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SFBC Biker Bulletin

October 19, 2004

FOUR BIKE PROJECTS PASS UNANIMOUSLY!

Good news all around for bikes at Monday's Board of Supervisors Land Use Hearing: Bike lanes were approved on Folsom Street and the San Jose Ave/Guerrero corridor. Plus, an innovative (for SF) project to replace car parking with on-street bike parking in front of the Main Library was approved.

Finally, the first phase of Bus Rapid Transit was approved for the Geary/O'Farrell corridor -- though opponents are gearing up to oppose it at Tuesday's Transportation Authority meeting at 10:30am at City Hall, Room 260. Supportive speakers are definitely needed. (Thanks to the supporters at today's successful hearing!) And stay tuned for news of all of these exciting projects being implemented.

SFBC OPPOSES PROPOSAL to WIDEN MLK DRIVE

We are distressed to learn about a proposal to widen Martin Luther King Drive (in Golden Gate Park) to four lanes between Lincoln Ave and the Music Concourse. The idea, being considered by the Concourse Authority, is in response to a recent court ruling that the currently planned entrances to the garage being built in the Park would be illegal. (The original legislation, passed by voters in 1998, called for the "dedicated" entrances to the garage to be outside of the Park.) But this new proposal to simply widen MLK Drive to add traffic lanes would be harmful to the Park, and to pedestrians and bicyclists, including eliminating the possibility for bike lanes on MLK Dr. (You can read more about this worrisome proposal at http://www.sfpix.com/alt_options)

Three ways you can help:

    1) Write your Supervisor opposing the widening of MLK Drive into a four lane mini-highway. Find your Supervisor's contact information at http://www.sfbike.org/leaders
    2) Ask Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez to calendar public hearings on widening MLK before the Board's Finance and Audits Committee. Call Matt directly and leave a message at 415-554-7630.
    3) Attend the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee's special hearing on the matter Monday, October 25th at 6pm in City Hall Room 408.

TIME TO EXPLORE TRIATHLONS

The Bay Area is a perfect place to explore triathlons. You are sure to be in good company both in the water & out on the road - triathlons are very popular and you'll find people training for them everywhere. Now's actually a great time to look into training for a triathlon, as you'll be in great shape for the spring season if you begin soon.

To help our demystify this exciting & popular sport, we've created a FAQ to help get you started. Wonder about training while commuting, or what Tri Clubs are in the Bay Area? Check out the SFBC's new Triathlon information page: http://www.sfbike.org/?triathlon

COMING UP: TREASURE ISLAND TRIATHLON

> In just a few weeks, the Treasure Island Triathlon will bring up 3-4,000 local & international athletes together, on the weekend of November 6th. We're recruiting volunteers to staff the SFBC table at the race Expo, and to help support the athletes as they compete (by giving out water, etc). For more info about the race, see http://www.tricalifornia.com/treasureisland/2004/

If you'd like to get closer to these jocks, contact Michael at calfee@sfbik.org or 431-2453x21.

WHERE's YOUR HOUSE-SIGN? WANT a FREE T-SHIRT?

One of the easiest ways to support bike-friendly Supervisor candidates is by displaying a sign out of a street-facing window. These signs are free, and putting them up is a great way to give your favorite candidate some (usually much-needed) visibility. Just drop by the campaign HQ, and pick one up! (Follow the appropriate url below to find each HQ address). If there isn't a race in your neighborhood, just put up a sign from the race that matters most to you, no matter where it is in the city.

DID YOU SAY "FREE T-SHIRT"?

Yes, a nice, well-constructed, colorful t-shirt could be yours at no cost, just by volunteering! The campaign to elect Ross Mirkarimi Supervisor in District 5 is giving away t-shirts to folks who lend a hand. And they're quality shirts, too - bright red with white & blue lettering. You can pick up your free shirt at any of the following events:

    + SFBC Phonebanking night: Wednesday, October 20, 6-9pm, in the lower Haight @ Fillmore
    + Make bike signs supporting Ross! This Tuesday, October 19, 9-11pm, at 268 Haight @ Fillmore (or come early for phonebanking!)

