Great for those whom ride bikes daily, horrible for those who do not. So SFBike does a lot of outreach for bicycle rights and when riders get injured. SFBike also does nothing about all the riders out there whom cause trouble. They as other yelpers say, anti-car, believing everyone from a baby to a handicapped senior citizen should be on a bike. read more

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition - riding against traffic - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love the many bike lanes they've lobbied for in the city and the handy online interactive map that helps you get wherever you want to go. But shoot me if I ever strap a "no blood for oil"sign to my bike. A bike is for *transportation* -- you're making a clear enough statement as it is with the bike, why a sign too? read more

Dear SFBC, Thanks for the bike lane on Potrero. You've saved my life more than once. read more

Biking ain't what it used to be, folks. It's a scary ass world out there for bikers, especially in SF, where bikers' rights are only slowly being recognized and acknowledged. But that's what the SF Biking Coalition is for, to teach bikers their rights on the roads and the strategies and techniques they can employ for safe-biking. SF Biking Coalition offers a 2-part safety course for FREE. The first part is a 4-hour classroom session at their office. This introductory course is perfect for anyone who wants to be more comfortable riding. This four-hour, in-classroom course will cover the basics on how to choose the right bike and properly fit a helmet as well as tips for the safest ways to ride in traffic. You'll also learn techniques to avoid or handle street hazards and emergency maneuvers along with the best way to lock up your bike and how to use a bike in combination with public transit, and biking rights and responsibilities. 4 HOURS OF CLASS?! Yea, I thought it would suck too, but it was actually really interesting and informative. I learned alot about my rights on the road and I feel like I will be a better driver too. I will no longer honk at bicyclists taking up the lane. They have a right too! The second part is for an on the road biking course. Practice what you learned in the Intro to Safe Cycling class. This Street Skills Primer class follows a comfortable progression onto city streets, beginning with a short review of the lessons from the Intro course. After a basic bike maintenance session, riders will practice their bike maneuvering skills in a car-free practice area before taking it to the streets in small, intimate groups led by their instructors. Riders will gain experience riding alongside moving traffic in different traffic conditions, and apply the safe riding techniques practiced in the car-free space into real-life situations. I also found this course tremendously useful! At the end of the course, I felt confident enough to go through the certification process and I passed! This is a wonderful resource available to bikers of all skill levels! I highly recommend it for anyone who 1) wants to gain more confidence on the streets, 2) anyone considering biking in SF, and 3) bikers who want to learn about basic biker rights/maneuvers. read more

Proud member, and so appreciative of what the SFBC does. It isn't just a do-nothing club. These folks are creating a better city in which to bike in tangible ways. Plus, they have found ways to partner with businesses in order to reward their members for their support--and for riding their bikes. Awesome discounts and events. read more

