60 Protest BP Oil Spill, Excessive Oil Use, and Bike Lane Hazard at Arco Station

Sixty to seventy San Franciscans took their dismay and anger over the Gulf oil spill to the BP–owned Arco gas station on Fell Street Friday night. Several of the protesters blocked the Fell entry to Arco for a few hours with potted plants and a sign explaining “closed for a total re-think.” Others held signs exhorting drivers to use less gas or stop driving, and to not block the Fell Street bike lane near the Arco entrance. The demonstrators did not interrupt the heavy evening traffic, and there were no confrontations with drivers. Many motorists honked and waved in support of the protest while a few cursed the event. Police presence was minimal at the peaceful grassroots demonstration.

Early notices for the protest emphasized motorists’ “oil addiction,” and that charge remained part of the message for some of the demonstrators. Joshua Hart, one of the organizers, railed against the Oak and Fell Street “traffic sewers," but he also told the group that “some motorists don’t have viable alternatives to single-car driving." Dawn D’Onofrio, a supporter but not an organizer of the protest, told BIKE NOPA she believes people who buy gas from BP/Arco “are supporting what’s happening in the Gulf.” She added, “People really need to show awareness. Right now they should not choose this gas station.”

Jacqui Swan said she was at the protest to raise awareness for alternative forms of transportation. “The Gulf spill should be a wake-up call. We’re all partially to blame for it. The system heavily favors fossil fuel consumption.” Earlier in the week Swan took her complaint to BP’s corporate headquarters in San Francisco where she joined a protest staged by SeizeBP.org . Ryan Kushner of the Alamo Square neighborhood said he came to the protest because “52 days of that oil spill is the latest example of how unconstructive oil is in the country.” He hopes to encourage a rational discussion of how oil might be used to benefit people and not inflict such negative impacts on the environment.

Many of the demonstrators arrived at the protest by bike, and the hazardous traffic snarl at the Arco entry – with motorists blocking the Fell bike lane and sidewalk while waiting for cheap gas – was an issue for them. “My most immediate concern is the bike lane problem,” Stuart Chang Matthews told BIKE NOPA. “There’s a direct tie-in here to BP and the oil spill, but I would have gone to any gas station to protest. It all comes down to the damage from dependence on oil.” Noemi Robinson declared she would vote for anyone for Mayor who defends the bike lane on Fell.” For NOPA resident and Wigg Party leader Morgan Fitzgibbons, Friday’s demonstration was his first protest against excessive oil consumption. “This is an opportunity to say something about the spill, big oil, and the hazards here for the bike lane.” Robin Levitt took a longer view of overall bike safety in San Francisco. “I’ve lived here since the early 1990s,” he said, “and today compared to then, bicycling in the city is much better and safer.”

Note: the MTA intends to install this month or next safety improvements for bicyclists and motorists with a dedicated lane for drivers waiting to enter the Arco station, as reported earlier.

For Pride Month and All Year Round: Renee Rivera, A Woman Who Bikes and Leads

Renee Rivera, Acting Director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Photo by Rose Miller for sfbike.org

June is Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Pride Month in San Francisco, and I am proud to introduce Renee Rivera to those who have yet to meet her. Renee is a friend, a leader, and an out queer woman who has made bicycle advocacy her passion. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is fortunate to have Renee as its acting Executive Director.

Renee's story will not be another installment in BIKE NOPA's Women Who Bike series because writer Jodie Van Horn has already profiled Renee with an excellent piece for the SFBC. Allow me to present the first three sentences that I think will draw you to the full story.

"Renee Rivera grew up in San Francisco. At the age of five, she learned to ride a purple bike with a yellow banana seat in the UCSF student housing parking lot, where she lived with her mother. There, a bike advocate was born."

The article continues here.

San Francisco will become an even more livable and justly proud city in the months ahead with Renee in her new position.

Safe Passage for All: Arco at Fell & Divisadero Closed Thursday Afternoon

Arco Station, Divisadero entry...closed to business, "system is down for a 2-3 hours"

How much safer, smoother it could be for people biking and driving

No blocked bike lanes, traffic lanes or sidewalks today

People biking, walking, or driving as they approached Divisadero from Fell Street this afternoon encountered something seldom seen: no blocked bike lanes, no obstructed crosswalks, and no backed-up traffic lanes. The street and the sidewalk were all-clear.

Bicyclists had a clear, unobstructed view ahead and could remain in the lane. Walkers had the full sidewalk to themselves -- no motorists idling their vehicles across it and no bicyclists on the sidewalk not wanting to risk the usual tangle of vehicles lining up for entry to Arco. And no drivers fuming while waiting behind the queue of other motorists wanting cheap gas.

The attendant at the quiet station told me simply that the "system was down for two to three hours" this afternoon. What a difference.

