A well-trained passenger arrives in Old Oakland.

Oakland’s official Bike to Work Day after-party kicked into high gear in Old Oakland last night. Over 600 people converged to dance, eat, drink, mingle, and just take in the atmosphere from the middle of the street.

“We saw people of all ages out enjoying bicycle carnival rides, great local food, and the company of our vibrant East Bay cycling community,” said Renee Rivera, executive director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC), which spearheaded the event. “I look forward to the event growing into an Oakland institution as more and more people bike everyday here in the East Bay.”

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland executive director Kassie Rohrbach and EBBC executive director Renee Rivera draw raffle winners.

Raffle drawings and award presentations punctuated the ceremony.

The EBBC recognized this year’s Bike-Friendly Businesses, Clif Bar, Sun Light & Power, and Alta Planning & Design, for taking that extra step to motivate their employees to ride to work.

“I wish we could make 30 awards instead of three,” lamented Rivera. “So many businesses in the East Bay realize that cycling to work makes their employees healthier, happier, and more productive.”

Berkeley Assemblymember Nancy Skinner presented Alameda County’s Bike Commuter of the Year award to sixth grader Jason Hollick, already a successful cycling advocate among his friends and family.

A member of the Derailleurs strikes a pose.

The rest of the party was more like a bicycle circus.

The Muddy Roses and the Derailleurs, a San Francisco-based bicycle dance troop, staked out the main stage.

Cyclecide, operating a triptych of bike-powered carnival rides, brought life to a downtown parking lot.

Oaklandish supplied a bike decorating station. The Crucible demonstrated some of its more creative bike modifications.

Bike-themed mobile vendors, El Taco Bike and PopCycle, brought refreshments (in addition to the more traditionally propelled La Borinqueña).

Making full use of the street closure, the portable parklet built for Actual Cafe made its world premiere. Though it was the first San Francisco-style parklet in the East Bay, people quickly coalesced around the installation. Even after guests brought over chairs from other parts of the party, eager sitters sprang from nearby tables as the parklet’s benches became available.

“I’m so grateful for the help of all the volunteers that made Bike to Work Day and the Bike Away From Work Party happen,” exclaimed Rebecca Stievater of the EBBC.

“From last minute sidewalk chalk and rubber stamp acquisition to beer pouring, raffle ticket selling, bike parking guards, and clean up, I know we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers. It’s so gratifying to see people excited about biking and all the advocacy work that’s happening in the East Bay – this just gets better every year.”

The portable parklet took a field trip from Actual Cafe.

Less permanent parklets lined one side of Washington Street.

Bike-powered snacks, including PopCycle and El Taco Bike, sated the masses.

An unusual view of a typically car-clogged street.

Cyclecide: self-propelled fun for all ages.

How else to wind down after Oakland

Mayor Ed Lee rides the new green separated bike lanes on Market Street on Bike to Work Day. Photo: Aaron Bialick

Cycling San Franciscans have plenty to be happy about on the streets this Bike to Work Day, with new and greened bike lanes, new bike parking, sharrows, bike boxes, and traffic signals to make riding a little easier.

“This is by far the most work we’ve done in a span of time like this,” said the SF Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Mike Sallberry of the Sustainable Streets Division, which has been at the forefront of innovative bike improvements in the city.

“San Francisco has a lot to celebrate on this Bike to Work Day as more people than ever are bicycling,” said Leah Shahum, executive director of the SF Bicycle Coalition, which has been hard at work over the years pushing city agencies to improve the streets for bicycling.

“We know that [the city] shares the goals of making it easier to move around – more accessible, more affordable, more business-friendly and family-friendly,” she said.

Here’s a summary provided by the SFMTA of the improvements that riders can see on the ground today since the bike injunction was lifted in November 2009:

Market Street at Octavia Boulevard. Photo: Bryan Goebel

Bike Lanes

• Green bike lanes separated by safe-hit posts have been implemented on Market Street from 8th Street to Octavia Boulevard.
• Separated bike lanes were also installed on Division Street, Portola Drive, and Laguna Honda Boulevard.
• 43 percent (14.5 miles) of bike lanes in the San Francisco Bike Plan have been implemented since the bike injunction.

• 40 miles of shared lane markings, or sharrows, have been implemented on 104 different street segments.

• Five green bike boxes were installed on Market Street in April, adding to the two existing bike boxes at Scott and Oak Streets (green) and 14th and Folsom Streets (non-green).

• Bicycle traffic signals were installed on Fell at Masonic and Shrader Streets. A left turn signal was recently installed to help riders turning left from Scott Street, where the city’s first post-injunction, left turn bike lane was painted.
• The Fell Street bike lane was painted green, reducing blockage from drivers.
• The Valencia Street bike lane was enhanced with a permanent green wave, synchronizing the traffic signals to a bike-friendly 13 mph.