(Wow, that old review is so quaint I'm almost tempted to overwrite it. But then no one would see my update:) Suffice it to say that I did indeed join the SFBC, and then some. And yes, it payed for itself in discounts pretty dang fast. Now on to review take 2:) Every once in a while a lifestyle change comes along that's so simple yet so revolutionary, you can't believe you didn't think of it earlier. For me, it was bicycling. I had a perfectly good bike from my teenage years that stayed in my closet for 10 years before I finally had the inspiration to ride it (and then only because I had taken a new job that was woefully inconvenient for both parking and P-trans). And my, how things have changed in the 2 years since (I'm still debating whether it's a coincidence that I became "Peak Oil-Aware" shortly after my bike renaissance). The thing is (if you'll indulge just a bit of philosophizing), most people fail to understand that their everyday lives are a system (I use the scientific meaning of the word here), an integrated whole with an interconnected structure, full of buffers, feedback loops and the like. That's why you can't just tweak a single parameter; the system is quick to re-equilibrate, and frequently the most expedient route is by simply returning to its former state (this is why new hobbies are so easily abandoned). But when you make a more irreversible change (a change of jobs, for instance), or one that immediately lowers your energy state, your life can begin a long slide to a destination very far removed indeed from your starting point, inducing changes far more momentous than the original catalyst. And so it is that, for the want of a parking spot, I find myself with a drastically more fresh and vivid view of the world. And I've also come to see just how complacent the mainstream can be. Take the "windshield perspective" for instance; I had no idea just how vilified bikes can be until I started riding one. Suddenly all my friends had stories about the annoying/rude/suicidal bikes they encounter at intersections. And no, I don't deny that they exist. But more worrisome is this feeling that bikes are holding up traffic (and the fact that said feeling formed the basis of a lawsuit that has suspended bike improvements in SF for 3 years now). People don't seem to realize that if we weren't on our bikes, we'd be in cars, and then we'd *really* be causing congestion. That's why the SFBC has been such a great group for giving a (very moderate and reasonable) voice to the dispossessed minority (yes, I said it) that are the cyclists of SF. Not to mention providing us with a network to meet, er, bike-minded folks (hi Bert!), and plenty of volunteer opportunities as well (like the campaign for the 56 new post-lawsuit bike lanes--that was a blast). Oh, and for the record, SFBC does not have a position on Critical Mass. I myself have no intention of ever participating; I got into biking to be a *less* intrusive presence, not more. And besides, I get my daily dose of smug just by passing all those poor suckers stopped at a traffic light (not to mention taking a brief look up at the rush hour traffic on the 80/101 interchange). read more

SFBC's a great organization. They do great work for cyclists. And big ups to them for putting out an excellent SF Bike Map and Walking Guide. It's an invaluable tool for pedestrians and cyclists, alike. read more

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - San Francisco, California

As a cyclist and car driver, I'm very concerned about bike safety. When a rep. of the SF bicycle coalition told me that they are concerned about bike lanes, but NOT concerned about riders wearing helmets or wearing reflective (light colored) jackets I threw up my hands. 4 people in my extended family (myself included) would be dead of head injuries if we hadn't worn helmets. "City riders should be so safe that they don't need helmets"??? Huh? Good news--they will give away lights soon. How many cyclists in this city have good lights? Some. But they are often wearing black with no helmet. Check out visibility in Golden Gate park in the dark. The bike lane isn't enough. HELMETS, LIGHT COLORED JACKETS, LIGHTS would make a big difference in this city. read more

"Learn How to Ride a Bike Class"; 08/23/2009 1-4 p.m. This is a fantastic introductory course for adults who have little or no experience with bicycles. Take it from a slow learner who took 46 hours of lessons before getting a driver's license. This class is offered roughly monthly and can be signed up on sfbike.org. Today we met on Waller and Stanyan at the entrance of Golden Gate Park, where a practice area with a five-degree downhill slope awaited us. It is a semi-secluded area except for the occasional showboating cyclist or skateboarder who intrudes - ideal for beginners. Bikes and helmets can be rented from San Francisco Cyclery or Avenue Cyclery, each a block away in either direction across the street. Note that American Cyclery further down Stanyan does not offer rentals. The instructors were all very experienced and enthusiastic and made us feel welcomed and comfortable immediately. We had 12 newbies (I was told this was a relatively large class) and a few repeaters and advanced students. We began by (don't laugh) learning how to get on and off a bike properly, and how to apply right (back wheel) and left (front wheel) brakes. Then the instructors took the pedals off the bikes and showed us how to balance by tipping our feet, controlling the handlebars, and learning to feel the bike's imbalance and tell our bodies to react accordingly. Those who mastered this skill were then given one pedal, on which the student would place one foot and try to glide and balance. Finally, the second pedal was added and the student would attempt to place the other foot on and begin to pedal. This step-by-step process was crucial in letting the instructor and student see what areas needed attention. For instance, I was overusing my shoulders to keep myself going in a straight line, while a slight movement of my hips would have accomplished the same. (The shoulder movement caused the bike to turn too much and lose balance.) It also took me a long time to "sync" my body with the bike and get accustomed to controlling the handlebars, gliding the bike, and keeping my feet in the air, all at the same time. By 3:30 p.m. I was given both pedals and was able to pedal for about 5 seconds at a time, which was more than I had hoped. Several students were already riding and making turns, if not actually ready for the street. We regrouped at 4 and were given a preview of more advanced techniques (to be taught in separate classes) - "figure 8," signaling, looking left/right/behind - before the class ended at 4:15 p.m. By the way, this class is free. I'm actually not familiar with SF Bicycle Coalition as an organization, but never was any political agenda or donation request mentioned, nor were pamphlets distributed at any point of our class today. John, Diane, John, and Bert - thank you so much for such a wonderful class. read more

