many of you ride the Hairball regularly and are fed up with its poor riding conditions.

The entrance to the Hairball heading east on Cesar Chavez

Over the past few years, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has studied the different segments of the Hairball to understand what improvements are possible. With our input, they have developed a list of priority areas of the interchange to be improved in the near future. Now we want to see those changes implemented.

Priority segments include two key entrances to the Hairball for people walking and biking, starting with the southside connection to Bayshore and Jerrold. New wayfinding signage is also a priority in the near-term while later phases will improve the entrance to the Hairball heading east on Cesar Chavez as well as lighting throughout.

With improvements to the Hairball on the table, we want to hear from you and make sure you get the latest news. There will be multiple opportunities to voice your opinion on how to make this tricky intersection a better place to bike. Add your name in support, and we’ll get you the latest as it comes along.