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SFBC Biker Bulletin

February 9, 2010

"In addition to above average funding it is tireless advocacy work by citizens and dedicated city officials that makes a difference. Same in San Francisco, where 16% of people ride a bicycle regularly and one in every 76 residents (11,000 total) is a member of the SF Bicycle Coalition."
-- New Study: Cyclists and pedestrians still getting shortchanged, Daily Kos, February 4, 2010

Table of Contents

  1. Cupid Takes Aim at Bicyclists this Friday, Feb. 12
  2. Email Today and Help Save Muni
  3. Now Hiring: Sunday Streets Volunteer Coordinator and Interns
  4. Spread Bike Love as a Volunteer
  5. Take the Market Street Survey
  6. Seeking a Food Sponsor for Volunteer Nights
  7. Give the Sweetest Valentine: SF Bicycle Coalition Gift Membership
  8. Reserve Your Spot in a Free Urban Cycling Workshop
  9. Another Step Forward for Smoother Streets
  10. Be a Bike Model
  11. Video: Pedaling Love at Love on Wheels
  12. Upcoming Events

Cruising for romance?
 Find love this Friday, Feb. 12 at the SF Bicycle Coalition's
dating game for bicyclists, Love on Wheels.
  sfbike.org/love

Cupid Takes Aim at Bicyclists this Friday, Feb. 12

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's Love on Wheels, the only dating game for bicyclists, is this Friday, Feb. 12 at Rickshaw Stop (155 Fell St. between Franklin and Van Ness), just in time for two-wheeling singles to go tandem for Valentine's Day. Just like the '70's Dating Game on TV, watch hot bicyclists pair up on stage when lovelorn lovebirds quiz three possible dates (hidden from view) and choose one to ride off with. Meanwhile, phone numbers, emails, and bike stats are exchanged by single cyclists while those not-so-single cyclists cheer on their single friends.

Get your photo taken by Orange Photography in the rickshaw photo booth, win sweet raffle prizes from Love on Wheels sponsors, like the sexy Globe Roll bicycle or a hot night on the town, and shake a leg to the tunes of DJ Jamie Jams.

  • Be a contestant. Email love@sfbike.org to be a contestant and tell us which way your wheels spin: Boy-Boy or Girl-Girl; (Girl-for-Boy and Boy-for-Girl categories are full). Only SF Bicycle Coalition members can be contestants.

  • Volunteer and get free admission and a complimentary ticket to the Balboa Theater. Help at the door, sell raffle tickets or help clean up after the event! Sign up to volunteer at sfbike.org/vol_sign_up_love.

Money can't buy love, but it can improve your ride. All proceeds from memberships, admission and raffle sales go directly toward bringing new bicycle improvements like separated bike lanes and abundant on-street bike parking to you. Thank you for showing your bike love at Love on Wheels!
Admission is $5 for members (with membership card); $10 for non-members (or free if you become a Bicycle Coalition member at the door). Keep your bike secure in our complimentary valet bike parking area -- one more great reason to love the SF Bicycle Coalition! All the details at: sfbike.org/love.

Email Today and Help Save Muni

The SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is proposing the most severe transit service cuts in Muni's 97-year history due to further budget shortfalls. Almost every line would suffer cutbacks, with fewer buses and trains, arriving less often, crowded with more riders. We're very concerned that such service reductions could throw Muni into a downward spiral that would take years (decades?) to recover from. Muni matters -- affordable reliable public transit is essential to building a better city, good transit options reduce the number of car trips, calming streets and improving your ride while keeping cyclists and pedestrians safe. Transit First means transit first -- no service reductions, no fare increases, price parking fairly!

Act Today! Take a minute now and tell the Mayor why service cuts should not be an option. More than 450 emails have already been received: from schoolteachers telling tales of students who are late to class due to crowded buses to waitresses needing late-night service to get home from their job. Why is Muni important to you? Use our online form to send an email today!

Now Hiring: Sunday Streets Volunteer Coordinator and Interns

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is proud to coordinate the volunteer corps that make car-free Sunday Streets events possible. We are now hiring a part-time Volunteer Coordinator and three Volunteer Leadership interns for Sunday Streets. Do you have the experience and passion for Sunday Streets to lead hundreds of volunteers over nine events across the city? Information and instructions for applying at sfbike.org/jobs.

Or help promote Bike to Work Day as a SF Bicycle Coalition intern. Gain experience and help make the biggest biking day of the year a success. Apply for one of these rewarding positions today:

Spread Bike Love as a Volunteer

Service Station: Otis St. at Gough St., Wednesday, February 17, 4:30-6:30pm. The SF Bicycle Coalition will be at the new Otis St. bike lane to energize evening commuters with snacks and chat about new and upcoming bike improvements. Are you trained in SF Bicycle Coalition outreach and want to join the fun? Email tessa@sfbike.org to volunteer! Rain cancels.