When I contacted their executive director, Leah Shahum, about my concerns of traffic lane removals, she referred to major thoroughfares as "traffic sewers". However she didn't offer any alternatives for motorists. Bike facilities for the less than 3% of commuters are at the complete expense of the other 97%. Dangerous conditions for both bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists have been created in the rush to extend bicycle lanes in areas that bikes are incompatible with automobiles, such as freeway on ramps and off ramps, large capacity thoroughfares with hundreds of thousands of cars. This has actually resulted in the deaths of cyclists at market and Octavia, Folsom street, and near the ballpark at I-280. If are going to make bike lanes, it can't be at the expense capacity of other modes of transportation, which only creates traffic jam and smog as well as road rage, and it needs to be done right, safely, and designed for the long term, not just short term immediate gratification. The new terrifying change at the San Jose and I-280 offramp now merges bicyclists with motorists traveling 50 mph coming through a blind tunnel. It's only a matter of time before this results in serious injury or fatalities. read more

If you're reading this review becuase you're considering joining, don't hesitate, go to https://www.sfbike.org/?join_renew I worked for the SFBC for two years, and I can tell you, your donation is well spent. The Coalition works tirelessly to encourage better bike policy at City Hall. It educates bicyclists and non-bicyclists alike. It also creates a true bicycling community in San Francisco. And it's not just the staff. The SFBC has one of the most active memberships of any organization I've belonged to. You'll be joining more than 5,800 cyclists across SF in making the City not just a better place to bike, but a better place to live. read more

I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said in previous posts, but I'm raising my fist in unison with other bicyclists on this one. A positive organization that I've been a proud member of for years. Some thanks to SFBC for: -My nifty map with hill gradients that's posted above my bed. -Bike parking at ball games, concerts, festivals, etc... that shit is so valuable to me because I can freely imbibe and not worry about driving a car somewhere after I've had 'one or two'. -Bike lanes. As a previous resident of Brooklyn and Manhattan (no bike lanes, or ones that would just mysteriously *end* right when you needed them most) where I commuted on a daily basis I think SF's bike lanes are the bees knees. -Fun events like bike polo, and my favorite Critical Manners (August 10th) And c'mon let's face it, chicks who ride are hawt. Damn. read more

Boy o boy, do these people have their shit together! They lease a floor in a real building, have tons of volunteers, and heavy political influence. In any other city I'd imagine this type of organization would be ran out of some "dude's" garage named Spyder. DO IT! read more

Thank you Bike Coalition, for working tirelessly to make San Francisco a safe place to bike... for fighting the good fight and sticking up for the little people. That's right, little because we get out of our cars and peddle our asses up hills! I also know that if I am hungry, and it is a wednesday night, I can stuff envelopes for my dinner. I wish I Knew that when I was unemployed read more

Give it up for these guys: It has been a landmark year! New bike lanes, amazing events, bike valet EVERWHERE, and smiling faces +hot bikes! From the amazing volunteers to the very kind & open admins --you guys rock! SFBC FTW! read more

