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SFBC Biker Bulletin

April 8, 2008

"This is a chance to dig deeper into the issues. There are legitimate ways to get to a 'yes.'"

-- Steve Kinsey, Marin County supervisor, on everyone but Caltrans agreeing it's time for a bike-ped way across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, SF Chronicle, April 4, 2008


Table of Contents

  1. Join the Movement: SFBC Hiring Several Positions
  2. City Goes to Court to Address Dangers to Biking
  3. A Golden Celebration as We Connect the Dots
  4. Bike Bells and Bike to School Day at SFSU!
  5. Bike across the Bay soon?
  6. Write an email for bike parking at schools!
  7. Celebrate Earth Day with the SFBC
  8. Gear up for Bike Fun: Bike to Work Day is May 15
  9. Submit your flick to the Mountain Bike Film Festival
  10. Bay Area By Bike: A Bicycle Photography Show
  11. Help SFBC Member make Wanderlust Tour

Are you a current SFBC member and riding AIDS/LifeCycle?
Let us know if you want to be listed here!

--http://sfbike.org/?aidslifecycle

Join the Movement: SFBC Hiring Several Positions

If you are interested in making a difference in San Francisco, while also making an exciting career move, check out our announcement of several open and newly created SFBC staff positions: sfbike.org/jobs

The SFBC is looking to hire dynamic, committed individuals for the following positions:

  • Development Director, a full-time position leading the SFBC's fundraising programs, including events, major donor outreach, grantwriting, and sponsorship develoment
  • Membership and Development Assistant, a new full-time position supporting the SFBC's growing membership and development programs; and
  • Bookkeeper, a new part-time position supporting the SFBC's Operations Director in ongoing bookkeeping needs.

If you're interested in any of these positions, learn more about them and find out how to apply here.
And, we ask all of our fantastic members to please spread this announcement far and wide to your networks to help us find the most qualified folks!


City Goes to Court to Address Dangers to Biking

The City is showing a much-needed urgency toward improving two intersections that have proven treacherous for both bicyclists and pedestrians: Fell-Masonic and Market-Octavia. We are pleased to report that last week the SF City Attorney's Office requested an exemption from the infamous court injunction that has been in place since mid-2006, barring the City from making any physical improvements for bikes on public property until a full Environmental Impact Report is prepared (read about that situation here.)

Now, the City has recognized that it must act to make changes to those two dangerous intersections, for the sake of safety and justice. While we are pleased with their proposal for improvements at Fell and Masonic, which include plans we support to create a separated, dedicated crossing time for people walking and biking and one for people driving, we are concerned about the City's stated idea to remove the Market St. bike lane at the intersection of Octavia. We're working closely to propose better alternatives for this infamous intersection. Stay tuned. And you can read the Chronicle's account here, including comments from what they call "the politically potent San Francisco Bicycle Coalition."

A Golden Celebration as We Connect the Dots

On Tuesday, April 29th, the SFBC will connect the dots between bicycle advocacy and the many benefits of biking by honoring local heroes for their efforts in making San Francisco a better place to bike and live at this year's 16th Annual Golden Wheel Awards. This fundraising event -- being held at the beautiful Green Room in the War Memorial Building -- allows the SFBC to shine a light and raise a glass to celebrate the past year's accomplishments through advocacy, and we hope you will join us to make it an extra special evening. Come mingle with fellow cyclists, local decisionmakers, and our honored recipients. This year's featured speaker is Jared Blumenfeld, Director of the SF Department of the Environment. Golden Wheel is an an event not to be missed! RSVP by April 23rd.

All proceeds from the Golden Wheel Awards go towards making our city more bike friendly and become an exemplary model for the rest of the country. If you can't join on us at the event, please consider boosting the SFBC's advocacy with a contribution toward better biking.

Bike Bells and Bike to School Day at SFSU!

