San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
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The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) is a California 501(c)(4) nonprofit public benefit corporation established to "transform San Francisco's streets and neighborhoods into more livable and safe places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation." Founded in 1970, dormant through much of the 1980s, and re-founded in 1991, the SFBC in 2007 has a dues-paying membership of over 7,500 and is considered in 2007 to be one of the most influential membership-based advocacy organizations in San Francisco.[1]
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[edit] San Francisco Bike Network
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's primary goal is a city-wide network of bike lanes, bike paths, or traffic-calmed streets interconnecting every neighborhood in San Francisco.[2] The SFBC states that the whole city will benefit from the bike network due to safer streets, more choices for mobility, less congestion, easier parking, benefits to the local economy, and better health. However, no physical improvements for bicycles can be made to San Francisco's streets until the required environmental impact report is complete, which is expected in 2008.
[edit] San Francisco Bike Plan
In June 2005, the city approved an SFBC-backed proposal to add bike lanes, require commercial developers to provide bike parking, and outfit Muni buses with bike racks. A June 2006 preliminary injunction stopping all physical improvements for bicycles and cyclists was upheld on November 7, 2006, by Superior Court judge Peter Bush pending the completion of a full environmental impact report.[3] The SFBC also supports efforts to improve street maintenance, decrease bicycle theft, and slow the speed of car traffic, as well as events such as the annual Bike to Work Day. The Bicycle Advisory Committee, which consists of 11 members appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, makes recommendations to the board and other public agencies on bicycle transportation projects and policies.
[edit] Bike to Work Day
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition sponsors the annual Bike to Work Day to encourage commuters to try bicycling as a healthy alternative to driving by organizing groups of cyclists to ride together starting from various neighborhoods, matching new bicycle commuters with more experienced "Bike Buddies", and providing free snacks and coffee at "Energizer Stations" along the busiest bike routes.
In recent years, more elected city officials have participated in Bike to Work Day to show their support for the cycling community. Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Chris Daly, Bevan Dufty, Sean Elsbernd, Ed Jew, Jake McGoldrick, and Ross Mirkarimi were among the thousands of cyclists who participated in San Francisco's 13th Annual Bike to Work Day on 2007-05-17.
During the 2007 Bike to Work Day, bicycles made up a majority of street traffic travelling eastbound on Market Street from 8:00 to 9:00, comprising 54% of overall traffic. Automobiles made up 42% of traffic, and transit vehicle and taxis were 4% of traffic. Traffic counts were conducted by Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) staff.[4]
[edit] Bike SF 2010
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition supports Mayor Gavin Newsom's Bike SF 2010, a set of comprehensive goals to track the progress of bicycle improvements to San Francisco's streets.
[edit] References
- ^ Gordon, Rachel. "Cycling supporters on a roll in S.F.", San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-08-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
- ^ Citywide Bicycle Network
- ^ King, John. "Bike-lane plan slowed for environmental study", San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-11-09. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
- ^ Shahum, Leah. "Bikes Surpass Autos on Market Street, Mayor Newsom Declares Milestones for Better Bicycling", San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, 2007-05-17. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