32 new bike racks were recently installed on Market Street. Photo: Bryan Goebel

Bike Parking

• The SFMTA has installed over 650 sidewalk bicycle racks since the bike injunction, providing 1300 bicycle parking spaces. There are now a total of 2150 racks with 4300 spaces.
• The SFMTA has installed 13 on-street bike corrals to accommodate high bike parking demand in commercial areas, providing 8-12 spots for bikes in each former car space.

• The SFMTA operates and maintains 52 bicycle lockers in six separate downtown parking garages.

On the way:

• Separated bike lanes on Alemany Boulevard are currently being installed.
• “Green-backed” sharrows along portions of eastbound Market Street between Van Ness Avenue and 8th Streets. The sharrows will be re-painted on top of green rectangles to improve visibility.

Have we missed any improvements that caught your eye? Let us know in the comments.

Gloria Bruce, WOBO board president, at the Rally for Bikeways

Bike to Work Day is underway in Alameda County, and this year’s riders already broke last year’s record by 12.3 percent.

The Cities of Emeryville and Berkeley saw the largest increases, with 15 and 14 percent increases respectively. At one point, a quarter of street traffic at Sproul Plaza in the heart of Downtown Berkeley was bicycles.

Even Oakland, with a mere eight percent increase, set a new city record for its Bike to Work Day turnout.

The East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) organized 79 energizer stations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The stations dotted major corridors and destinations, offering a place for cyclists to stock up on coffee, snacks, tote bags of coupons and maps, and information about local bicycle organizations. Several stations adopted themes to give their patrons an extra boost of energy and excitement on their commute.

The Pirate Station dropped anchor at Lakeside Drive and 14th Street.

Four energizer stations counted over 500 people biking by during the morning rush hour. This is the first time East Bay stations outside Downtown Berkeley and Oakland saw this many people riding to work.

Dave Campbell, program director of the EBBC, was not surprised to see where some of the biggest increases appeared.

“The next two busiest stations were Broadway at 27th and San Pablo at Alcatraz. These two locations are very busy streets for cars, but lots of cyclists ride, despite there being a complete lack of accommodations for cyclists.”

Campbell continued: “The busiest energizer station in Emeryville was on 40th Street. The busiest energizer station in Oakland, outside of downtown, was on 40th Street. That’s just a case to put bike lanes on 40th Street.”

The District 2 pedal pool. Council member Pat Kernighan is second from left.

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) organized pools in each Oakland council district, meeting as early as 7 am for the ride to Downtown Oakland. Four city council members rode with their district’s pools.

“In the past we’ve had brand new riders, one of whom is a council aide for Rebecca Kaplan,” said pool leader Midori Tabata. “She was so thrilled by the experience that she’s now become a regular bicycle commuter.”

By 9 am, a thousand people arrived at the annual Bike Fair at Frank Ogawa Plaza. The fair is best known for its free pancakes, poured and flipped by Whole Foods and Piedmont Grocery.

“Those pancakes were off the hook,” exclaimed Nsomeka Gomes.

The fair also featured several bike shops, artists and clubs. AC Transit brought an entire bus to help people learn how to put their bikes on the bus racks. The rider with the fastest time (nine seconds) won a set of bike lights.

The Bike Fair in Downtown Oakland

“I’m really glad that I finally found a group,” said Rita Watson, who lives near Lake Merritt. “I’m going to join the Yellow Jackets, because I’ll feel more comfortable with a group. I haven’t been out riding in years, this is only my second time on my new bike, so now, since I came here today, I have the Yellow Jackets and there’s probably other things too, I’m so glad I came.”

EBBC valeted almost 300 bikes during the fair. Though many people took their bikes to work after the fair, more than half of the bicycles remained during the work day.

“This is more than you see in the Downtown Berkeley Bike Station,” said Kassie Rohrbach, the executive director of WOBO. “It’s clear there’s demand for a bike station in Downtown Oakland on a regular basis. I’m thrilled that council member Rebecca Kaplan is working with WOBO to make this a reality this year.”

From left to right: Kassie Rohrbach, Executive Director of Walk Oakland Bike Oakland; Renee Rivera, Executive Director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition; Julian Mocine McQueen, Campaigns and Partnerships Manager of Green for All; Libby Schaaf, District 4 council member; Pat Kernighan, District 2 council member; Ignacio De La Fuente, District 5 council member; and Nancy Nadel, District 3 council member at the far right.

The fair concluded with a Rally for Bikeways in front of City Hall. Riders gathered with their pancakes and coffee to listen to four Oakland City Council members share their reasons for wanting to see the bike network completed.