Progressive Neighborhood Associations: Essential to a More Livable City

Damage from vandalism: acid etching removed from Divisadero store windows

An expense to city taxpayers: repairing damage from vandalism

An effective collaboration restores storefronts

City districts often flourish with active, forward-thinking neighborhood associations, especially when the groups foster collaborations with government, non-profit, and private entities. NOPNA has a long history of securing improvements for the North Panhandle through strategic partnerships. Early efforts include working with the Emerald Fund, the developer of the Village at Petrini Place and Lucky's grocery store, to support safety measures in the neighborhood, teaming up with local schools and churches -- Pacific Primary, the Day School. and St. Cyprian's Episcopal -- to promote bicycling, tree planting, and kids events, and planning with FIX MASONIC to make our western border a safer corridor.

The most recent evidence of a great collaboration was apparent along the Divisadero Commercial Corridor last week when contractors moved from storefront to storefront removing acid etch graffiti and installing protective film on vandalized windows. NOPNA and the Divisadero Merchants Association worked with the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to land a $39,000 grant for the project. NOPNA served as the fiscal agent for the grant.

Ellyn Parker, the OEWD rep who works non-stop and appears everywhere in the neighborhood, coordinated efforts to secure the $39,000 grant. She also worked with neighborhood merchants to identify which storefronts needed the repairs most and which vendors were most affordable. As a result of the the groups' efforts -- and, of course, the creating of the grants program by the Mayor's Office -- two dozen storefronts will continue to enhance the appearance and livability along the new Divisadero Corridor.

Women Who Bike: Mari Hunter

Mari Hunter: warm, dry, and biking in Minneapolis. Photo: Mari Hunter

Mari Hunter: not how she commutes. Photo: Mari Hunter

Women Who Bike is a collaborative effort by BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City that features San Francisco women and their bicycles. Each Monday and Wednesday check both blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you.

What's your style of biking?

Cautiously assertive.

How often do you bike and where?

I walk to work but I bike almost every day to the gym and/or shopping and have done SF2G (San Francisco to Google) a few times. I bike on the weekends for various activities -- farmers' market, movies, dining, museums, concerts -- or for exercise like riding in the Marin headlands.

How can San Francisco encourage more women of all ages to bike?

I am fortunate to have a father who is a cyclist, so riding was always a family activity. I am very comfortable on a bike, and over the years it has become my primary mode of transportation. The only thing that gives me pause when I move to a new place is uncertainty of good routes. It's hard to get out there initially, to put yourself out there and ask for help, especially if you are new to biking and are unsure of what to ask. My experience is that cyclists, particularly those who are part of a club, team, or coalition, want the number of cyclists to grow and are happy to help. Plus everyone likes to show off their skills and knowledge.

Sometimes it's easier to ask for help or encouragement from someone who is relatable -- someone the same age or sex or someone who is also a beginner but with enough experience to give advice. The SF Bike Coalition has a program called Bike Buddy. I think that is a great system if you are able to request someone who you will feel comfortable with to take your first ride or to talk about biking.

Another thought would be rides for either specific groups of people, young girls to old girls, beginner to experience or even just a big ride for all levels with one requirement: you must be a girl. Then really promote the ride as something fun with no rider left behind and choose a relatively flat route so newbies can gain confidence and feel comfortable with biking.

Have any of your best dates or friendships started with biking?

My boyfriend and I were just talking about things we have in common, and biking was at the top of our list. We ride home from the gym together and to most activities in the city. It is also just a good conversation starter, particularly in cities with a large biking presence. That's how I met a lot of people in college and in grad school, and it led to both bike-friendships and friendship-friendships.

I surprise people when I bike ...

in a skirt. Be careful that it doesn't get caught in the wheel, but a skirt saves you from having to bring a change of clothes.

For women who want to try biking:

The thought of trying it is much scarier than the act itself. Take the plunge, it will be one of the best things you can do -- good for your health (mentally, emotionally, and physically), good for the environment, and good for your productivity (traveling and workout). At the very least, try it just to feel the satisfaction of riding past a line of cars idling in traffic.

*****

Mari recently moved to San Francisco from Minneapolis after a brief stay in Portland. She currently coordinates the I BIKE SF program that encourages people to bike to neighborhood businesses that offer a special cyclist discount. The I BIKE SF promotions and discounts are effective along the Lower Divisadero Corridor and in NOPA the month of June. For $1 off drinks at Madrone Art Bar and Minibar, 10% off purchases at The Little Chihuahua Restaurant, the Oasis Cafe, and Verde SF Florist; free small maza with purchase of two entrees at Ziryab Mediterranean Grill, and so much more, take advantage of I BIKE SF.

*****

Check here for previous posts in this series and stop by Bikes And The City every Monday and Wednesday for more WOMEN WHO BIKE.

Racing Cyclist Smacks Against Baby Stroller on Panhandle Path; Skirmish Follows

Sometimes the Panhandle Path works well for everyone.

The Panhandle is thriving as a neighborhood park

Walkers, joggers, and parents with kids in strollers sometimes choose the southern path instead.

