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SFBC Biker Bulletin

November 30, 2009

"This is an important step in the right direction that enables the City to enact significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians in San Francisco."
-- City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Judge Issues Order Allowing Ten First-Year Bike Projects to Go Forward, SF Streetsblog, November 25, 2009

Table of Contents

  1. Judge OKs Some Bike Projects, Celebrate Tuesday
  2. Winterfest Bike Extravaganza This Sunday
  3. Vote for SF Bike Coalition Board of Directors
  4. Keep New Bike Projects On a Roll with a Year-End Gift
  5. Market Street is Changing Colors
  6. Bike to the Theater
  7. Remind Caltrain to Plan for Bikes
  8. Hop on Your Bike for Our Christmas Lights Rides
  9. Muni Service Changes: Help Spread the Word
  10. Video: Cadbury's Bicycle Factory Program
  11. Upcoming Events

Where's the best place to get the bike of your dreams at a sweet price?
The 14th Annual Winterfest Party of course! Check out all 20 bikes that are up for auction
sfbike.org/wf_auction_09

Judge OKs Some Bike Projects, Celebrate Tuesday

Good news: the SF Superior Court has partially lifted the Bike Plan injunction that has prevented all physical improvements for bicycling for the past three years. While we're disappointed that the Court did not completely remove the handcuffs by fully lifting the injunction, this decision is still an important step forward and allows the City to begin striping ten new bike lanes (see more below), installing hundreds of (much-needed) sidewalk bike racks, painting 75 miles of sharrows (shared lane arrows), and even adding colored pavement all across San Francisco. This ruling comes on the heels of a city report that shows bicycle ridership has increased a whopping 53% since 2006. Read more at: SF Streetsblog, SF Chronicle, and the New York Times.

Celebrate with us tomorrow (Tuesday) and cheer the first new bike lane in over three years on the Wiggle! In addition to a brand new bike lane and green Bike Box (advanced stop line) on Scott St., the City will also be installing new bike racks on sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, paint new shared-lane "sharrows," install a temporary on-street bike parking corral and improve bicycle way-finding signs.
5-7:00pm: Stop by and visit the SF Bicycle Coalition--we'll be out at Duboce and Market streets and at Scott and Oak streets to share more about these new improvements along the Wiggle and what's next all across San Francisco.
5:30pm-8:00pm: Raise a glass and join us for a drink at the Duboce Park Cafe (Sanchez at Duboce) to celebrate the many new improvements for bicycling in San Francisco (SF Bicycle members receive a 10% discount with a flash of your membership card).

If you'd like to help with Streetside Outreach on this historic day, please contact Tessa right away.

The SF Bicycle Coalition is already working hard to make sure that the City gets these initial projects on the ground expeditiously. The City expects that the SF Superior Court will hear the lawsuit which brought about this Bike Plan injunction in June 2010, at which point the lawsuit could be dissolved and bring about a full lifting of the injunction. For more developments, watch sfbike.org.

Winterfest Bike Extravaganza This Sunday

We hope to see you this Sunday, Dec. 6 for one of the biggest and best nights for bike enthusiasts. Come party with 1,200 of your friends and raise a glass to a successful year of biking and the newest bike lanes at the SF Bike Coalition's 14th Annual Winterfest member party, auction, art show and fundraiser.
When: Sunday, Dec. 6th; 6-10:30pm
Where: SOMArts Gallery 934 Brannan St. at 8th St.

Join the party and watch out for these hot items. There's something for everyone at every price level and remember, every purchase goes directly to support our work for better biking in San Francisco.

  • Sweet deals on 20 bikes in a size and style that fits you
  • A biking date with SF Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, or dinner prepared by the Beer Chef
  • Gift certificates from great restaurants all over town
  • Sweet getaways to places like Napa and Healdsburg
  • Bags of all shapes and sizes like the one of a kind Zero bag from Rickshaw Bagworks
  • An amazing art auction with a one-of-a-kind art pieces by David Byrne and more than 60 local artists
  • Buy a raffle ticket for your chance to win the totally cool and unique 2009 Bike Quilt -- see it before the party at 867 Valencia Street thru Dec. 4th

Get into the party for free! This is a volunteer-powered fundraising event, and we need your help to make the event a huge success! Sign up today.

Winterfest is a fabulously fun night with New Belgium beer, DJs Laron and ShOOey spinning all night, valet bike parking and a photo booth -- all for only $15 suggested minimum admission for Bike Coalition members or $40 for people joining at the door (includes one year of membership + admission to the party). Bring your Bike Coalition membership card for quick entry.

Winterfest has all the best deals! And every purchase directly benefits our work to improving SF streets for biking, so bidding and buying are a win-win. We look forward to seeing you at the party this Sunday, Dec. 6.

Vote Today for SF Bike Coalition Board of Directors

Take a few minutes to vote in our important annual election for the Board of Directors for your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. We are proud to be one of the few large, member-based organizations that elects our Board of Directors through a member vote. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the Bicycle Coalition achieves its mission of promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. Their key roles include developing the strategic direction of the organization, overseeing our financial health, raising funds for our work, and representing the SF Bicycle Coalition to SF's many communities.

Each year, half of the 15-member board is elected to two-year terms by our membership -- that's you. The Board of Directors has nominated a slate of candidates with a well rounded set of skills and backgrounds to support our organization, such as financial, planning, legal, non-profit governance and prior board experience. Although the slate process means this election is uncontested (except for write in candidates), your vote is an important signal of confidence in the Board. Please read the candidate statements and vote today. Voting ends Friday, Dec. 11th.

Keep New Bike Projects on a Roll with a Year-End Gift

Are you ready for the number of bike lanes in the city to double? Do you enjoy sharing Market Street with fewer cars and more bicycles? Have you noticed lots more people biking throughout the city? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, take a moment to make a year-end gift to the SF Bicycle Coalition to help us keep this progress rolling forward.