“I’m a fair weather cyclist, which means I don’t do it very often,” admitted council member Kernighan. “But one of the things that would get people like me to bicycle more often would be to get more bike lanes. I am really excited that in the next year quite a few miles of bike lanes are going to be installed, including quite a few in District 2 and near… when that’s done, I think even I might bike to work.”

Rohrbach summarized the goals of the campaign:

“We’re calling on the city to complete the Master Bicycle Plan by 2020, starting with 30 miles of new bikeways in 2011, and five major transportation corridors by 2015.”

Bike to Work Day isn’t finished in the East Bay. While this morning’s bike commuters are at work, the EBBC and WOBO are busy setting up the second most important part of Bike to Work Day – the after party.

The Bike Away From Work Party rolls to 9th and Washington streets at 5:30 pm. With live music, food, beverages, the Big Tadoo Puppet Crew, and Cyclecide until 8:30, Bike to Work Day is anything but over.

]]> http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/05/12/record-breaking-10000-people-biked-to-work-in-alameda-county-today/feed/ 6 http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/05/12/on-bike-to-work-day-electeds-unite-in-support-of-future-bikeways/ http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/05/12/on-bike-to-work-day-electeds-unite-in-support-of-future-bikeways/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 19:58:25 +0000 Aaron Bialick http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=267415 [...]]]>

Mayor Lee and Leah Shahum bike the Wiggle to City Hall. Photo: Aaron Bialick

In the strongest showing of political support ever for bicycling in San Francisco, Mayor Ed Lee, ten of the eleven members of the Board of Supervisors, and a range of city officials pedaled to City Hall with advocates and thousands of commuters on the 17th Annual Bike to Work Day. Commuters pedaling along the city’s most important route, Market Street, were greeted with new green paint and protected bike lanes thanks to SFMTA crews who have been racing to fill in the gaps.

“We have more to celebrate than ever before in the history of Bike to Work Day,” said San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) Executive Director Leah Shahum, “from the beautiful new green separated bikeways on Market Street, to dozens of new bike lanes in every neighborhood throughout the city, to hundreds of new bike racks, to dozens of new on-street bike parking corrals.”

Riding in on some of the city’s major routes, supervisors proclaimed their support for safer streets and expanding the city’s bikeway network. Mayor Lee announced that a separated bikeway would be in place on John F. Kennedy Drive by the end of the year, filling a crucial segment on the popular Bay to Beach Connecting the City route being pushed by the SFBC.

“I want to see that 100 miles from the Bay to the ocean, north and south, painted by the year 2020 to see everybody ride the whole city and connect up either way using their bikes,” said Mayor Lee, who rode to City Hall from Golden Gate Park via the Wiggle with Shahum, SFMTA Board Chair Tom Nolan, and a convoy of others.

Photo: Bryan Goebel

Board of Supervisors President and mayoral candidate David Chiu cheered the city’s continuing boom in cycling over the past few years.

“Fifteen years ago, I started to bike to work for the very first time, and I have to admit, it was a lonely experience,” he said. “I don’t feel alone anymore.”

But, he said, if the city is to reach its declared goal of 20 percent bike trips by 2020, it needs to continue vastly improving its bicycle infrastructure.

“In order to do this, we need to imagine. We have to imagine separated bike lanes, finally getting enough bike parking for all of us, finally having bike signals. We have to imagine safe enough conditions for our eight-year-olds and our eighty-year-olds.”

Photo: Bryan Goebel

While some supervisors are known to ride a bike and have publicly backed the SFBC’s efforts, today’s experience was something new for at least four of them.

“This is my first Bike to Work Day,” said Supervisor Jane Kim, who cycled for the first time in her district, which includes notoriously dangerous streets in the Tenderloin and South of Market areas.

“I got to feel how unsafe it was to trucks and cars kind of trying to jostle around you, and I definitely want to work towards getting bike lanes that would make someone like me feeling safe enough to ride to work,” she said.

“Improving the infrastructure of our bike lanes, whether it be for the America’s Cup or our daily lives here in San Francisco, is so critical to our future,” said D2 Supervisor Mark Farrell. “I simply look forward to working with everyone here to make that a daily part of our reality.”

"We have to change many minds about biking in San Francisco," said D11 Supervisor John Avalos. "I live in a district where cars are more king than bikes, and we want to change that." Photo: Bryan Goebel

The Civic Center area was booming with bike traffic during the morning commute, and Market Street was dominated by bicycles. Commuters filled the sidewalks at SFBC energizer stations, including a very popular one at Market and 12th Streets.

“We all know there was a 58 percent increase in bicycling in San Francisco over the last four years,” said SFMTA Board Director Cheryl Brinkman. “That’s an impressive number, but it’s even more impressive if you put it in context.”