This place is just great. Fighting for bike rights, teaching classes on how to fix your bike and how to become a better city rider. There is some great info on the website www.sfbike.org . They even have a PDF map of SF that shows the grades of the different hills. VERY helpful unless you are one of those super riders that climbs to the top of twin peaks for fun. read more

San Francisco Bike Coalition does wonders for bikers in the City. They're one of the few advocates who have influence bike policies across the world. I've attended a very informative and FREE class they offer which help you bike safely in the city, which is often hella scary. ** Price for members and perks that come along with the service. $35 a year * Service from staff. Very helpful and accommodating. * Dope Cause, environmentally conscious. You can rent free bike trailers for FREE to help you move or hual things on your bike. I rented the big bike trailer for the anti-war mobilization and was able to haul our big sound system for my group. In addition you get 20% off purchases from Rainbow Grocery and 10% off from most sports equipment, and bike shops in the city. Most importantly the coalition advocates for more bike lanes and safer conditions for all bikers and drivers. I took away a star because I didn't see too many folks of color who are part of the coalition, but overall I believe in there mission. Time to get out of that gas guzzler and fight the climate crisis by riding that a bikey bike! read more

Best club to join! They're doing GREAT things for SF and for those who ride bikes in SF. If you bike for fun/for sport and/or bike-commute you should belong to this group. Check out their website to learn more. http://www.sfbike.org read more

Bike parking at local events. Outstanding. read more

San Francisco is probably the awesome cycling city it is today because of SFBC. I protect my little blue membership card as if it were a credit card, or maybe as if it were a little piece of fois gras that never goes bad in my wallet and i can nibble at any time I want. I've lived in SF for almost a year now and I'm still amazed by what these guys do. The discounts at bike stores are awesome, I think every shop I've gone into participates (and those who don't are suckers!). Even more so, I enjoy the 10% off at Rainbow Grocery, I've probably paid for my membership 10 times by using my card there. SAFE valet bike parking at tons of events around the city. It's so nice to know your bike will be there when you need to make a quick break for the hills. The bike route map with gradient indications and signed routes along the city, the monthly tube times, bike lanes, bike racks... Why do people drive? Cycling skills workshops, repair workshops, political activism, what don't you all do? When you go to an event and see masses of bikes locked to any immovable object, you know some people worked their ass off to make this city great for cycling. Thanks SFBC. read more

SFBC is sexy. Any organization promoting bikes is intrinsically hot, but SFBC is also a model for cycling organizations around the world. They create community within the city, and they make shit happen. - 10,000 attractive, bike-riding members - SFBC's recent win in working with the city to create over 200 MILES in new bike lanes in SF! - They do the dirty work with politicians and push changes through. They also send out a lovely list around election day of which politicians support cyclists. - Affordable $35 membership, with 10% discounts at local bike shops and @ Rainbow (to make it almost affordable) -- you save in the long run and your money talks. - Discounts for house memberships. - Events events events. Bike-in movies, shindigs, rides, valet parking, etc. - Newsletters on what's going down in Bikeville. SFBC moves and shakes, and I'm sold. read more

A no-brainer to join if you ride a bicycle in the City. Discounts galore with a yearly membership (join as low as $35) at various bike shops, Rainbow Grocery, Sports Basement and more establishments, including (curiously enough) a 50 cent discount off any purchase at the Hole in the Wall Saloon. read more

SFBC has done a lot in the 23 years I have biked SF. Definitely many more bike lanes and more awareness about biking and bike safety. Tube Times publication really boring and rehashed/reprinted every month. Seems out of touch and not outraged enough. The City of SF, Caltrans and transportation planning agencies deserve 1 Star for their inept glacial pace of pushing pencils and filing forms. read more

Not much downside to this organization. Advocating for cyclists is hard to criticize. Keep it up! read more