Ring in the spring with a bike bell give-a-way and San Francisco State's "Bring Your Bike to School Day"! April 24th will be day of cycling celebration and climate change solutions on SFSU campus with bike education workshops, bike valet parking, bike advocacy, and a FREE Bike Bell Give-A-Way! The Eco-Students are hosting this fabulous celebration, and partnering with the SFBC and MTA to spread the bike **bling** and **ring**. We need volunteers to table and install free bike bells from 11am-1pm on April 24th. Can you help? Contact Rachel. We also need bike valets! Let's fill the Quad with human powered solutions! Volunteer to park bikes in the Quad for two hour shifts between 8am and 4pm by contacting Suzanne

Bike across the Bay soon?

When the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge opened in 1957 it left out one little thing: access for humans. Over the past ten years much work has been done by state and local agencies and advocates on both sides of the Bay to find a way to provide a way for cyclists and pedestrians to get across, and the most recent study seemed to deliver a solution that everyone could live with (a movable barrier that would offer nonmotorized access in a 10-foot lane on the upper deck, except during the peak morning weekday commute from 6-9am), but the proposal was nixed by Caltrans as unsafe (they really want to reserve that third lane for future round-the-clock motor traffic). Last week the Bay Conservation and Development Commission agreed with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and bike advocates, but Caltrans is still digging in their heels.

It's time for Caltrans to stop denying bridge access to non-motorized users -- let Caltrans Director Will Kempton know that you're ready for universal access on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge now.

Write an email for bike parking at schools!

Progress is being made by the San Francisco Unified School District towards the goal of bike parking at all our elementary, middle, and high schools. At a Committee Meeting of the School Board last week, School Board members Mark Sanchez and Hydra Mendoza committed to working with the Superintendent to clarify misunderstandings about schools not being allowed to install bike racks, as well as move forward with a plan for bike rack installation at schools. Please email SFUSD's School Board and Superintendent and thank them for taking up the issue of school bike parking. Urge them to move forward with the installation of bike parking at all schools. Let them know how important safe routes to school are for the future of our kids, parents, and teachers. It's time to let the kids ride!

Celebrate Earth Day with the SFBC

Help make every day Earth Day by promoting the almighty bicycle at upcoming Earth Day events and more!

Gear up for Bike Fun: Bike to Work Day is May 15

The best bike celebration of the year is only one month away! Get the bike party rolling now:

Submit your flick to the Mountain Bike Film Festival

Calling all cycling cineastes! Access4Bikes will be staging their 2nd Annual Mountain Bike Film Festival, coming up at the San Rafael Community Center on Sunday May 18th. They're currently taking film submissions for the festival, so here's your chance to premier that fine mountain biking footage (it must be mountain biking related, please). They're interested in short films, preferably 5-10 minutes in length, 30 minute maximum. You can email them at access4bikes@gmail.com, or call 414-827-1237, if you have material you would like them to consider, or mail a DVD of your film to: Access4Bikes, PO Box 526, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. Deadline for entries in April 15th.

Bay Area By Bike: A Bicycle Photography Show

Got plans this weekend? Cruise on by Mojo Bicycle Cafe for a gathering of cyclists and art admirers! SFBC members Lindsay Crawford and Libby Wood are putting their photography on display for a fundraiser/photography show this Saturday night, Aril 12, at 8pm. The event is to celebrate their cross country bicycle and camping tour for the summer of 2008. All photos will be available for silent auction bidding to take home that night. Check out pedalwise.blogspot.com for more information about the event and their trip.

Help SFBC Member make Wanderlust Tour

Last summer, SFBC member Nora Dye rode on "Wanderlust with Rhonda", a solo bicycle journey across the country to explore the politics of sexuality and reproductive health care in America. It was so much fun that this summer she and 15 other social justice activists from around the country are embarking on a 5-week, 1,600-mile bike tour from New Orleans to New York City. Each day the group will cycle 50+ miles, then spend their nights camping under the stars or lodging with fellow activists in their communities.
Do you have any bike gear or equipment you might be able to donate or lend to the trip? They're looking for tents, sleeping pads, and cooking equipment like stoves. Find out more here about the trip and how you can help.

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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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