“Could we have handled a 58 percent increase in Muni riders at rush hour? You’d never get on a bus or train. Could we have handled a 58 percent increase in car traffic at rush hour? It’d be terminal gridlock, no one would be going anywhere.”

“We have some ambitious goals, but I know we can do it.”

Mayor Lee takes the daunting Oak Street, where the SFBC hopes to implement a separated bikeway. Photo: Aaron Bialick

The Mayor and convoy leave the Wiggle and enter Market Street. Photo: Aaron Bialick

SFMTA Board of Directors Chair Tom Nolan was along for the ride. Photo: Aaron Bialick

Photo: Neal Patel

One of my favorite things about Bike to Work Day as an everyday bicyclist is picking my free tote bag at one of the convenient energizer stations. In San Francisco, 6,000 bags are ready to be handed out tomorrow by SFBC volunteers, 50 of whom spent a recent day stuffing them with all those resourceful goodies.

For a comprehensive rundown of Bike to Work Day activities all over the Bay Area, check out Streetsblog reporter Aaron Bialick’s post from yesterday. And, of course, wherever you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to hear your stories and publish the best photos of all those beautiful people heading to work. Please add your photos to our Flickr pool, Tweet ‘em, or send them to tips@sf.streetsblog.org. We’ll have full coverage tomorrow.  Happy (almost) Bike to Work Day!

Bike commuters in Berkeley on Bike to Work Day last year. Flickr photo: EBBC

Bicycle coalitions around the Bay Area will be rolling out the red carpet for bike commuters for the 17th annual Bike to Work Day (BTWD) this Thursday with energizer stations, commuter convoys, after parties, and other fun events. As cycling continues to grow throughout the Bay Area, bicycle advocates and city officials are expecting it to be the biggest Bike to Work Day yet.

Here’s a round-up of what’s going on around the Bay on Bike to Work Day this Thursday, May 12:

Market Street at Octavia Boulevard. Photo: Aaron Bialick

San Francisco

San Franciscans are already enjoying the slew of new green paint that’s been laid down along Market Street from Octavia Boulevard to 8th Street over the past few weeks, as well as improvements to the Upper Market bike lanes.

“Along with all the new improvements on Market Street and neighborhoods throughout the city, we are seeing more people bicycling than ever before,” said San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) Executive Director Leah Shahum in a statement. ”This Bike to Work Day is a welcome opportunity for even more people living and working in San Francisco to test-ride the joys of bicycling in our beautiful city.”

The SFBC will have 25 energizer stations ready to meet riders along the city’s major routes. Market Street, the Panhandle, Valencia, Polk, and Third Streets will all have stops for free coffee, snacks, and “bike doctors” at the ready to keep cycling travelers fresh.

Commuter convoys meeting at points throughout the city will also escort riders, including nearly every member of the Board of Supervisors who will be riding from their respective districts. Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Sean Elsbernd are the only two members who won’t be pedaling to City Hall on Thursday.

The SFBC’s Dress-Up Challenge will showcase how fashionable riding a bike in the city can be. The organization is accepting photo submissions of riders’ snazziest work outfits to enter into a raffle at the Bike From Work Party and Fashion Show to take place in the evening.

East Bay

Cyclecide Rodeo at last year's EBBC Bike Away From Work Party. Flickr photo: EBBC

Oakland held the Bay Area’s first Bike to Work Day in 1994, said East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) Executive Director Renee Rivera. Oakland City Council members will continue the tradition by pedaling to a pancake breakfast event at Oakland City Hall. The EBBC will provide all-day valet bike parking, bike safety checks, free goodies, and a raffle. Members of the San Leandro City Council will also take part in a ride.

110 energizer stations will be in place at popular bike junctions throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. One of the busiest hubs will be Ashby BART, the station with the second highest number of bike commuters in the BART system, said Rivera. A new bike parking station is helping to accommodate the 12 percent of users who bike.

The EBBC will also be counting riders at other popular stationed routes such as MacArthur and City Center BART and Lake Merritt in Oakland as well as Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley Campus, said Rivera.

The EBBC’s Bike Away From Work Party at 9th and Washington Streets in Old Oakland is expected to be the biggest in the Bay Area, said Rivera. It’ll be jumping with live music, the Cyclecide bicycle rodeo, and an award show for the Bike Commuter of the Year and Bike-Friendly Business Awards for Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

South Bay and the Peninsula

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will be biking with the thousands of others expected in Santa Clara in San Mateo Counties on Thursday, said Colin Heyne, communications and development manager for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

Bike parking at San Jose's Bike From Work Bash last year. Flickr photo: richardmasoner

With 70 energizer Stations in Santa Clara and 23 in San Mateo County, commuter convoys, and two Bike Away From Work Bashes set in San Jose and Palo Alto, the Peninsula and South Bay are set to see huge numbers this Bike to Work Day.

