As a general rule, the propensity of non-bicyclists to give biking a try is inversely proportional to the average velocity of the bikers they see on the street. If you live in a city where women in wedge heels are steering their old steel bikes around their daily errand route, there’s really nothing intimidating or scary about the prospect of getting on a bike yourself. If it’s all hipsters on fixies, by contrast, that just makes biking feel all the more alien and stupid.

”

— Reuters blogger Felix Salmon reflects on the Slow Bike movement

Ghost bike for Derek Allen
6th Avenue and Clement
San Francisco, CA 

posted October 10, 2010:

A ghost bike is chained up at the corner of 6th Avenue and Clement, in memoriam of the cyclist that was killed there last Thursday night during a collision with a MUNI bus. The victim was 22 year old Derek Allen who, according to initial reports, may have crossed into the street in front of the bus. The bus driver, Tommie Barnett, swerved but was unable to avoid hitting Allen.

A similar ghost bike was left at the scene of another cyclist fatality at Turk and Masonic in August.

Meant to act as street memorial to the fallen cyclist, some offerings have already been left in remembrance including flowers, shells, nuts, a candle and rocks. Typically the city will let the bike remain for several days before cutting the chain and removing it.

On Friday evening, Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar issued this statement about the accident:

Statement from Supervisor Eric Mar regarding bicyclist Derek Allen | October 8, 2010This morning I visited the site of the MUNI accident on 6th Ave at Clement Street, where 22 year old bicyclist Derek Allen was killed yesterday evening at 5pm. I am concerned because I ride my bike there all the time. While our City has made progress in making streets safer and expanded bike lanes in San Francisco, we need a better streets planning process for parts of the Richmond District which must include residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and merchants. To create a more livable community, we must find ways to safely share the roads- drivers, pedestrians and cyclists- all of us together. There have been a number of tragic traffic accidents including the killing of a bicyclist in August on Masonic and Turk and I hope that drivers can be reminded of how vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists are on the road. I am anxiously awaiting the City’s investigation, but my staff and I have been meeting with Richmond residents, Police, Muni staff, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and safety advocates to develop solutions.

Sarah B.

(via RichmondSFblog)

Advocates Call on SFMTA to Take Immediate Steps to Fix Masonic Avenue »

A week after a 21-year-old German tourist on a bicycle was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver on Masonic Avenue, the first death of a bicyclist in the city this year, advocates who have been working for years to calm the major arterial are calling on the SFMTA to make immediate safety improvements. 

The SFMTA recently unveiled four long-term options to fix Masonic, but in light of Nils Linke’s death Friday night, and with the bike injunction finally lifted, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Michael Helquist ofBIKE NOPA and other advocates are urging the agency to take action sooner rather than later. 

“We’ve been really happy and encouraged to see the long-range vision the MTA is putting forward in terms of the four options that have been presented at the community meetings. We think this is really going in the right direction but with the recent tragedy this past weekend we feel like it really underscores the need to make some immediate improvements,” said Renée Rivera, the SFBC’s acting executive director.

She would like to see buffered bike lanes installed immediately, on a trial basis, in both directions of Masonic Avenue between Ewing Terrace and Fulton Street.

Read more…

(08-25-2010; 20:58 PDT) SAN FRANCISCO [Masonic/Turk] — A vigil was held for German visitor Nils Yannick Linke, who was killed August 13 while riding his bicycle on Masonic. Neighbors, bicycle advocates, and District 5 San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi attended the tribute and Reverend Will Scott, pastor of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, gave a blessing. A friend of the Linke family sang Amazing Grace.

SFPD increases bike tickets on The Wiggle as SFMTA ponders signal priority for bikes »