Back in the September 2009, when SF Streetsblog editor Bryan Goebel interviewed then-new SFPD Chief George Gascón, he invited him out for a bike
ride. Guess what? It really happened.
Andy Thornley from the San Francisco
Bike Coalition served as our trusty guide, bringing the Chief on a
short, breezy excursion through the Marina - exploring the local grid for a
couple of miles. The Chief's message to everyone was a simple one, "we
all need to co-exist" and motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists need to
respect each other's rights and safety. He is working towards fostering
that goal through education and establishing a liaison to the cycling
community.
Believed to be the first ride with a sitting SFPD Chief, advocates hoped it marked a spirit of mutual understanding between the agency and the cycling community. Gascón committed to another ride in a few months. He said he and his wife plan on purchasing bikes soon.