On May 3rd, bicycles beat both cars and light rail in the two-mile Clean Commute Challenge with San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, and others. Yesterday, San Jose city officials, including Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen, took to the streets by two wheels for a City Hall press event.

North Bay

The Marin and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalitions will be ready with 17 energizer stations in Marin and at least two dozen more in Sonoma. Marin’s BTWD After Party and Bike Expo will include Bike Commuter of the Year and Cal Park Tunnel awards, while Bike Home Celebrations can be found in several Sonoma County cities.

Over the past few years, not only are bicycle counts showing that more and more commuters are taking up cycling on Bike to Work Day, but newcomers can be seen making it a habit throughout the rest of the year in the Bay Area. East Bay cycling on Bike to Work Day has increased 250 percent over the last three years, said Rivera, and counts on San Francisco’s Market Street showed 32 percent increase last year.

“San Franciscans are biking in record numbers,” said Shahum. “This Bike to Work Day is a welcome opportunity for even more people living and working in San Francisco to test-ride the joys of bicycling in our beautiful city. It gives the entire community a chance to show our appreciation for people who bike.”

Photo: Aaron Bialick

SFMTA crews continue laying out the green carpet on Market Street in time to welcome the thousands of bike commuters expected on the 17th annual Bike to Work Day May 12. The improvements will help invite first-time riders to embrace the bicycle as their regular choice for commuting to work.

Bike lanes were greened on the block between 8th and 9th Streets yesterday, and crews said they’re on their way to filling in the gaps all the way down to Octavia Boulevard in time for the event.

Crews have also installed green bike boxes and highlights at bike lane merges on Lower Market Street in past weeks. They also expect to implement a particularly innovative upgrade that would add a green rectangles underneath the sharrows at Van Ness Avenue guiding riders through the interchange.

The turnout of new riders is expected to continue its strong growth over the past few years. Thirty three percent more people biked on Market Street between Bike to Work Day 2009 – 2010, bolstered by ongoing improvement efforts like reducing automobile traffic.

See more photos and a video from last year’s event after the break.

Market at Gough and Page Streets. Photo: Aaron Bialick

Market Street approaching Van Ness Avenue. Photo: Aaron Bialick

h/t Streetsblog NYC

The weather for Bike to Work Day couldn't have been more agreeable and huge numbers of cyclists took to the streets throughout the Bay Area, early indicators show. In San Francisco, cyclists set a new record for Bike to Work Day, accounting for 75 percent of the morning roadway traffic on Market Street, a one-third increase over last year. Our Streetsblog Flickr pool is seeing some great photos come in from Oakland and San Jose, as well as numerous energizer stations around San Francisco.

Supervisor David Campos laughs about something, perhaps the fact that it's always sunny in The Mission, and always more fun on a bike? Photo: Matthew Roth

I met up at a commuter convoy on Mission Street this morning with Supervisor David Campos and a handful of cyclists. We rode down Valencia to the SFBC energizer station amid the construction on Valencia and 17th Street, where plastic construction barricades served as countertops for coffee and scones. There was so much bike traffic in and around the commuter station, it spilled into the makeshift travel lanes that had been erected with cones to give the energizer station more room for gathering. Despite the frenetic scene, there were smiles all around, especially from the SFBC volunteers.

The 17th and Valencia energizer station amid the construction project. Photo: Matthew Roth.

The next energizer station we passed was at Market Street and Van Ness, where the SFMTA was handing out free bike lights and co-exist stickers. When I arrived, I was told we had just missed Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty. Flickr photo: firesigned

Proceeding on, I pedaled through a crowd of cyclists and found myself passing Supervisor Eric Mar riding in the new green bike lane on Market with Richmond resident and San Mateo County Health Chief Jean Fraser.

Supervisor Eric Mar and San Mateo County Health Chief Jean Fraser. Photo: Matthew Roth.

At the City Hall press conference emceed by Renee Rivera, acting Executive Director of the SFBC, we heard some of the expected political rhetoric about the need for more bicycles by some politicians that don't often ride the ride, but there were a couple of gems that made me smile.

First, Rivera pointed to the green bike lanes and the on-street bike parking on Valencia Street and said she thought the SFBC might not be the only bike advocates in town any more.

"We're really seeing in the whole city a new spirit of excitement, experimentation, and innovation," said Rivera. "And I would even say, we're seeing some advocacy from the Mayor and from the staff of the MTA. That really gives us something to celebrate."

Mayor Gavin Newsom at the mic. Photo: Matthew Roth

And Newsom noted that despite the injunction, which slowed the infrastructure improvements, cycling has jumped in the last three years. "The reality is that when you saw a 53 percent increase in the number of people getting on their bike, it was suggestive that no matter what CEQA required us to do, that people were going to march a little bit differently," Newsom said.

