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SFBC Biker Bulletin

September 15, 2009

"The new and improved Market Street will rival main streets around the world. With input from the community, and the leadership of the five key agencies, we will identify specific solutions that work best for our main corridor."

-- Mayor Gavin Newsom, Market Street Pilot is an Encouraging Move by Mayor Newsom, SF Streetsblog, September 10, 2009

 

Table of Contents

  1. Better Market Street Trial Improvements Coming Soon
  2. Tour de Fat is Almost Here
  3. SFBC's Bike-In Movie Now Showing: Les Triplettes de Belleville
  4. Pedal Out on Friday for PARK(ing) Day
  5. Enjoy Summer in SF: Volunteer with the SFBC
  6. Announcing: "Bike to the Theater" Nights
  7. Envision an Awesome Embarcadero Bikeway
  8. Get Crafty: Winterfest is Just Around the Corner
  9. Build a Better SF: Intern with the SFMTA
  10. Video: Making a Better Market Street
  11. Upcoming Events

Excited about the Market Street Improvement Trials?
Show your support by becoming a facebook fan
of a Better Market Street.

Better Market Street Trial Improvements Coming Soon

The SFBC is thrilled by Mayor Newsom's announcement that the City will be implementing a series of trial improvements to Market Street starting September 29. These trials will be an opportunity to test and keep good ideas that improve Market Street and make it more attractive for bicycling, walking, transit and shopping in anticipation of a complete repaving of Market Street in 2013. Modeled on Project for Public Spaces "Place Diagram," the trials are the first layer of improvements to be tested over the next six to twelve months. (Project for Public Spaces is a partner in the SFBC's Great Streets Project.) See the full Better Market Street trial project details here.

The first phase of the Better Market Street improvement trials include:

  • directing drivers off of Market at 8th and 6th Streets (delivery trucks, Muni, and taxis will be allowed)
  • pedestrian priority space on select weekends on Powell Street between Ellis and Geary
  • new pedestrian plazas on Market Street sidewalks
  • eye catching art in empty storefronts
  • live music along the street

The SFBC's Great Streets Project has been a major and active force behind launching these trials. Daily advocacy and extensive volunteering from SFBC members has helped us get to this point, but there's lots more work to do. Over the next six to twelve months we'll be asking you to get involved in this campaign to make the most of this great new opportunity to make a great Market Street.

Three ways you can be part of a Better Market Street.

  1. Join the Market Street Google Group to keep up-to-date on the latest information.

  2. Volunteer by emailing Kit Hodge at kit [at] sfgreatstreets DOT org. Be part of the volunteer team that will be collecting additional baseline data (bike and traffic counts) and flyering local businesses beginning this week. We will be building on and adding to the work of the many great volunteers who spent time this summer collecting information about pedestrian and bicyclist use of the street. The City will rely on this information to figure out if these changes are successful enough to stay in the ground and inform the long-term design.

  3. Become a facebook fan of a Better Market Street


Tour de Fat is Almost Here

It's time to oil your chain, press your polyester and fluff that feather boa because Tour de Fat rolls back into town next Saturday, September 26 (11am-5pm, Speedway Meadow, GG Park), with its ballyhoo of bikes and New Belgium Brewery beers! Two parts bike rodeo and one part circus, this all-day, all-green festival is full of fire-jumping bike acts, bicycle games, a bike parade through the park, live music from Sean Hayes, March Fourth Marching Band, Handsome Little Devils present: Squirm Burpee Circus, and The Dare Devil Chicken Club Presents: Honeymoon Cabaret, tasty eats and of course, great beer! Registration for the Bike Parade begins at 10am, the parade departs at 11am, and the show ballyhoo begins at noon!

Come on out, and have a good time for a great cause (New Belgium Brewery donates the proceeds of the day to the SFBC and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council). Don't forget to ride yer bike to the show! Complimentary valet bike parking provided (of course).

Get a FREE beer token at Tour de Fat! Are you, or someone you know, not yet a member of the SFBC? Get a free beer token AND make San Francisco a better place to bike and live when you become a member of the SFBC at Tour de Fat!

