SFBC Biker Bulletin

March 13, 2006

I don't have to be in a car - that's what I like most about riding my bike in San Francisco.
Ann Lyons, SFBC member interviewed on BikeTV

Watch the latest episode, featuring our own Andy Thornley!
---> http://homepage.mac.com/trorb/BikeTV/iMovieTheater132.html

SPEAK UP FOR SMOOTHER STREETS

What do we want? Safer, smoother streets! When do we want them? Now!!!

As we announced in last week's Biker Bulletin, we're sick of potholes and crumbling streets. That's why the SFBC is working to get an additional $27 million from the city's projected budget surplus dedicated to much-needed road paving in the coming year. (This is just a drop in the bucket of the city's $340 million backlog of uncompleted street resurfacing work, which has a disproportionate negative impact on cyclists.)

Please attend and speak out at an important public hearing before the Board of Supervisors' Budget & Finance Committee tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15th at 5pm at City Hall, Rm. 250. This is a special item on the committee's agenda to hear from the public about what we want their supplemental budget appropriation to be used for. Your voice can make a difference!

WRITE A LETTER - SUPPORT CAR-FREE SPACE IN GG PARK

An article on the Healthy Saturdays initiative -- to expand car-free JFK Dr. on Sundays to Saturdays as well -- appears in today's Examiner and is at the top of their homepage - see: http://tinyurl.com/opepx for the full text.

Please send your Letters to the Editor today encouraging the city to support safe, open space in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays. Letters can be sent to letters@examiner.com, should be 150 words or less, and should include your name, phone number, and city of residence.

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER

The staff at the SFBC is excited to welcome Rachel Kraai to our team as the new Membership & Volunteer Organizer!

Rachel comes to us with a strong background and long history in non-profit work in San Francisco. She has a bright and warm personality, and is looking forward to working with our marvelous members and volunteers. Rachel will be jumping in just in time for Bike to Work Day planning and will be with the SFBC for 6 months before she heads back to grad school. Be sure to come to Volunteer Night next Wednesday to give Rachel a big warm welcome!

MAYOR TO SPEAK AT SFBC GOLDEN WHEEL AWARDS

Mark your calendars for an extra-special annual Golden Wheel awards party on Wednesday, April 12th. We are excited to welcome Mayor Gavin Newsom as our featured speaker and to learn more about his vision for bicycling in San Francisco. Watch for your invite in the mail within the next two weeks. For now, please save the date: April 12, 6-9pm, at the LGBT Community Center on Market @ Octavia. See you there!

VOLUNTEER NIGHT THIS WEEK!

Come on out this Wednesday night and give the SFBC a hand! As always, we'll have plenty of tasty treats and good conversation to keep you going. Bring a friend -- the more the merrier. Begins at 5pm at the SFBC HQ, 995 Market Street (@ 6th) Bring your bike up to the 15th floor. Any questions? Contact our new Membership & Volunteer Organizer at rachel@sfbike.org.

RATIONAL VOICES NEEDED FOR GEARY RAPID TRANSIT

Did you know that the buses on Geary Blvd. carry 50,000+ riders each day? But if you've ridden the 38-line, you know that it's also one of the most frustrating and least efficient transit lines. The SFBC supports improved access to and through the Richmond District through a rapid transit system, which will significantly decrease travel times and increase transit capacity. The SF County Transportation Authority (TA) is working on a study of this now; see http://www.sfcta.org/geary.htm. The study is getting a fierce - and we believe misguided - backlash from a small but vocal group of Richmond merchants who do not support rapid transit.

If you support rapid transit on Geary, please attend the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting for the project next Thursday, March 23, at 6pm at the TA office at 100 Van Ness Ave., 26th floor. Speak up in support of effective rapid transit and urge the CAC not to water down this important project. (If you can't make the meeting, but want to get more involved, please contact leah@sfbike.org).

SPRING IS IN THE AIR: STREETSIDE OUTREACH NEXT WEEK

The sun is out and the streets are hopping with bicyclists... we think it's the perfect time to hit the streets to thank commuters for pedaling! The next SFBC Streetside Outreach will take place at the Duboce Bikeway on Wednesday, March 22, from 5:30-7:30pm. We're looking for SFBC volunteers who could come out and give us a hand cheering on bicyclists as they pedal home from work. Interested? Contact rachel@sfbike.org.

TRICKY TECH PROJECT LIGHTS UP YOUR SPOKES

If you're a cycling cyber-geek and you're comfortable with a soldering iron, or even if you're tech-challenged but tickled by bright lights, check out this very groovy project involving programmable LEDs and bike wheels: http://tinyurl.com/k9rvy

Let us know if you get one working and we'll come out and have a look...

BIKE RIDERS GET INVOLVED WITH FILM!

The 49th San Francisco International Film Festival is looking for bikers to ride around their communities and drop off postcards, posters and mini-guides for the festival. This can happen at your leisure and is a 6 week commitment. In return we offer CineComp vouchers that are redeemable for films at the Festival, a party with great food, music and prizes and many other perks available throughout. Contact volunteer@sffs.org if you can help!

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