As for the infrastructure improvements, Newsom pledged to complete the ten projects that were allowed under the partial injunctive relief, including the repaving of JFK Drive and other bike racks.

"I don't know if there are any sharrows left to put in the streets," he laughed. "They seem to be everywhere. Up my steps, in my living room, there's a sharrow. It's amazing, they're ubiquitous."

In fact, the SFMTA has installed approximately 1,000 sharrows since November, not to mention a green bike box on Scott at Fell, 300 new bike racks and five new on-street "bike corrals," and (brand new) stripes in the Polk Street bike lanes to indicate where the door zone is.

SFMTA Executive Director Nat Ford touted his agency's bike upgrades since the partial-lifting of the injunction. "San Francisco's bike system got a real shot in the arm last November when the 2006 Superior Court injunction was partially lifted," Ford said in a release. "As we look forward to full implementation of the Bike Plan, the SFMTA staff continue to implement as many improvements and innovations as possible to encourage bicycling in San Francisco."

And if you're still looking for the perfect end to Bike to Work Day, Bike Away from Work Parties in Oakland and San Francisco are set to take off this evening.

Please keep sending your photos to our Flickr pool throughout the day and stay tuned for a Streetfilm.

The energizer station near the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo: Bike to Work SF Bay

The people behind me on the new green bike lane. Photo: Matthew Roth.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, on right. Flickr photo: jmbrazil

Biking to work in San Jose. Flickr photo: jmbrazil

Smiling bicyclists enjoy Bike to Work Day 2009. Photo: Bryan Goebel

Last year in San Francisco, the SFMTA counted a record 200,000 cyclists for Bike to Work Day and considering the exciting changes that have been happening on the city's main thoroughfare, Market Street, in the last few weeks, those numbers are likely to dramatically shoot up Wednesday. The SFBC is planning 27 energizer stations across the city. Mayor Gavin Newsom and nearly every member of the Board of Supervisors plans to take part in VIP rides.

“Scores of people will be experiencing the comfort of bicycling in the newly separated and now green Market Street bike lane for the first time on Bike to Work Day,” said Renee Rivera, acting Executive Director of the SF Bicycle Coalition. “We are thrilled to have Mayor Newsom leading these exciting biking innovations on Market Street, the city's busiest biking street. This is a great first step towards a separated bikeway the full length of lower Market Street.”

Energizer stations are also being set up all over the Bay Area. You can find your nearest energizer station here. The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition has been working on helping to organize Bike to Work Day events in the Bay Area's nine counties.

“Bicycling is growing in popularity all over the Bay Area and we’re expecting hundreds of thousands of people to choose to bike to work this year,” said Andrew Casteel, regional coordinator for Bike to Work Day in the Bay Area. “Biking to work is a fun and easy way to get in shape, save money and help the environment. Bike to Work Day is the perfect time to start riding your bike for everyday transportation."

The Streetsblog crew will be out tomorrow documenting Bike to Work Day but we encourage you to send your photos to our Flickr pool. John Hamilton, our Bay Area Streetfilms producer, will be using some of the photos for a Streetfilm on Bike to Work Day that you'll see on Streetsblog tomorrow evening. So send in your photos as soon as you can and have a great Bike to Work Day! 

Many bicycle advocacy organizations will point out that 40 percent of trips in urban areas areas are 2 miles or less, the perfect distance for bicycling, yet nearly all of those trips are taken by car. Couple that with the environmental costs to the planet of oil consumption, the expenses accrued with driving, including rising fuel prices, and the epidemic of obesity, increased rates of diabetes, asthma and heart disease, particularly acute in cities, and it makes sense on so many levels to encourage physical activity as part of daily mobility.

To this end, CLIF BAR and Co., based in Berkeley (soon to relocate to Emeryville), has joined the Alliance for Biking and Walking to promote the 2-Mile Challenge, a campaign that raises awareness about how many of the short trips we take by car could be replaced by walking and biking.

Starting this week, participants can sign up and pledge support for one of three teams benefiting three non-profits, including The Alliance for Biking and Walking, Trips for Kids, and the Alliance for Climate Education. CLIF BAR is donating $25,000 to each of the non-profits and then putting another $25,000 down to the team that gets the most points based on participation by the public at the end of October.

Points can also be earned by registering for a team and linking personal Facebook accounts to the 2 Mile Challenge site, issuing bike-riding challenges for yourself and friends, logging each trip completed, and tracking trips for consecutive weeks.

