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TIMES SPRING 2020 ISSUE 171 ∙ APRIL, MAY AND JUNE DIGITAL ISSUE SF BICYCLE COALITION FROM HOME
Letter from the Executive Director
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has always been dedicated to imagining
a better future for our city and its people, then organizing and fighting for it.
As we grapple with the growing human toll of the pandemic, that imaginative
capacity and determination has never been more crucial. Coming together for
mutual aid and survival in times of crisis is a defining characteristic of our
humanity, and I am inspired by the many examples we have seen here in San
Francisco and around the world.
I want to share with you how the members and staff of the SF Bicycle Coalition
are coming together to help each other and how we are continuing to imagine
and fight for a better future during this time of uncertainty.
Bicycle repair is an essential service.
Within days of San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order (the first in the nation),
the SF Bicycle Coalition worked with elected officials to clarify that bicycle
repair is an essential service and local bike shops are allowed to stay open. We
are keeping an updated list on our website of bike shops in San Francisco that
remain open for repair.
The bicycle as a tool to connect vulnerable community members.
Our organizing staff is working to connect seniors and others with limited
mobility in the Tenderloin and SoMa with telephone calls to check in and
delivery of food and other necessities by bicycle.
Serving as a trusted resource for bicycling information.
As thousands of San Franciscans adapt their commutes to deal with transit
service cuts, many are looking to alternatives for making essential trips. As
the city’s leading source for information on how to bike safely and responsibly,
we continue to make our educational resources freely available to all.
Open Streets are necessary for healthy cities. It will take us many months to beat the dire threat of COVID-19 and work
our way back to a semblance of normalcy in San Francisco and beyond. I have
The shelter-in-place order has shown that San Franciscans, and especially
families with children, do not have equal access to car-free space for essential
"The urgency faith that we will continue to show up to support those in our community who
Thanks to Dolan Law Firm for supporting the Tube Times
are sick, working on the front lines as health care workers and first responders,
trips and exercise. The recently–announced Slow Streets program is a to change our or are impacted economically. I also have more faith than ever that the bicycle
beginning step toward remedying those inequities, and it must be expanded to
our city's dense neighborhoods and parks. behavior and is a tool well-suited for our present moment and our future.
Clean air and fewer automobile trips are the silver linings we cannot ignore. dramatically What we choose to do with it will make all of the difference.
We will learn many lessons from this pandemic, but one silver lining is the
dramatic improvement in air quality and the reduction in carbon emissions reduce emissions Brian Wiedenmeier
from transportation. The public health threat of climate change will remain
once COVID-19 abates, and we will have a singular opportunity to examine
has never
how our city is designed and to promote other modes of transportation over been greater." Executive Director
cars. The urgency to change our behavior and dramatically reduce emissions
TUBE TIMES 171
SPRING 2020
has never been greater.
1 2The Tube Times is a quarterly publication of the San Francisco
Bicycle Coalition, a member-based advocacy organization
Making Progress Block By Block
transforming San Francisco’s streets into safe, just and livable places
by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.
EDITOR DESIGN
Melissa Lewis Titan Vicencio
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Howard Levitt
By Janice Li
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR
Janice Li, x302, janice@sfbike.org Almost a year ago, we celebrated
Bike to Work Day and Mayor
What's happened so far?
CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR
Darren Newell, x321, darren@sfbike.org London Breed’s commitment to
build 20 new miles of protected bike
COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR
Melissa Lewis, x308, melissa@sfbike.org
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
lanes within two years. A year into
the Mayor’s commitment, we’ve seen
2011
The longest stretch of
Claire Amable, x313, claire@sfbike.org
a record amount of lanes go into protected bike lane yet
Our events are now virtual to follow the COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Kristen Leckie, x312, kristen@sfbike.org
the ground, thanks largely to the
“quick-build” process that was put
2012
The City's first two way
gets built on JFK Drive
in Golden Gate Park.
public health requirements of the shelter- DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Rahul Young, x304, rahul@sfbike.org
in place shortly after Bike to Work
Day. With quick-builds popping up
protected bike lane
gets built on Cargo Way.
