July 7, 2004

Bikes On Baby Bullet: Sign The Petition!

We are delighted to hear that Caltrain riders haven taken matters into their own hands and are actively organizing fellow riders to restore regular bike access on baby bullet trains. Long-time train riders are deeply frustrated by the reduction in bike capacity: from 64 or 32 bike spots down to a woefully inadequate 16 bike spaces. Caltrain has pledged to work with the bicycle community to seek solutions, but in the meantime, add your voice to the growing clamor for equal access on express trains. You can help Caltrain bike riders out by checking out and signing their on-line petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/mbcbb/

For more info on SFBC efforts contact Josh Hart at josh@sfbike.org

Parking Tax Increase For Safter Streets, Better City

If we keep following the same old land use and transportation policies, the Transportation Authority projects a quarter million new car trips in San Francisco by 2025, which means more traffic congestion, slower transit service, more air and noise pollution, and more dangerous conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. However, we don't have to accept this forecast as our destiny -- we should take control of our own transportation future by creating incentives that reduce traffic congestion and fund better transit service.

To help accomplish this goal, several senior and disabled groups, environmental organizations, and transportation advocates (like SFBC's partner organization TLC) are working on a campaign to raise the parking tax, which would generate $20 million per year to be divided between senior/disabled services and better Muni/paratransit service.

Research shows that a 10% increase in parking prices results in up to a 6% decrease in demand for existing parking spaces, meaning less cars on San Francisco streets, which in turn translates into safer conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, faster transit service, more incentives to build housing with reduced parking, and more people commuting to work without a car, choosing to use City CarShare instead. Surveys of motorists have found that 1/2 to 2/3 of people who pay the parking tax are out-of-towners, and a large number of these are downtown office commuters who can 'beat the tax' simply by carpooling or taking transit to work.

Raising the parking tax is the most socially-progressive and only environmentally-beneficial revenue proposal currently under consideration: a 'transit-first tax' that reduce the number of cars on neighborhood streets and help fund better transit service. Please help get the parking tax on the ballot this Fall by taking the following steps:

a) ASK THE MAYOR AND BOARD TO SUPPORT INCREASING THE PARKING TAX, especially Finance Committee members DALY, PESKIN, and AMMIANO, by this FRIDAY, JULY 9TH. See their fax & email contact information at http://www.sfbike.org/?leaders --> please cc: jeremy@livablecity.org.

b) TESTIFY in support of raising the parking tax AT NEXT TUESDAY'S (6/13) FINANCE COMMITTEE hearing (late morning/early afternoon, City Hall, Room 263).

c) Contact Jeremy Nelson with Transportation for a Livable City at 425-9848 to GET INVOLVED in the "Campaign to Raise the Parking Tax."

SEE The TOUR DE FRANCE On The BIG SCREEN!

Thanks to everyone who wrote in to recommend http://www.cyclingnews.com for Tour de France updates. Lots of great info there!

In other Tour news, the Tyler Hamilton Foundation is sponsoring the Tour de France LOUD, LARGE & LIVE on the big screen on Saturday, July 17th at the Emery Bay theater multiplex (near IKEA). That's right, you can see Stage 13 of the Tour live, starting with the fireworks on the 3rd Mountain Stage from Lannemezan to the uphill finish at the Plateau de Beille. It is guaranteed to blow your nice little plasma screen off the wall! Tickets to this special live screening includes continental breakfast, and benefits the Tyler Hamilton Foundation (THF)'s work to help individuals affected by multiple sclerosis and aspiring young athletes with a passion for cycling.

SFBC members are entitled to $5 off the above ticket prices; to activate this discount, enter in the appropriate ticket code (below) when purchasing your ticket at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1149609

"SFBC25" - $5 discount on the $25 ticket
"SFBC40" - $5 discount on the $40 ticket (includes free t-shirt)

(see below for info on free admission for volunteers)

This event is for early risers only - because of time zone differences, the screening begins at 5 AM, and you should get there earlier to enjoy breakfast. Want to get in free as a volunteer? You must be at the theater at 4 AM: if that works, email calfee@sfbike.org for details.

Octavia Blvd Details Finalizing Next Week

As you may have noticed, the strip of land under the former Central Freeway has been graded and is about ready to be transformed into new housing and the new Octavia Boulevard. The Central Freeway Citizens Advisory Committee will meet this Monday, July 12th at 6pm at 100 Van Ness 25th Floor to discuss the final details and ancillary projects that will be funded through the Transportation Authority. These include landscaping, as well as bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. If you are wondering how you will travel through this area when all the construction is said and done, this is a good opportunity to find out more and have a say in shaping YOUR public space.

At this hearing, Pay special attention to planned bicycle movements through the Octavia/ Market intersection as well as routes from Valencia, up the new McCoppin path, connecting with the boulevard. The SFBC has already won several important improvements to the design including a designated phase crossing Market St. in the northbound direction (no cars turning right across your path from the freeway), signalized access across Fell St. in the southbound direction, and bike lanes at the Market St. entrance to the Boulevard. For more information, contact Josh Hart at joshua@sfbike.org.

Bike For Breath: 2 More Volunteers Needed!

"Bike for Breath" is a fundraising bike ride on July 10th for the Amercian Lung Association, which is working to promote bicycling as a way to reduce lung-damaging pollution from cars. The SFBC will be tabling at this worthy event, at the Foster City start & finish line expo area. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered so far - we only need 2 more of you to help circulate petitions and spread the word about our efforts to build a bike-friendly city. If you can help THIS SATURDAY, please contact Michael ASAP at calfee@sfbike.org or 431-BIKEx21.

Once Upon A Ride... Independent Bookstore Bike Tour

Get caught Reading and Riding! San Francisco is one of the world's great literary cities, and boasts many unique and wonderful independent bookstores. We will visit many of them this Saturday, July 10th, and even the savviest bikeworm is guaranteed to learn something new. This free SFBC bike tour starts at 11am, leaving from ' A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books' in Opera Plaza at 601 Van Ness Ave. We're looking for a few volunteers to help pass a clipboard & keep an eye on bikes while we're in each store. If you can lend a hand, contact juliahobbs@yahoo.com.

Last Call For Tube Times Content!

Got a letter to editor, event or hot tip for the next issue of the SFBC's Tube Times? The deadline is this week, so get your Tube Times content to Josh Hart at joshua@sfbike.org today! For PDFs of current or past Tube Times issues, visit http://www.sfbike.org/?tubetimes.

Next Urban Street Skills Course July 24th (Sign Up Today!)

Have you considered the healthy and fun benefits of bicycling, but feel threatened by traffic? On Saturday, July 24 from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Taraval Police Station Community Room (2345 24th @ Taraval), the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition will present a Street Skills course. We will discuss bike selection, fit, safety and security equipment, then teach proper techniques for managing lanes, intersections, turns, visibility, and hazards. Bikes are optional, but we will do a quick inspection at the end of the course if you bring yours. Street Skills is the classroom part of the League of American Bicyclists' Road I course, and is taught by a certified League Cycling Instructor. The class is free, but is limited to 20. Please register in advance with an email to Bert Hill at sfstreetskills@aol.com, giving your name, contact info, experience level, and area of particular interest.

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