This Weekend: A Bunch of FREE San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Events

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition does a lot of things for the biking community.  To name just a few, they put on all sorts of weekly rides and annual events (like Bike to Work Day), they advocate for improved street maintenance, better bike accommodations on the Bay’s streets, bridges and pubic transportation, work to decrease bike theft, they just got the city to give the green light on 45 Bike Network Improvement projects (i.e. more bike boulevards) and got Mayor Gavin Newsom to make Sunday Streets (days where certain SF streets are car-free) a permanent city program, plus they keep everyone up to date on all of these changes and accomplishments on their website.  That résumé makes you feel pretty lazy, now doesn’t it?

I wish I could say I’m an avid cyclist who participates regularly in SFBC events, but alas, the asthmatic/out-of-shape part of me usually wins out.  But there are a whole bunch of FREE and cheap rides and parties posted on their Chain of Events this weekend that even little old me might check out!  Here are some highlights:

from awesome site bikesandthecity.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 9th
8am-10am
SFBC Gas Free Fridays
Fell @ Masonic [Panhandle]
The goal: substitute just one short car trip with a bicycle trip just one day a week.  Fuel up at the SFBC Energizer station with coffee and snacks (this week at Fell and Masonic).

Saturday, October 10th, 11am-6pm
FairAnselm Plaza Parking lots
765 Center Blvd. in Fairfax [Marin]
Biketoberfest Marin 2009
If you can make it all the way out to West Marin (a challenge, since Marin hates public transportation and prefers roads paved with gold and dollar bills) enjoy this FREE bicycle-centric brewfest featuring a bike expo, handmade and vintage bike shows, family fun, food, and live music.

Saturday, October 10th, 2pm
SFBC Bike Buddy Route Ride: Upper Market to CalTrain, Potrero & the Dogpatch
Meet at 17th St Plaza @ Castro [Castro]
Once a month the Bike Buddies have an orientation-like ride to acquaint new cyclists with both easy (for us asthmatic wusses) and challenging bike commute routes.  This month’s Route Ride teaches the best routes from upper Market to SOMA, Potrero Hill, and the Dogpatch.  New riders encouraged (especially commuters seeking a route to CalTrain)!

Saturday, October 10th, 9:30pm
SFBC Fundraiser: Booze, Bandz & Bikes
Benders '” 806 S. Van Ness @ 19th St [Mission]
$5 entry, FREE if you become a member
Two local 'œbike-loving' bands, Flounder and RampAged, are featured at this SFBC fundraiser.  Help support the organization’s work to 'œbring more safe and dignified biking conditions to SF' (But don’t worry SF!  Riding naked still falls under the 'œdignified' category, so Critical Mass and Critical Ass are safe for both posterity and your posteriors).

my day has finally come!

Sunday October 11th
11am-3pm
3rd Annual SFBC Family Day
Doughboy Meadow in Golden Gate Park [Click for Map]
A day of FREE family bike fun with fames and bike activities for the whole family.  Features SFBC’s Freedom from Training Wheels program.  Come from 11:30am-1:30pm with a bike, helmet, and a snack to share and SFBC will take care of the rest in their group effort to get the kids riding without training wheels. Yessss! I will finally learn how to ride a grown-up bike.