August 29, 2005

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."

-- Arthur Conan Doyle
Author of Sherlock Holmes, 1896

THIS SUNDAY-GREAT SF BIKE RIDE!

If you are in town this Labor Day weekend, you won't want to miss the Great SF Bike Ride! The SFBC is hosting this fun, non-competitive Community Ride that encompasses 5 miles of the SF Grand Prix race course--pedal the course before the pros--including the Taylor Street hill! Join fellow cyclists in cruising city streets closed to traffic on Sunday, September 4th at 8am sharp.

Pre-registraion is highly encouraged--preregister online by Thursday, September 1st and save $5. Day of ride registration begins at 7am & closes at 7:45 in Justin Herman Plaza. Ride starts promptly at 8am. All ride proceeds benefit the SFBC's campaign to build the Citywide Bike Network.

---> www.sfbike.org/bikeride

Please note that, unfortunately, the ride is only open to riders 16 years and older, for insurance reasons. We hope to be able to include younger riders next year. There is a special ride for kids 12 and under in the Marina District that morning. For more information, see http://www.sanfranciscomerchants.com/associations/mma/12.htm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GREAT SF BIKE RIDE & GRAND PRIX

Calling all members--we need your help! Volunteering at the SF Grand Prix is a great way to take in all the action while giving the SFBC a hand. Valet Bike Parking and SFBC Tabling voluteers are needed throughout the day at the Grand Prix Expo and on the Taylor Street Hill--two prime spots to view the course. Volunteers are asked to do two-hour slots. Your help is greatly appreciated!

STOP THE BIKE TOLL -- BILL GOES TO STATE SENATE THIS WEEK!

We just got word that AB 748 -- the state bill that would ban tolls on bicyclists and pedestrians, including on the Golden Gate Bridge -- is expected to go to the full California Senate floor for a vote this Thursday. We need a last push to make sure our State Senators know how important this bill is. If you haven't already done so, please send a quick, free, personalized fax to Senators Migden and Speier before this Thursday. It's easy at http://www.sfbike.org/?ggb

We'll send out an update next week, when we'll probably need to start gearing up to send lots of letters urging the Governor to sign the bill...stay tuned!

BUILDERS NEEDED THIS WEEK TO STOP THE BIKE TOLL

Are you regretting not going to Burning Man this week? It's not too late to get your creative, build-big-things fix, for a great cause. We need volunteers to build a tollboth -- yes, a full-size bike tollbooth -- before this Sunday, so that we can publicize our message of "Stop the Golden Gate Bridge Bike Toll" in front of 300,000 people at the big bike race. Know how to build things? Oppose the idea of paying $1 to bike or walk over the Bridge? If so, we need your help, please contact Leah asap at leah@sfbike.org

OCTAVIA BOULEVARD OPENING DAY 9/9 -- LET'S TAKE A RIDE!

You've been watching it evolve from vestigial freeway overpass to construction site to fresh black lanes -- at long last, the celebrated new Octavia Boulevard will officially open on Friday, September 9 at 11:00 am. Let's make sure cars don't have all the fun -- dress up your bike in its happiest new-street flowers and flags and meet us at Hayes Green, Octavia at Hayes, at 10:45 am on 9/9 for a fine people-powered parade on the nice new pavement!

SUPPORT ALEMANY BLVD BIKE LANES -- COMMUNITY MEETING 9/10

After a quiet summer, the Alemany Boulevard bike lane conversation is returning to the fore -- Supervisor Sandoval has called a general-invitation session of the District 11 Council on Saturday, September 10, at Ocean Presbyterian Church on Ocean at Mission at 11 am, to talk over the matter with his constituents. If you're a neighbor of the Alemany corridor be sure to come out and have your voice heard, whether you pedal, walk, or motor (or all three). Bike lanes on Alemany Boulevard could be the beginning of a better, safer, greener street, so don't miss this critical meeting. For more information, contact Andy Thornley at 431-BIKE x 307 or andy@sfbike.org.

CALLING ALL WITH A FLAIR FOR FUNDRAISING

Generally feared, fundraising is in fact fun, challenging, creative, and absolutely essential to the health of any non-profit organization. We are looking for two unafraid, dynamic people to join us as fundraising interns for two specific projects! Help plan the event of the year, Winterfest, as our Event Organizing Intern or use your detective skills to uncover additional funding opportunities as our Foundation and Resource Development Intern. Come get a taste of a great profession and a great organization, while learning these and other critical and very marketable skills that have broad application. Contact Development Director Lisa Ruth Elliott at 415.431.2453 x302 or lisaruth@sfbike.org if you are up for this fun and excitement.

SUPPORT CESAR CHAVEZ CALMING -- COMMUNITY MEETING 9/13

Addressing another key Top 20 Bike Network segment, the campaign for a safer Cesar Chavez Street is starting to gain momentum, and we'd love for you to join in and help it happen. The next meeting will take place Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 pm, at the Bernal Gateway Apartments (3101 Mission @ Chavez). Bring your friends and neighbors and we'll keep thinking big and moving the good work forward. For more information, contact Andy Thornley at 431-BIKE x 307 or andy@sfbike.org.

NEW COMMUNITY DISCOUNT PARTNER--VELO ROUGE CAFE

The SFBC would like to welcome the Velo Rouge Cafe to our community discount list! The Velo Rouge Cafe located at 798 Arguello Blvd @ McAllister & Cabrillo--near GG Park--will be giving 10% off to SFBC members who flash their valid membership card. Great bike parking located outside. Go by and say hello, and welcome the Velo Rouge Cafe into the SFBC community. www.velorougecafe.com

SF STATE ENVIRONMENTAL ART EVENT SEEKS HELPERS

An upcoming art exhibit with an environmental theme is set to open at SF State's International Center for the Arts in a few weeks and organizers are eager to find people who'd like to help with the opening day program on Sept. 17. There are plans for music and lectures and food and fun, as well as the art itself, and the SFBC is looking to lead a bike ride in from Crissy Field to kick things off. If you'd like to get involved, get in touch with Kim Munson at kim_munson@yahoo.com.

SMART STREET DESIGN KEEPS OREGON FOLKS FIT

How is it that Oregon is the only state in the country that's not becoming "more" obese? According to a study just released by the Trust for America's Health, one big factor is smart street design that encourages folks to walk and ride their bikes to get around, rather than forcing them into cars for every trip. Michael Earls, co-author of the study, says that if a city or town is built in such a way that forces residents to drive everywhere, instead of walking or cycling, physical activity becomes something that has to be planned rather than an activity which can be woven into the fabric of everyday life. Ordinary, everyday bicycling, a few miles here and there, brings everyday health -- no fancy science to that!

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/08/24/obesity.oregon.ap/index.html

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