Valentines for Caltrain: Our BIKES ONboard team will be making valentines for the awesome conductors of Caltrain. Come to SF Bicycle Coalition volunteer night on Wed., Feb 10 and help make cards. We'll share the love by passing out the valentines to conductors on Fri., Feb. 12 from 7-9am and 5-7pm at the Caltrain depot (4th and King). Can you give a few hours to help show Caltrain some bike love on Feb. 12? Email bikesonboard@sfbike.org to help.

Take the Market Street Survey

Do any of your trips by bike take you on Market Street east of Van Ness? The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has been hard at work improving bicycling on this major bike route and transportation corridor. We're continuing to work with the SF Municipal Transportation Agency to develop the next in a series of trials. Right now the Market Street trials include traffic diversions at 10th and 6th streets, a separated bike lane between 9th and 10th streets, and other traffic calming features that are testing out ideas to improve the street.

We want to hear how your bike commute has been affected by these changes. Please take this short survey so we can continue to push for smart safety improvements on Market Street.

The SF Bicycle Coalition's Great Streets Project has worked hard to help launch these trials in anticipation of a complete repaving of Market Street in 2013. These trials are an opportunity to test and keep good ideas that improve Market Street and make it more attractive for bicycling, walking, transit and shopping.

Seeking a Food Sponsor for Volunteer Nights

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is looking for an in-kind food sponsor for our Volunteer Nights. In 2009, Chipotle was our food hero fueling volunteers with tasty burritos, and Bi-Rite Market has just signed on to be our fabulous Volunteer Night food sponsor for the next three months. Thanks Bi-Rite! We are always looking for additional sources of tasty food to feed our hard-working and dedicated volunteers. In-kind volunteer food sponsorship can be everything from a one-time-only commitment to six times a year. Sponsorship perks are plentiful, so if you have solid connections to restaurants or caterers, please email jodie@sfbike.org.

Give the Sweetest Valentine: SF Bicycle Coalition Gift Membership

Show your love this Valentine's Day by giving an SF Bicycle Coalition gift membership to your sweetie. Not only will they love your thoughtful gift, but a gift membership will give back to you all year long, by making your city more livable and bikeable. Now that is a valentine gift worth giving! Gift Memberships start at just $35/year and come with a special card noting your gift. Membership includes benefits like the latest bike news, a San Francisco bike map, discounts at 55+ local and online businesses, and all the member perks you love. Use our quick and secure online form at sfbike.org/join_renew or contact tessa@sfbike.org or 415-431-2453 x301 to place orders with special instructions.

Is your Valentine already a member? Make a special gift to the Bicycle Coalition in their honor in an amount that is significant to you ($25, $50, $100, $500) and they will see how much you care every time they ride: sfbike.org/specialgift.

Reserve Your Spot in a Free Urban Cycling Workshop

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition hosts two-part urban cycling workshops for new cyclists who want to learn how to ride in traffic safely, and for experienced cyclists who want to brush up on their skills. Classes in 2010 are in full swing, including a class this Saturday (Feb. 13) in the Sunset District. Classes cover loads of information including how to choose the right bike and properly fit a helmet, tips for the safest ways to ride in traffic, techniques to avoid or deal with road hazards, the best way to lock up your bike, how to use a bike in combination with public transit, cyclists' legal rights and responsibilities, and much more. We encourage you to attend an in-class session now if you plan on taking the on-road portion in the Spring or Summer. Sign up today!

Another Step Forward for Smoother Streets

The Good Roads Campaign continues on its quest to smooth your bike commute -- in addition to thousands of potholes being reported and repaired, we've also succeeded in getting the Department of Public Works (DPW) to fix dozens of sunken utility covers. You've likely encountered these hazards on your commute: manhole covers with crumbling pavement, grates with sharp edges or small utility covers many inches below the street. Thanks to the diligence of our Good Roads volunteers who have marked and reported these often hidden hazards, over 50 of these have been fixed in recent months. We commend the DPW on their commitment to prioritizing a smooth bike network, and we encourage you to report any street hazard to 311.

Be a Bike Model

PUBLIC (a new venture to encourage people to drive less and smile more) is looking for everyday men and women, ages 20-70, who are willing to be photographed. Visit studioforbes to learn more.

Video: Pedaling Love at Love on Wheels

Join other single cyclists this Friday at the SF Bicycle Coalition's dating game for bicyclists. Cheer on bike bachelorettes and bachelors as they pair up, just like the hilarious 1970's TV show. Watch this video and see the live action at Love on Wheels.

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Join the SFBC and add your voice to thousands demanding a city-wide network of bike lanes, traffic calmed streets, better access to transit and secure bike parking. Together we can make San Francisco the most bicycle friendly city in the country!

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