  • Trade in your car for a beautiful bicycle and make Tour de Fat a day to remember! The SFBC (along with New Belgium Brewery) will gift you a brand new shiny bike if you are ready to go car-free. And, not just any bike, a New Belgium, fully-loaded, hand-crafted, Fort Collins-built commuter bike and trailer! Interested?! Submit a video of two minutes or less with your story and desire to be car-free. Complete details can be found at newbelgium.com/trade

  • Volunteer! We need YOU to make it a day to remember! It takes over 150 volunteers to make it happen--volunteer to do outreach at the SFBC's orange tent, check IDs, sell drink tokens and valet bicycles. All volunteers get a free Tour de Fat T-shirt! Sign up at www.sfbike.org/vol_sign_up_tdf

  • Help distribute posters! Stop by the SFBC (995 Market St, Ste 1550 at 6th St) or download and print some to distribute. Have a few free hours to ride around the city?  Help spread the word about Tour de Fat fun by putting up posters at bike shops and other local businesses. Email tessa@sfbike.org to help!


SFBC's Bike-In Movie Now Showing: Les Triplettes de Belleville

Don't miss the SFBC's last Bike-In Movie of the year tomorrow, September 16, at 8pm when we screen the beautiful animated drama with a toe-tapping soundtrack, Triplets of Belleville, in the Good Hotel parking lot (7th at Mission Street). Experience the enchantment when the SFBC's free Bike-In Movie transforms an ordinary parking lot into a magical movie theater in the middle of the city. Don your most dapper attire and join our Tweed friends for a dashing ride to the Bike-In Movie sallying forth at 6:30pm (more at: sftweed.com).

The Americania Hotel next to the movie is featuring a special $2 draft special all night so stop by before or after the movie for some delicious libations! Also available near the screening is an array of delicious culinary choices courtesy of San Francisco's greatest street food vendors, and of course, SFBC Members can enjoy a 25% discount on food at Custom Burger and Good Pizza. There will be a free raffle for all attendees including an awesome tweed Rickshaw Bagworks Bag and some classy armwarmers from B.Spoke Tailor.

Complimentary SFBC valet bicycle parking provided. To volunteer as a bike valet email LisaRuth. Extra special thanks to Good Hotel for hosting!


Pedal Out on Friday for PARK(ing) Day

PARK(ing) Day is happening this Friday (9/18), and you're going to want to spend some time exploring the many wonderful public-space ideas that people bring to curbside parking spaces (car storage is just so boring!). The SFBC and our Great Streets Project are highlighting some examples of new and innovative uses of ordinary parking spaces.

The SFBC will be highlighting on-street bike parking outside Four Barrel Coffee (375 Valencia Street, between 14th and 15th) and Bi Rite Market (3639 – 18th Street, between Guerrero and Dolores) a great way to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians and allow businesses to clearly show that they value their biking customers and clients. SFBC members are needed to do outreach all day, so if you can give a few hours, email marc@sfbike.org to volunteer!

Pedal by the SFBC's Great Streets Project where we will demonstrate the future of what an official "flexible parking space" will look like outside SPUR (654 Mission Street at New Montgomery), Cafe Roma (526 Columbus Avenue at Green) and Cafe Greco (423 Columbus Avenue at Green). We're working with volunteers to design, build and program the structures that a business could use to add cafe seating, or just more greenery or hang-out space, in front of their store. If you're handy with carpentry or want to volunteer to help on Friday, e-mail Erin Rice at erin@sfgreatstreets.org.

Watch a Streetfilms video on Park(ing) Day and see photos of last year's Park(ing) Day. It'll be a great day to pedal around the city!


Enjoy Summer in SF: Volunteer with the SFBC

San Francisco events are in full swing and the SFBC is spreading bike love all over town. We hope you'll check your calendar to see when you can help!

  • SFBC Service Station: Thu., Sep. 17 | 5-7pm | Mission Playground, 19th and Valencia. The SFBC Service Station crew will be out at the sunny Mission Playground! Are you a trained SFBC Outreach Volunteer who wants to help? Contact Tessa.

