David Baker leading the AIA Architectural Gems San Francisco Bike Tour. Photo: jordanfischerIn case you hadn't already noticed from reading Today's Headlines, there are a bunch of good bicycle rides this weekend, two of which I want to highlight here. For a good list of rides check out SFBC's Chain of Events.
First, Architect, SFBC Board Member, and all around advocate David Baker is leading a 22-mile ride from San Francisco to Fairfax for the Fairfax Festival. Baker is doing the ride as a benefit for the SFBC push for the 50-plus bike lanes once the injunction is lifted.
The ride leaves from the Ferry Plaza, 8 am. The route is 22.4 miles, much on off street paths, former rail
lines and along canals. It's not a difficult ride, according to Baker, and they're shooting for 2.5 hours; a faster pace group will go on ahead and they will provide
a sweep so no one will be left behind. On the way back, there is an easy 6 miles to the Larkspur Ferry, leaving Fairfax at 3 to catch the 3:40 ferry, arriving back at the SF Ferry Building at 4:20.
Baker has an internet registration page set up with a $20 SFBC member ticket. If you pre-register you'll get a cool event spoke card and a Cliff bar, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
"The route is scenic and interesting to bike infrastructure nerds," said Baker. "The Fairfax Festival is a blast: as a former hippie/radical I had to be evacuated to avoid flashbacks! My goal is to raise a bit of money in a relatively painless and "value added" way, while helping people motivate themselves to show up for an 8:00 am start. Plus you get a tie dye spoke card!"
And then there's the World Naked Bike Ride (NSFW, unless your work is relaxed like that). Not much explanation needed here, methinks, and I'll save you from the images. The dress code is "bare as you dare" and the ride promotes itself as a protest of "the excessive dependency of society to oil,
demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists, and have a good time." Meets at noon on Saturday at the Vallancourt Fountain, Justin (Pee-Wee) Herman Plaza, Market/Embarcadero.
Ride strong.
