San Francisco is falling in love with the bike. More locals (7 in 10) are riding bikes, tourists are choosing the two-wheeled transit, and new bike projects, bike art installations, and bike news are happening on a near daily basis. Here's our roundup of cycle-centric news and events.
1.ARTCRANK Show Tonight! Bikes and art are a beautiful combination. Last week we wrote about Papergirl SF, which delivers art by bike. Today brings another fun bike/art project—ARTCRANK. Chrome Bags’ annual ARTCRANK poster event showcases some of the coolest bikecentric designs around. Drink some beer, look at some art, and celebrate with other bike-loving folks. Free bike valet by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, so just lock up your steed and enjoy the fun. 111 Minna, Friday, October 17, 2011, 7 pm.
2.JFK Separated Bikeway Approved! Yesterday, the Recreation and Parks Commission voted unanimously to approve a plan for separated bikeways on both sides of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. For those who commute down JFK on non car-free days, this 1.5 mile separated bikeway between Stanyan Street and Transverse Drive means a much safer daily ride and a key link in safe, crosstown bike routes.
3. Launch of Bicycle Safety and Education Week—You’re never too old to learn to ride, or to learn to ride safely. Next week, October 23-30, is San Francisco Bicycle Safety and Education Week, a week jam-packed with free adult bike education classes across the city. Learn about bike law, how to ride safely in traffic, and overall best practices for urban riding. Who knows, you might even meet your next sweetie in one of the classes. Then you won’t have to wait until Love on Wheels to find your fellow pedal-loving partner, Registration here for our class near you.
4.Last Sunday Streets of the Season! This Sunday marks the final Sunday Streets of 2011. It’s your last chance this year to frolic on the car-free streets—and it’s returning to the Mission District. Grab your kids, dogs, hula hoops, bikes, scooters, and take to the gloriously open Valencia and 24th streets. Sip a latte at Four Barrel’s outdoor parklet, fix a flat at the one at Freewheel, and catch a concert at the Mission Branch Library. Hooray for Sunday Streets—coming back again next year. Sunday, Mission District, 11-4 pm.
5. Pedalfest, Oakland— For our bike-loving friends in the East Bay, this Saturday’s Pedalfest is the place to be. This free event celebrates all things bike, and offers a killer vintage bike show, handmade bike goods show, mini velo track, beer garden, and pedal-powered Kids’ Zone. And for those of us in SF, we can grab a FREE, that’s right, free, ferry to Jack London Square for the event. Just show up at the Ferry Building Gate E with your bike and hop on. Jack London Square, Saturday 10-5 pm.
Kristin Smith started riding bikes at 3-years-old and hasn't stopped since then. A long time rider, racer and commuter, Kristin has spent the last five years writing about San Francisco's active bike culture. She is the newly appointed Communications Director for the SF Bicycle Coalition.