Thankyou bike coalition for encouraging more people to bike and setting up a great network of sharrows, lanes, and routes! i bike to work five days a week from the ocean to the bay. it's the BEST way to get around in san francisco! let's get more people biking!!! get your cars out of my city! at LEAST take mass transit. (comon, it's cheaper, less stressful and you can read the paper on your way to work!) nothing but toxins. i hope your car brakes down and your mechanic rips you off big time. i also hope that gas reaches $10 per gallon! you've got no excuse HERE. oh, and good luck parking. did you take your blood pressure medication today? PS did you know that there are bart/ferry/bus station parkinglots OUTSIDE of the city? yea, that's right.. you can park your "individual transport unit" and leave it there. thank you that is all. (i'm angry at you) read more

Thank you SFBC !! SF Bike Coalition has led a campaign to make SF a safer place to bike. Be safe, and support SFBC ! read more

Why can't I give 10 stars?! If you ride a bike in San Francisco, you need to be a member! You can thank them for all them lanes that keep the death monsters away from you. Heck if you aren't riding a bike in the city you need to. Get outta that metal box you ride in, breath some fresh air, get some exercise and hop on the pedal revolution that the SFBC is spreading. These people are why SF is the best city in the US to cycle in and why we have more cyclist per capita of any major US city. Not only is it a great org, but they are a lot of fun too, with fun events throughout the year and great volunteer events where you can meet other cyclist and dork out. Join today, if you bike, if you bike in SF, they have already paid you back. read more

Last night, on the corner of Polk and California, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition handed out free front and rear bike lights! I had been meaning to join for while, so last night, when they also knocked $10 off the membership fee, how could I not become a member? The regular membership fee is $35 and if you bike in San Francisco, you'll make that all back in a few months because of all the discounts you get for being a member. Check out the list: http://www.sfbike.org/?discounts My favorite? 10% at Rainbow Grocery when you ride your bike to the store! read more

Bike lanes are one thing, but using COVID as an excuse to close off vast areas of the city to auto traffic is going too far. You can't drive to the top of Twin Peaks any more, for one thing. What about disabled people or seniors who can't ride a bike. We've gone from reasonable measures to ensure riders safety to where the S.F Bike Coalition has become the "bike nazis", totally scornful of anyone who doesn't see things their way. read more

I have lived (and biked) in SF daily for over 20 years and have seen amazing improvements in biking since then, thanks to the SFBC. We wouldn't have all the bike lines we have if it wasn't for SFBC's advocacy work. I am grateful for all their hard work and am blessed to be a member of such a wonderful organization. read more

SF Bicycle Coalition has done so much for cycling and safety in San Francisco! I'm excited to see them take a more intersectional approach to promote cycling and safe transportation for ALL people in the Bay Area lately. Can't wait for their events to start up again after COVID. read more

Every city should be doing what the SFBC is doing. Promoting the sport of cycling and at the same time being the city's advocate for every bicycle commuter. They have done a lot of good things for the commuters and there will always be a some bad ones in the bunch. Do you know that every SFBC member can get a 10% discount on non-sale items at Performance Bicycles? They have other partners in the city that work with them. How about a map of the city that shows all the usual routes like "the wiggle" for those new in town. Keep up the good work read more

Ive been a member now for a couple of years! I just started volunteering and so far my experience has been epic! Loved the Rock the Bike event at the Great American Music Hall last Saturday Aug 30 2015! They have over 10,000 members from the world! They have a current petition to put a dedicated bike path all around the Embarcadero! Let's make it happen sign the petition! https://www.sfbike.org/news/protected-bike-lane-demo-at-embarcadero-sunday-streets/ read more

