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 Archives:Are you signed up?Get the Biker Bulletin delivered right to your inbox every week! Sign up here. Got your favorite news reader?You can also subscribe to the Biker Bulletin via its RSS feed. | January 21, 2009"This would indeed be a step backwards. When I first heard about it I thought this is about as counterintuitive as it comes. Automobile users are breaking the law by turning right so we're going to penalize those who are legally using the bike lanes." -- State Senator Mark Leno, Hundreds Rally to Save Market/Octavia Bike Lane, SF Streetsblog, January 16, 2009 Table of Contents
Cruising for a little romance? SFBC Rally for Safer Market/Octavia Draws Hundreds
The SFBC is urging the MTA to halt their proposal to strip away the existing bike lane and protective safety barrier, and instead to build up the safety of the intersection by implementing the safety improvements recommended by the City's Planning Dept., which include a raised, colored bike lane, and an extension of the safety barrier. (See the full plan here.) Our members took matters into their own hands after last week's rally to show what a brighter, bolder bike space could look like: We used bright green (temporary) spray chalk to paint the bike lane as it should be.
What's Next? The SFMTA will present their misguided proposal to the Superior Court this Thursday,
January 22nd. We hope that the Judge denies the request (as he has once before), and the City moves
forward with the far-better Planning Dept. vision for a safer intersection. But, should the Judge approve
the MTA request, we'll have to step it up to show that cyclists don't agree with--and feel endangered by--this bad idea.
Stay tuned for updates and learn how you can help our effort.
That Other Infamous Intersection Needs Help
Unfortunately, lots of motorists are ignoring their red "no turn" arrow and making dangerous left turns into the intersection during the pedestrian-bike green phase. We're not sure if they're honestly confused or rudely disobedient, but we are sure that the situation is causing serious dangers for bicyclists and pedestrians. Another cyclist (and SFBC member) was hit and injured this past weekend by an illegally turning motorist. We are frustrated that the MTA and the SF Police Department have failed to dedicate enforcement resources to this known problem. The MTA should be demanding it, and the SFPD should be prioritizing it. There's no excuse for this negligence. Contact the following decisionmakers to demand they enforce the dangerous intersection at Fell and Masonic: 1. SFPD Park Station commander Capt. Teresa Barrett at 415-242-3000 or SFPD.Park.Station@sfgov.org
Get Fenders for Your Wet-Weather Riding: SFBC SaleGet the best deal in town on a set
of Planet Bike
Cascadia Freddy fenders for your wet weather ride--only $25 (retail $55). Stop by the SFBC HQ (995 Market @ 6th St)
between the hours of 10am-6pm to purchase a set. All sizes available (while supplies last). Questions, email jodie@sfbike.org. Love on Wheels is February 13
Be a contestant! Just like on TV: Real-life bike bachelors and bachelorettes quiz a blind panel to select a date and pedal off to hip local spots courtesy of our fabulous sponsors. Email love@sfbike.org to be a contestant and tell us which way your wheels spin: Boy-Boy; Boy-Girl; Girl-Girl; Girl-Boy. Only SFBC members can be contestants. Too shy for the stage, but you want to help out? There are lots of ways you can volunteer: Sign up at sfbike.org/vol_sign_up_love Help Spread the word! Print a
poster (pdf)--or a few!--for your break room, favorite cafe and bar! SFBC Volunteers Make The Wheels Go RoundMake a resolution to volunteer in 2009 with the SFBC and see your impact every time you ride. The SFBC is proud to be a grassroots organization supported by our member volunteers. Our volunteers keep us running and we love them so. Be a part of the bike love!
Tonight: SF Streetsblog, Regional Bike Visions, and moreTonight's TransForm regional meeting is packed
with powerful ideas for great streets. First, meet the Streetsblog SF team and
hear them talk about their blog featuring tales of placemaking and sustainable transportation in the Bay Area. Then learn about
and add your voice to a regional vision for bicycling as the Bay Area Bicycle
Coalition leads an exercise to get your ideas for regional goals and advocacy to make the Bay Area a model bikeable region.
Finally, join a discussion of what Obama's economic recovery plan and the California state budget situation mean for Bay
Area transportation more highways, or more bikeways? Details: TransForm regional meeting Video: SFBC Rally at Octavia and Market
You're reading the SFBC Weekly Biker BulletinGet this sent directly to your inbox by signing up here. 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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Hundreds of bike commuters and an impressive array of local and state leaders rallied Friday morning at the dangerous intersection of
Market and Octavia to save the bike lane and protective barrier that the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) proposes
to remove. The SFBC organized the rally in short-order to express our shock that city transportation leaders
would 
A big shout out to the hundreds of SFBC members who stopped by or volunteered for the action. And we were proud to have the
support and strong commitment from State Senator Mark Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, and City Supervisors Bevan Dufty,
Ross Mirkarimi, and David Campos. Thanks to all of you, the MTA and the City Attorney's Office should hear
us loud and clear: We want to move forward with better bike lanes and fuller bike improvements....not move
backwards with the MTA's cars-first plan! See
coverage of the rally at 
While we're happy that the City has made much-needed improvements at the intersection of Fell and Masonic along the Panhandle Pathway,
it is clear that more remains to be done, and we need your help to make sure the City finishes the job. Fell and Masonic rivals
Market/Octavia as the most dangerous and intimidating intersection for bicycling in the city. A few months ago, the SF Municipal
Transportation Agency (MTA) created the city's first bike traffic signal and dedicated a crossing phase to bicyclists and
pedestrians, holding off turning cars for their own second crossing phase.
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