"What I like about the program is that it makes it accessible for everyone, that everyone can do it, and educate people on what the issue is, as well as gives them a vehicle for tracking their own miles," said Kevin Cleary, President and COO of CLIF BAR, who noted that he used to drive one mile to the grocery store near his home before the company started promoting the program.

The Alliance said in a press release that it will use the $25,000 grant from CLIF BAR to support its Winning Campaigns Trainings to train campaigners for biking and walking. The grant will also assist in the development and launch of the Guide to Funding Biking and Walking Projects, an upcoming Alliance publication.

"Replacing even short car trips with bike travel can jump-start big changes for individuals and their communities," said Jeff Miller, Executive Director for the Alliance. "The 2 Mile Challenge adds to the enjoyment and excitement of cycling."

Clif Bar Encourages Cycling and Physical Fitness for Employees

The commitment to cycling at CLIF BAR starts at the top with Cleary. The company's communications team invited me to ride to work last week with Cleary, who commutes one to two days a week by bicycle from Novato to Berkeley, 50 miles round trip. Cleary has been commuting consistently by bicycle for the past four years, since his company started a Cool Commute program to offer employees various incentives to get to work by transit, bicycling and walking.

As part of the program, employees get $500 every three years for their bicycles, up to $960 a year in rewards for non-automobile trips, and a one-time payment of $6,500 toward a hybrid car. The company also offers $1,000 every year for employees to weatherize their homes or convert to more energy efficient appliances.

Your author and Clif Bar's Kevin Cleary on the Bay Trail near Shimada Friendship Park. Photo: Kate Torgerson.

Cleary said he supports bicycle access on the Richmond Bridge, but until that happens, he's been fairly happy with Golden Gate Transit and their 40/42 service. "It would be nice to have a little more flexibility," he said, and not have to rely on the half-hour service, though he noted that the agency had responded to his and other riders' concerns about using buses with the maximum bike racks during the heavy commute hours.

"They responded to that real quickly," he said, putting buses with three racks into service during the busy hours and allowing two bikes on board.

Cleary said CLIF BAR employees are given numerous incentives not to drive, but it wouldn't mean as much if he didn't try to lead by example

"It's the right thing from any angle, whether it's health, the environment, or setting the right tone for the company," he said of riding.

On a tour of the company facility with Communications Director, Kate Torgerson, I saw some of the many ways the company encourages fitness, from a huge gym and rock climbing wall, to a yoga room, massage rooms, community bikes and a custom Xtracycle with sound system used for events and parties. In addition to 2 1/2 hours of paid exercise time each week, employees who ride their bikes, take transit or walk to work earn points through the Cool Commute program to discount the costs of massages and hair cuts in a company salon on-site.

As Torgerson led me past the row of employee bike racks, Carly Lutz, Brand Director for CLIF Brands, overheard us talking about Cool Commute and blurted out that she had used some of her recent $500 to buy a child seat attachment to take her daughter on rides. Though her daughter attends pre-school on Spruce Street near the top of the Berkeley hills, Lutz said she planned to ride her to school for Bike to Work Day.

She said she would likely be dripping wet from the exercise, but said her daughter loved the new set-up and wanted to go everywhere in the bike seat.

"There's no excuse not to ride in," said Lutz.

Photo: Bike and Roll.

According to Mari Hunter, an intern who organized the campaign for the Mayor's Climate Protection Initiative, I Bike SF is modeled on a national program called Bicycle Benefits.

"The idea simply is to encourage cycling and support local businesses," said Hunter, who added that the focus for the Mayor's Office was to make the program as easy as possible for businesses and to have them benefit through a boost in sales.

Tim Papandreou, the SFMTA's Deputy Director for Planning, said beyond meeting the city's goal of encouraging cycling, I Bike SF would help reduce congestion in business corridors where parking is at a premium. Papandreou said Hayes Valley was a perfect pilot location because it is relatively flat, close to Market Street and similar bicycle corridors, and because the neighborhood is congested with cars looking for parking.

For Elizabeth Leu, who owns the children's store Fiddlesticks on Hayes Street, the idea of promoting bicycles makes sense for San Francisco, along with starting the pilot in Hayes Valley, a strongly proud neighborhood that has voted to forbid chain stores.

"I think it's spot on to be rewarding bikes and people who bicycle," said Leu, who's offering a 15 percent discount on non-sale items to bicycle riding customers. She was doubtful, however, about the impact it would have on business. "I don't know about the redemption. 
The jury is still out on whether bikers will be taking advantage of the program."

Leu was also concerned that the city hadn't done enough publicity around the program to create a buzz. "It needs more legs, it needs more viral marketing, but we haven't seen it," she said.