I recently attended their 2-day Basic Bike Skills class and I'm totally blown away by how awesome these guys are! I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is a beginner cyclist in SF. To start, the classes are free - all you need to do is go to their website and register. The first day is a 4-hour classroom discussion of street laws and skills necessary to ride safely around the city. They have handouts, slideshows and videos to supplement the lecture. The second day is an outdoor class --- a chance to practice the skills learned in the classroom. This was my favorite part of the course. The first half was held at Golden Gate Park, where we had different "practice stations." In short, we practiced how to (1) look behind while riding, without swerving to the side (not as easy as it sounds!) (2) making a sudden complete stop without skidding (3) how to quickly avoid something on the road while making a minimal change in your course (4) making a sudden right/left turn to avoid a collision. (I totally sucked at all of them, btw. But practice makes perfect, of course...) The second part of the day is actually on the road. We had enough instructors so that each instructor had 2 students (and there were probably about 15 of us, more or less). We took a route around the Golden Gate Park area during the afternoon --- first run was led by the instructor, showing us the right way to change lanes, make left turns, stay visible, when to "take the lane" etc. On the second run, it was the students' turn to lead, and a chance for the instructors to see how well we learned. At the end of the course, the instructor spent time with each student to discuss those things we did well, or on those points where we need to improve. They even have a checklist and a grading system for it! In short, these guys really know what they're doing and they are serious about educating cyclists. They aren't just "going through the motions" in teaching this class. It is their goal to educate people so that we can be safe on the road and that (through riding responsibly) we can be "ambassadors" for all other cyclists. Thanks, guys! Keep up the great work!!! read more

I have a dream. A dream that someday SF streets will look like Amsterdam. The SFBC is bringing that dream closer to reality. At least I feel like I don't necessarily need to have a death wish to be a bike commuter. Best $25 I've invested. It's worth it just for the weekly email of new bike lane openings, political news and fun rides like the "Tiramisu Tour of SF." Plus they have bike trailers you can check out for free. Plus you get a free killer map with color-coded streets according to steepness and recommended routes to take advantage of designated bike lanes. Plus you get discounts at bike shops with your member card. Know why? Because bike people rule. I can't believe I got to be first reviewer on this one. One of the best things going in SF. read more

I am halfway through the two-part Urban Cycling safety class taught by the SFBC, for FREE. That public service alone is worth four stars. The classes are comprised of a four-hour classroom session, followed by an on-bike class from 10-4 on a Saturday. I honestly wish the four-hour session were required to obtain CA drivers' licenses. I learned so much about not just bicycle laws, but motorist laws, that I never knew before - and I only got one question wrong on my last driver's license test. I signed up for the Urban Cycling classes because my new commute to SOMA is just a little too far: an hour between MUNI and hoofing it. But, I've been terrified to bike since late 2007, after being rear-ended by a car that turned a corner into me (a hit-and-run). I was trivially hurt, no passersby helped me, my bike wasn't ride-able, and I was terrified of cars. Yep, trauma drama girl, right here. This means that the last place I wanted to be was in the street. "Put me on the sidewalk!" I thought. But, these classes have shown me video scenarios, images, and accident data that have made me understand WHY it's important to be in the street, behave like a motorist, and be seen. More importantly, I'm learning strategies (emergency turns and escape-from-bad-situation maneuvers, how to be a good driver to cars) so I can implement those principles. I've learned about the things cyclists do that can cause accidents and how NOT to do them. Invaluable. I really wish this class was required for motorists and cyclists alike. I'm going to become a member to support these kinds of efforts. read more

Five star organization changing our little world one bike lane at a time. I feel cool when I flash my member card and get a discount at bike shops. The bike shop guys get this look in their eye when they see it. There's a small but silent moment of respect. Then they ask for my cash. read more

F*** Yeah. I still have my One Less Car longsleeved tee from my days of commuting to work (in Embarcadero 4) from twin peaks. It's hell out there on a bike, man. God bless you SFBC for being the caring folks that you are. read more

who could say anything, bad about the bicycle coalition? why do they need a review? Okay those annoying street closures are a nuisance, but it's San Francisco, you get use to being told how to behave, think, eat and vote. read more

being a new bike rider i'm completely terrified of biking in this crazy city. thank you sf bike coalition for offering classes for safe city biking and i can't wait to take one so i stop shitting my pants as i careen down market street. read more