  • SFBC Energizer Station on PARK(ing) Day: Fri. Sept. 18 | 7:30-8:30am | In front of Four Barrel Coffee (375 Valencia Street between 14th and 15th). The SFBC will be doing an extra-special Energizer Station on PARK(ing) Day, fueling up riders and those who stop to enjoy the SFBC PARK(ing) space. Are you trained in SFBC outreach and can volunteer?  Email Tessa to be in on the fun!

  • Folsom Street Fair: Sun., Sep. 27 | 11am-6pm | Folsom Street (between 7th and 12th). Sport a leather seat on your bike and volunteer at the world's largest and best loved leather/fetish event. To volunteer to do SFBC Outreach email Tessa. To volunteer as a bike valet email LisaRuth.


Announcing:"Bike to the Theater" Nights

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has joined forces with the SFBC's popular Bike Valet service and beginning Thursday, Sept 24th, the SFBC will valet park your bike at select A.C.T. Theater performances. Plus the A.C.T. is offering an exclusive $10 discount for SFBC members (Not an SFBC Member? Join today)! To receive your discount, purchase your tickets online at www.act-sf.org or call 415.749.2ACT and use promo code BIKE1 for the Sept. 24th performance of Brief Encounter (Orchestra and Dress Circle tickets only, subject to availability).

Upcoming Bike to the Theater performance nights include November (Thursday, November 5/Discount Code: BIKE2) and Christmas Carol (Thursday, December 17/Discount Code: BIKE3). See the full calendar of the A.C.T.'s Bike to the Theater Nights here.

Interested in volunteering for valet bike parking? Email LisaRuth.


Envision an Awesome Embarcadero Bikeway

San Francisco's eastern waterfront, from Fisherman's Wharf past the Ferry Building to the Giants' ballpark and Blue Greenway, is a uniquely marvelous setting for a bike ride, whether for fun or utility, one of the city's top two-wheeling attractions for locals and visitors. But it's only just okay for bike traffic -- couldn't it be much better? Carrie Nielsen, 2009 Piero N. Patri Fellow, has been working on the long-pondered question: What would it take to provide an excellent waterside bikeway from Mission Bay to North Point, separated from the motor traffic on the Embarcadero roadway and distinct from Herb Caen Way (a.k.a. the Promenade)? Come hear and see what Carrie has put together for a fully-considered vision of a world-class bikeway on the city's waterfront, a next-generation element of the Citywide Bike Network.

Details: Monday, Sept. 21, 5:30pm reception, 6:15pm presentation, SPUR, 654 Mission St (betw. New Montgomery and Third St); free to SPUR members, $5 for non-members. Complimentary SFBC valet bike parking will be provided.


Get Crafty: Winterfest is Just Around the Corner

The 14th annual Winterfest is the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's annual Member Party, Fundraiser, Auction and Art Show held the first Sunday in December. This is the Bay Area's biggest bike bash with over 200 auction items to bid on, over 60 pieces of art to buy from hot local artists, live entertainment, New Belgium Beer and over 1,000 of your closest bike-loving friends under one roof! Can you help make this event a huge success?

Show your support for Winterfest by being crafty. The SFBC is seeking limited quantities and/or limited edition exciting and unique bike related and hand crafted items for the 2009 Winterfest Craft table. Interested? Contact Nancy Botkin or Kati Jackson at winterfestcraft@gmail.com.


Build a Better SF: Intern with the SFMTA

Are you studying Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, or Surveying? The SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) -- including the SFMTA's Bike Program -- is looking for interns to help design, plan, and implement street and transportation improvements throughout the city. Applicants can get hands-on training with professional planners and engineers and help build a better city! For instructions on how to apply, see this PDF document (sfbike.org/download/mta-internship.pdf) and apply at www.jobaps.com/sf.


Video: Making a Better Market Street

Streetfilms came to San Francisco a few months ago and asked a broad coalition of folks about the potential of realizing Market Street as a premier street for bicyclists, pedestrians and people taking public transit. With Market Street scheduled to be ripped up and completely repaved in 2013, we have a huge opportunity to rethink the street and create a thoroughfare that San Francisco can truly be proud of. The newly announced Better Market Street trials are an excellent way to test and keep good ideas that make Market Street more attractive for bicycling, walking, transit and shopping experience. Watch the Streetfilms Market Street video here.

Find out how you can get involved in a Better Market Street.


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