In 2009, it was your SF Bicycle Coalition that:

  • Won unprecedented city approval of 45 new bike lanes
  • Spurred the new Better Market Street Project, reducing auto traffic to make room for a more enjoyable bicycle experience and speedier transit service
  • Worked tirelessly to help boost the number of people biking by a whopping 53% in the past three years!

If you benefit from and value the SF Bike Coalition's work -- whether it's riding on a new bike lane, car-free Sunday Streets, free valet bike parking at an event or Bike to Work Day -- then we ask you to donate whatever you can afford this holiday season to ensure the SF Bicycle Coalition has the resources to continue strong, effective advocacy for better biking and a better city in the new year. Our success depends on your support. Please give a special year-end gift today.

Market Street is Changing Colors

No, you're not imagining things -- the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) has begun installing its Calm the Safety Zone project at Fourth and Market streets. You'll notice colored pavement, rumble strips, 10 mph markings and sharrows (shared lane markings) in the area between the MUNI boarding island and sidewalk, all designed to get users of this narrow space to be more aware of each other and walk, bike, and drive more respectfully. The SFMTA and SF County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) will be installing a similar treatment at Market and Fifth streets -- we'll let you know when those are on the ground. Kudos to the SFMTA and SFCTA for implementing this new phase of the Better Market Street project trials. Be sure to give your feedback on the City's Better Market Street website.

The SF Bike Coalition's Great Streets Project has worked hard to help launch these trials in anticipation of a complete repaving of Market Street in 2013. These trials are an opportunity to test and keep good ideas that improve Market Street and make it more attractive for bicycling, walking, transit and shopping.

Bike to the Theater

Biking to the theater is easier and more fun when the SF Bicycle Coalition provides valet parking for you and your bike! It's like a coat check for bikes -- show up, hand over your bike to a friendly bike valet, and experience the event while we keep a close eye on your two-wheeler! Enjoy Bike Valet at these two great events:

  1. Get the whole family together to ride to the Oberlin Dance Company (ODC)'s The Velveteen Rabbit for Bike to the Bunny Day on Saturday, Dec. 5th at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Tickets for families of 4 available as low as $60!

  2. Ride over to the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) for the classic Christmas Carol on Thursday, Dec. 17th. SF Bicycle Coalition members receive a $10 discount off tickets for this performance -- just purchase your tickets online at act-sf.org and use promo code BIKE3 (Orchestra and Dress Circle tickets only, subject to availability).

Remind Caltrain to Plan for Bikes

We can't imagine how it happened, but Caltrain forgot to include its world-famous bikes onboard service in its draft Short-Range Transit Plan, so we need bicyclists and others who appreciate this "greenest last mile" solution to come out in force to the Caltrain Board meeting this Thursday in San Carlos. We'll provide "More Bikes, No Bumps" stickers to identify you as a supporter of Caltrain's onboard bicycle program. Let's fill the room with people who ride bikes, so we can remind Caltrain once again they need to plan for bicycles! Learn more about the Bicycle Coalition's BIKES ONboard project here.

What: Caltrain board meeting
Where: 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos
When: Thursday, Dec. 3, 10:00am

Hop on Your Bike for Our Christmas Lights Rides

The SF Bicycle Coalition's Christmas Lights Ride has become an annual tradition, growing so popular that this year we're bringing you two special holiday rides. We've got a ride for every kind of cyclist. Don't miss San Francisco's best holiday lights by bike!

New to cycling, or want a shorter ride? Try the SF Bicycle Coalition's Bike Buddies Christmas Light Ride: Sat., Dec. 12 | 6:30pm | Meet at the Panhandle Statue, Fell at Baker streets. Join our Bike Buddies for our Christmas Light Ride in lieu of our monthly Bike Buddy Route Ride. It's a great opportunity for new cyclists to become more comfortable riding at night and to enjoy a fun and mellow ride to some of SF's most creatively lit homes! As always, dress for the weather, bring blinky lights and holiday snacks to share. Email bikebuddy@sfbike.org for more information.

Looking for a more challenging Christmas light ride? Join the 6th Annual Christmas Lights Ride: Sun., Dec. 20 | 6:30pm | Meet at the Panhandle Statue, Fell and Baker. Embark on an evening tour of some of SF's fanciful holiday homes, exploring less-visited neighborhoods and maybe even singing a carol or two along the way. Deck your wheels, or just bring your holiday spirit. Remember to pack holiday treats or warm drinks to share at our snack stop! Ride is 12-15 miles, expect some ups and downs. Info: robin@biteback.com.

MUNI Service Changes: Help Spread the Word

Beginning this Saturday, Dec. 5, major service changes will impact more than half of MUNI's bus routes and the N Judah on weekends. Changes include both service reductions and service enhancements. See sfmta.com for details on the changes or call "311" for multilingual assistance.

Muni is looking for Transit Ambassador volunteers to help communicate these service changes. Volunteers are needed to staff six locations from Dec. 1-11 during morning (7-11am) and evening shifts (3-7pm). Volunteers will work in pairs to let riders know about the changes and make sure nobody is waiting at bus stops that are no longer in service. To help out, email Judy Tam or call 415.701.4557.

Video: Cadbury's Bicycle Factory Program

The versatility of the bicycle's ability to serve just about any transportation need is put to the test in places like Ghana where too many people are left with little choice other than to walk. Cadbury Chocolate has partnered with organizations like Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia (BENN) to deliver 5,000 bicycles to communities in Ghana, where, as BENN leader Michael Linke puts it, "A bicycle is hope, freedom and survival." Watch the video to see how these communities can use the bikes to deliver water, take children to school, and even save lives.

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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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