in-place order. We have online discussions DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Whitney Libunao, x320, whitney@sfbike.org
across the city, we feel it’s was time
for a look back on how protected 2014
about biking, representatives who work EVENTS DIRECTOR
Susan Gallentine, x318, susan@sfbike.org
bike lanes came to be, and how many
more miles of lanes we have to look
Using planters and
concrete and other
physical barriers, two
in all aspects of transportation leading EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian Wiedenmeier, x305, brian@sfbike.org forward to to meet the Mayor’s goal. blocks of a contra-flow
protected bike lane
webinars, virtual bike education classes, FAMILY & SCHOOLS COORDINATOR
Janelle Phung, x324, janellephung@sfbike.org
What’s on deck for the rest
of 2020?*
creates a safe bike
connection to City Hall
and online arts and crafts nights perfect GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Titan Vicencio, titan@sfbike.org We’re excited that protected bike
lanes were approved and are awaiting
2017
Concrete barriers are
from Market Street
against the flow of traffic..
for the whole family. Check out www.sfbike. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Nesrine Majzoub, x303, nesrine@sfbike.org
construction on Howard Street installed along San Jose
Avenue to fully protect
between 3rd and the Embarcadero,
org/events to RSVP for some online time MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
Kelsey Roeder, x310, kelsey@sfbike.org
Seventh Street between Folsom and
the bike lane from fast-
2018
moving traffic.
Townsend, and more.
with your SF Bicycle Coalition community,
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Janelle Wong, x311, janelle@sfbike.org
Tenderloin’s first
Planning is also underway on new protected bike lane,
and if you have ideas for future events,
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Eliana Marcus-Tyler, x301, eliana@sfbike.org
protected bike lanes projects are on Turk Street,
is constructed.
being proposed for portions of
email susan@sfbike.org.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Jo-Anne Burgess, x315, joanne@sfbike.org
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Valencia Street, Bayshore Boulevard,
Folsom Street, Alemany Boulevard,
2019
On Bike to Work Day,
Thanks to Dolan Law Firm for supporting the Tube Times
Christopher White, x322, christopher@sfbike.org
and more. Mayor London Breed
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIST commits the City to
Jeremy Hobbs, x307, jhobbs@sfbike.org ** We recognize that the shelter-in-place
installing 20 miles of
VOLUNTEER AND MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
order has had a significant impact on the protected bike lane.
Chris Bannister, x316, christian@sfbike.org construction of protected bike lanes. While
YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS COORDINATOR we know that some approvals have moved
Dave Gajer, x314, dave@sfbike.org
forward, your SF Bicycle Coalition advocacy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS team continues to meet regularly with City Where are we now?
Nicholas Aulston, Sarah Bindman, Stephen Braitsch, Constance
Cavallas, Audrey Harris, Marie Jonas, Jean Kao, Manoj Madhavan, staff to advance bike projects during this
Meaghan Mitchell, Tyler Morris, Preston Rhea, Kelli Shields,
Alexandra Sweet, Juli Uota, Brad Williford time. We still believe we can achieve 20
VALET BICYCLE SUPERVISORS miles of protected bike lanes by May 2021.
TUBE TIMES 171
Nahid Abunama-Elgadi, Nicolas Anderson, Zach Bondurant, Adrian
MAY 2019 MAY 2020 MAY 2021
SPRING 2020
Cardenas, Molly Champlin, David Deffarges, Geoff Fletcher, Aaron
Forman, Xiomara Grande, Stephanie Guerrero, Henry Lam, Jessi
Lawrence, Joseph LeClair, Maggie McGarry, Matthew McKenna, Axel
Moser, Tilly Schoonhoven, David Truong, Alexis Wallace, Tracy Weiss 0 MILES 6.4 MILES 20 MILE
S
INTERNS
3 Nicolas Abboud, Rico Daga, Teya Hernandez, Annika Sin,
Titan Vicencio
24Quick Releases
Congrats To New WeDriveU Training
Board Members & For Buses And
Goodbye To Our Bike – Safe Driving
Departing Board Your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
knows that making SF streets as
After receiving 991 tallied ballots, we safe as possible demands everyone’s
welcome and congratulate the eight involvement. That’s why training
winners of our 2020 board elections. professional drivers, who set the tone
Jean Kao, Tyler Morris, Stephen for driver safety on our streets, is so
Braitsch, Audrey Harris, Marie Jonas, important to us. This commitment
Manoj Madhavan, and Constance took another step forward in January,
Cavallas join our board of directors as we trained over a dozen commuter
in guiding our organization through shuttle bus drivers from WeDriveU,
our Strategic Plan for a two-year and exploring the possibility to encompasses the Tenderloin, South one of the largest commuter shuttle VVV
term. Thank you to all of our install similar treatments on Haight of Market and Treasure Island. operators in SF, on how to safely
Street to make the neighborhood When she’s not in meetings or doing
members who ran and voted in this
year’s election. safer for those walking, biking or streetside outreach, Claire can be
share the road with people on bikes
and bike infrastructure. No matter
Here's what
Thank you to our departing board
taking transit. found camping, teaching little ones
how to skateboard in Golden Gate
how you feel about giant white people are saying
members Robin Abad, Jane Natoli,
Mary Kay Chin, Shirley Johnson and
Welcome Claire Park and indulging in a tofu banh
commuter buses, when their drivers
keep people on bikes in mind, we’re about Better
mi from Saigon Sandwiches. And
Andy Thornley. We are grateful for
your years of service.