Hunter acknowledged that the Mayor's Office was working on a quick turnaround to get the program started for Bike Month, but she expected the campaign would get more attention as Bike to Work day approaches. With the thousands of fliers in Bike to Work Day totes the SFBC will hand out on Thursday and an increasing focus in the media and bicycle newsletters, the program should be much better known by the time it expands to other commercial areas, including Lower Divisadero for June and Upper Market/Castro for July.

While the city expects the program will be popular with locals who already frequent familiar small businesses, the SFMTA's Papandreou said the city was working with bicycle rental companies like Blazing Saddles and Bike and Roll to let tourists know about the I Bike SF campaign and get them to explore areas of San Francisco that are not along the usual Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf routes.

"We're noticing the bicycle renters at Bike and Roll and other facilities are riding the Embarcadero and the Marina and taking their money to Sausalito," said Papandreou. The organizers of I Bike SF hoped to "engage people who come to the City of San Francisco to start riding to and exploring other neighborhoods."

In addition to the individual bicycle rental companies and local businesses, I Bike SF has partnered with the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and the Small Business Commission to promote the campaign and get their input.

Laurie Armstrong, Vice President for Public Affairs at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said they had organized similar programs like Show Your Zip during the holidays, which gave discounts to anyone who lived in a zip within the 9-county Bay Area, or Show Your Badge, which gave discounts to convention participants.

Armstrong said a campaign that supported bicycles for shopping locally dovetailed with the current efforts to market San Francisco as a leading green city. She also echoed the SFMTA's concern that tourists weren't necessarily exploring many of the neighborhoods in San Francisco that weren't among the traditional destinations.

Leah Shahum addresses hundreds in the crowd at City Hall

San Francisco's annual Bike to Work Day drew a record 200,000 bicyclists this morning, according to early estimates, making it the most successful bike to work day since it began 15 years ago. Crowds of cyclists took advantage of the SFBC Energizer Stations to get food and coffee and make new friends in what has become the most exciting and politically important year for bicycle improvements in the city.

Eight supervisors, including car-free Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, and other dignitaries and agency staff, rode from locations around the city to City Hall, where they held a press conference to call for quick action on the Bicycle Network once the longstanding injunction is lifted. 

"I'm so proud to say our movement both politically and at a grassroots level is stronger and more successful than ever, and I think it's fair to say is one of the strongest advocacy movements in the city today," SFBC  Executive Director Leah Shahum told the crowd, urging city leaders to move forward. "They all know this: we are never satisfied. So what we've accomplished up to today does not compare to what is coming."

Chiu gave props to the Bike Coalition and cyclists in general, saying, "I've only been in office a few months and there are hundreds of interests that troll the halls, but what's different between them and the SF Bicycle Coalition is that you are actually real people. You guys are real San Franciscans.  This is a real movement, this is a revolution.  We are looking forward here at the Board of Supervisors to making sure that every one of these bike lanes gets developed and gets built."

Pointing at the map of the Bicycle Network, he added, "I don't think we should stop at what this map looks like.  We need to keep on going."

City Attorney Dennis Herrera arrives at City Hall.

Bicycling Numbers are Way Up

Bike to Work Day was bolstered by the news that the number of people bicycling the streets of  San Francisco has dramatically increased since 2006, according to the Municipal Transportation Agency's first State of Cycling Report issued today:

The Report documents a 43 percent increase in bicycling citywide in the past two years shows that 128,000 trips daily—or 6 percent—are via bicycle.  The Report provides a baseline analysis of bicycling from information gathered via bicycle counts and surveys conducted during 2006, 2007 and 2008. 

In addition, the agency counted record numbers of bicyclists on Market Street at Van Ness Avenue this morning:

A count taken between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. this morning found that twice as many bicyclists as motorists traveled eastbound on Market Street past Van Ness Avenue.  A total of 776 bicycles were counted, compared to 374 automobiles.  Bicycles made up 66 percent of the total vehicles headed eastbound, while automobiles came in at 31 percent (transit and taxis accounted for the remaining 3 percent of the vehicles).  In 2008 bicycles accounted for 64 percent of the vehicles and automobiles for 32 percent.

Photos from the rides are coming in on our Streetsblog San Francisco Flickr pool, which you can see here.  Send us your photos and we'll post the best ones!

I'd like to give a plug to our bicycle-riding friends at Orange Photography, who are graciously offering free portraits of bicyclists for Bike to Work Day tomorrow:

We’re always psyched about it since 80 percent of our studio bikes or takes alternate forms of transit and we’re right down the street from Mike’s Bikes too. We’re offering free portraits for bicyclists and their bikes this day.  Just stop by the studio and bring your bike up and we’ll take your portraits.  This will be happening all day so you don’t have to do it just during your commute (10am-7pm).

Another plus: It's on a bicycle route. And the Orange photographers are pretty talented. Get my portrait taken by the pros? I'm there!