Ongoing tensions between people walking and bicycling on the multiple-use Panhandle Path erupted into a skirmish Sunday morning, June 6th, after a racing cyclist smacked against a baby stroller. The father pushing the carriage and the cyclist started yelling at each other. Pushing and swinging blows followed until others on the path pulled the two men apart.

North Panhandle neighbor Jim Allen told BIKE NOPA Monday morning about the incident he witnessed the day before. "I was walking westbound about 30 yards behind the father and his infant in the stroller who were about 40 yards from Stanyan Street. There was another couple walking past the stroller and they may have temporarily crossed into the eastbound lane. Right then a biker swooped onto the Path after crossing the street (Stanyan) and tried to squeeze between the walkers and the dad with a stroller. He whacked the stroller pretty hard and then cursed the dad for blocking the path."

Allen said the skirmish lasted only for a minute before he and others on the path pulled the two men apart. The father was shaken by the experience, although the stroller was not overturned, and no one was injured. The bicyclist mounted his bike and rode off.

Allen and several other neighbors have complained about the hazards of the multi-use path, especially as the good weather brings out more people walking and biking. He noted that the situation is particularly hazardous for parents with strollers and for elderly people from Mercy Terrace (located at Baker and Fell Street) who use the path daily.

Several observers have called for posting signs to "Share the Path" and "Slow Down for Walkers." That strategy might influence some bicyclists to reduce their speed, but it is unlikely to have the hoped-for impact on those who already ride too fast.

Others have proposed a bike lane along Fell Street from Baker to Stanyan Streets, situated between the parked cars and the park. That option might offer riders a place to travel at higher speeds and a more predictable cross-town commute, while improving safety and comfort for people walking on the path and getting a casual bike ride.

Dale Danley, neighborhood organizer of the Panhandle Park Stewards, agrees the Panhandle Path has become a real problem. "With more people cycling and walking on the path, we've reached a tipping point, so the path is no longer pleasant or safe," he said. Danley added that he will be meeting later this month with Recreation and Parks Department officials, and he will make the case for a more comprehensive plan for upgrading both the north and south side paths in the Panhandle.

New York Times Looks at Double Parking in Bike Lanes in NOPA and City

Church-goers parking in Golden Gate bike lane between Masonic and Central, facing east

Looking west at double-parking in bike lane on Golden Gate Avenue before Masonic Avenue

Problems encountered by people riding bikes in the city, including the North Panhandle, were highlighted in the June 4th issue of the New York Times. San Francisco-based reporter Scott James examined the impact of double-parking in bike lanes and focused on the long-time occurrence of church-goers parking in many of the city's bike lanes during religious services. He accurately observed that double-parking on many of the city's narrow streets poses a real hazard to cyclists who would much prefer to travel in designated bike lanes...if they could.

Dolores Street is certainly a prime example of the double-parking, as the Times reporter noted, but he also took a look at Golden Gate Avenue, after asking me for my perspective on the matter. On a recent Sunday morning, James investigated the situation on Golden Gate Avenue from Masonic Avenue to Gough Street. He found double parking near four churches situated along the thirteen blocks while services were underway. At each church location he identified several legal street parking spaces that sat empty while cars obstructed what he described as bike lanes.

James' point is well-taken in general: double-parking is often a hazard for bicyclists. However, only four of the thirteen blocks of Golden Gate that James surveyed -- from Masonic to Broderick -- are actually part of a designated bike lane or bike route. Church-goers' double-parking regularly blocks the bike lane from Masonic to Central Avenue and sometimes to Lyon Street. Golden Gate is certainly used by a lot of people biking to and from the North Panhandle, but Sunday morning double-parking on the relatively wide Golden Gate Avenue occurs during a relatively quiet traffic period. Elsewhere in the city, as James found with the narrow lanes of Dolores Street, the problem is greater.

When I spoke with James, I mentioned that both church-goers on the weekends and school parents on weekdays often park or idle in bike lanes. Fortunately, several school administrators try to mitigate the problem with staggered drop-off and pick-up times. Both the San Francisco Day School on Golden Gate at Masonic and the Pacific Primary School at Baker and Grove Streets employ staff to keep the school traffic moving and the crosswalks clear. Their efforts certainly reduce the risks and the tensions on the street. Some of the churches also position congregation members to help get vehicles moved that are blocking someone's driveway during services.

Many people who bike are more concerned with the motorists who unexpectedly swerve into a double-parking spot in the bike lane -- often without looking for oncoming bicyclists -- than they are with the relatively predictable church and school double-parking. Other drivers who treat the bike lanes as convenient and free parking while they do their shopping, make pick-ups or deliveries, or check their email endanger bicyclists and undermine the whole notion of shared and safe use of the road. Bike lanes are traffic lanes and need to be treated as such.

In the New York Times piece, James noted that San Francisco is in the midst of a surge in popularity for bicycling as a means of transportation as well as recreation. The challenge for all of us who bike, walk, take Muni, or drive -- and most of us use more than one mode every day -- is how to get around San Francisco safely and with civility while doing the least damage to the environment.