And Titan! Titan, a Bay Area native, is excited to
all safer.
These efforts augment the work
Market Street!
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition merge his passions for visual design
we’re already doing to train all
Improvements Are In has welcomed two new staff to the
team: Claire Amable as our newest
and transportation justice. When
he’s not designing for SF Bicycle
Golden Gate Transit bus operators.
And more trainings will happen
Place For Page Street Community Organizer, and Titan
Vicencio as our part-time Graphic
Coalition, he loves practicing his
jump shot, screen-printing t-shirts
soon — stay tuned!
Designer! Claire is responsible for his friends, and scheming up new
After five-plus years of planning and
Market Street
Thanks to Dolan Law Firm for supporting the Tube Times
for projects in District 6 which recipes with his KitchenAid.
the people power of our members
and neighborhood advocates, safety
improvements on Page Street are 2020 Update
finally in the ground! Now, this
popular east-west bike route will This is huge! As of January 29,
no longer have cars queued as they private cars are now restricted from
try to use the street as an extended using Market Street east of 10th
freeway on-ramp. Thanks to the Street and new bicycle infrastructure
new traffic diversions, protected is in the ground at key intersections of respondents feel the changes including a side-walk level bike
downhill bikeway, uphill bike lane like Page Street, Valencia, and Hyde. have improved their commute. In lane pilot-test aimed for this May.
and turn restrictions, Page Street Members of your San Francisco addition, 50% of respondents say This is one of the most important
TUBE TIMES 171
SPRING 2020
now puts people-first. We look Bicycle Coalition have been out they now bike more often as a result transformations ever to one of the
forward to evaluations of the pilot flyering to gain feedback on the of the car-restrictions on Market. city’s most important thoroughfares.
changes, and have found that 70% And more changes are on the way,
5 6What Does It Mean To Be Car–Free?
By Janice Li WHAT MAKES A STREET "CAR–FREE"?
On January 29, it out “Better Market Street,” a major feedback on how the changes have “Car–free,” is sometimes literally that — no cars. But the design and the policies can differ
capital project that would overhaul been for you, from street to street, creating a variety of models of what it means to be car-free. Here are
happened: Market the corridor, upgrade Muni facilities, “So quiet. You can hear the breezes three snapshots of ways we can divert traffic so that popular bike routes and busy pedestrian
Street became car-free. link public open spaces, and finally these days,” said long-time Market streets can be more welcoming for biking and walking.
create inviting, welcoming places for Street advocate and SF Bicycle
One can argue this people to bike and walk. Coalition member Paul Valdez.