Neither date work? This campaign has plenty of volunteer opportunities, all week long. Find out more at http://www.rossforsupervisor.org/

TWO WEEKS LEFT to WIN a BIKE-FRIENDLY MAJORITY

We need members' help now more than ever to make sure that we keep a bike-friendly majority on the Board of Supervisors. Please understand that this is *not* a given. There are several tight races that could make or break the level of support for bike projects in the coming years. Our endorsed candidates are looking to the SFBC's grassroots energy to help put edge them toward victory. There are 3 easy ways you can help:

    1) Volunteer for a special SFBC phonebanking night for one of our endorsed candidates. Join other SFBC members for an hour or two to do the crucial work of reminding voters to vote for strong candidates (See events listed below).
    2) Make an extra-special difference volunteering in District 1. If in doubt of which district to work in, this is where we need you most. This is a hotly contested one, where our endorsed candidate, Jake McGoldrick, is up against big money and not-so-bike friendly opponents. (See list below of ways to help Jake.)
    3) Help SFBC distribute our Endorsements Flyers to bicyclists! Can you spend an hour in the a.m. or p.m. passing out flyers to passing bicyclists, reminding them to vote for bike-friendly candidates? Able to pass these out at upcoming events, or distribute at popular neighborhood spots? Email leah@sfbike.org to help -- even an hour of help makes a difference here!

JOIN a VOLUNTEER PARTY for the SUPE near YOU!

Yes, Virginia, you can have lots of fun while helping pro-bike candidates win their Supervisor races. Just come to one of the many Volunteer Parties in the next two weeks! Here's a short list of what's coming up... but don't think this is everything out there... be sure to visit the campaign websites for up-to-date information.

Together, we can build a bike-friendly Board! Here are our top volunteer needs during the next week:

DISTRICT 1: Jake McGoldrick

    + SFBC Phonebanking night: Thursday, October 21, 5:30-9pm, at 219 Clement @ 3rd Ave.
    + SFBC Phonebanking night: Monday, October 25, 5:30-9pm, at 219 Clement @ 3rd Ave. If you can help at one or both of these nights please RSVP to Renee at renee_rivera@yahoo.com.
    + Join a volunteer mobilization this weekend.

DISTRICT 3: Aaron Peskin

DISTRICT 5: Ross Mirkarimi (see the "free t-shirt" offer above)

DISTRICT 9: Tom Ammiano

    + Phonebanking efforts every Monday thru Thursday after 6:30pm at 1417 Valencia @ 25th St.

DISTRICT 11: Gerardo Sandoval

    + SFBC Phonebanking night: Sunday, October 24, 6-8:30pm, 4760 Mission @ Russia Sts. (This is another hotly contested race where our help is really needed.)

HELP CREATE WINTERFEST FABULOUSNESS!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 5th, as the SFBC's biggest party of the year, Winterfest 2004 is fast approaching! Get ready to enjoy great music, food, and the BEST place to find yourself surrounded by bicyclists on a December Sunday night!

Please help us make this year's Winterfest the BEST of San Francisco biking fun. Consider volunteering your time in the following areas NOW and at the event: design and publicity, entertainment, decorations, food and beverages, our silent and live auction, and sales. We need you if you can make some phone calls, transform a large space into a beautiful biking winter wonderland, if you have a quick and trained auctioneer's eye, and in many other areas. People willing & able to lead volunteer teams are especially valuable. Please contact Lisa Ruth Elliott, Winterfest Coordinator, at lisaruth@sfbike.org or 415.431.BIKE(2453) x15 if you can lend some time.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check out our online calendar of events at http://www.sfbike.org/?chain

Add your bike event to our calendar by emailing calendar@sfbike.org (Events not sponsored by the SFBC are marked with an *)

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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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