win was over a century After we rallied members, turned out Member Austin Elliott had the same
PAGE STREET OCTAVIA BOULEVARD GOLDEN GATE PARK
in the making, even meeting after meeting, and educated reaction. “The awesome thing about Approved late last year and now Late last year, one block of Octavia On April 2, 1967, our city
our City leaders, the project was Market Street right now is how quiet freshly in the ground, a variety of Boulevard went car-free. For the one celebrated People’s Day In The
before cars and driving unanimously approved last October it is. Just bikes, a parade of electric turn restrictions and one-way block south of Hayes Street, people Park — the first Sunday where half
began to dominate our by the SF Municipal Transportation buses and the clanging bells of street streets were implemented as a pilot will no longer be able to use Octavia of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park
roadways. Way back in Agency’s Board of Directors. cars,” he remarked. to significantly decrease traffic as a cut-through. While this car-free was car-free. In 2007, This Sunday
between Webster and Octavia. zone only spans about 200 feet tradition was extended to Saturdays,
1896, J.S. Conwell led But as bike advocates, we aren’t With the Market Street project now
While not technically car-free, alongside Patricia’s Green in Hayes with a smaller car-free zone. Now
satisfied with merely approving a well underway, we are on a big-time
the first Market Street project — we need to see progress on roll. But we know that, we need to
these treatments will prioritize Valley, new bollards and striping that we have had decades of
protest to demand the ground. continue building the momentum
bikes and only offer limited, local forces drivers to turn off while peo- successful weekends, we continue
access for those driving. During ple can freely bike and walk across to work hard to expand access and
that our city’s most So finally, the day came. On January to open up more of our streets
morning commutes, people biking this area like a park space. car-free spaces in our biggest city
for people. With recent wins for
important downtown 29, Market Street from 10th to
Octavia Boulevard, Page Street and
on lower Page Street outnumber park.
Main Streets -just two blocks shy those driving cars by two-to-one.
corridor create space for of the Embarcadero - was closed Twin Peaks, we’re continuing our
people biking. to private automobiles. The only momentum forward with Golden
vehicles allowed are Muni buses and Gate Park, the Tenderloin and
But in the early 20th Century, beyond. Getting cars off of Market
streetcars and taxis. This has opened
the auto industry began to take Street wasn’t the end; it was just a
up the street to people biking and
over, and just 33 years later after major milestone in reclaiming our
made walking more pleasant.
Conwell’s protest, a letter to the streets for our health, our enjoyment,
San Francisco Chronicle had a Many approached the change with and for our people.
simple, pleading title: “Why not apprehension or skepticism: So how
abolish all automobiles?” The writer is it going? We’ve been out there on
of this letter, A.R. Knoll, called for Market Street the streets getting your
Thanks to Dolan Law Firm for supporting the Tube Times
converting Market Street into a
“paradise by driving every auto off
GOLDEN WHEEL AWARDS
the street from the Embarcadero to
10th Street.” Now all these years later,
"But as bike advocates, we aren’t WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020
6:30PM — 9:00PM
our paradise is here. satisfied with merely approving a THE GREEN ROOM AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WAR
Since its founding in 1971, your MEMORIAL, 401 VAN NESS AVE.
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has project — we need to see progress The Golden Wheel Awards honor leaders in the
consistently pushed for designing
and transforming our streets so that on the ground." community who are making positive changes to the
urban landscape. Mingle with political decision-makers,
we put people first. About a decade
community leaders, business partners and San Francisco
TUBE TIMES 171
ago, in 2010, a new opportunity
SPRING 2020
Bicycle Coalition members, and be inspired.
emerged. City planners rolled
7 8SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE COALITION
1720 Market Street NONPROFIT
San Francisco, CA 94102 ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SAN FRANCISCO, CA
PERMIT #3819
BECOME A SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE COALITION MEMBER
AND GET DISCOUNTS ALL OVER TOWN
Bike Shops Pedal Revolution Clothing & Food & Beverage Wellness
Roaring Mouse Cycles
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Nomad Cyclery Wheel Fun Rentals
Ocean Cyclery
*Must arrive by bike to receive discount. See sfbike.org/discounts for details.
Become a member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and make San
Francisco a better place to live, work and bike. As a member, you get
discounts all over town, free bike trailer and air travel bike box rentals BUSINESS BULLETIN
and more. See sfbike.org/membership for all the benefits. $ 35 ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP (QUARTERLY)
$52 A BUCK A WEEK BICYCLE EDUCATION
NAME $120 SUSTAINERS* (MONTHLY)
$250 SUPPORTING MEMBER* FAMILY BIKING
ADDRESS CITY (QUARTERLY)
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ZIP $1,000 DONOR*
*includes free SF Bicycle Coalition t-shirt!
Make checks payable to: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Please choose.
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NAME
TUBE TIMES 171
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NAME:
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