Archive for the ‘San Francisco’ Category

Would You Buy Your Groceries Here?

Where can you buy healthy fresh food in your neighborhood? Where are the grocery stores and farmer’s markets, how is the quality of food that is there, and which food options do you actually have access to? Are there nearby food banks or community gardens? Can you grow your own food? What local food choices are available to you in your community?

Moldy Meat ShelvesI took this photo in the meat section of my neighborhood grocery store earlier this week.

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The Grassroots Work Behind the SF Bike Plan Victory

San Francisco Bike Coalition member Rick Baraff produced this short video documenting how the grassroots advocacy work of thousands of SFBC members led to last Friday’s historic victory at the SFMTA hearing.

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SF Muni Fares Go Up on July 1st

SF Muni Fares Rise

The first time that I rode on San Francisco’s Muni it cost me a quarter, complete with a two hour unlimited transfer. Even as a clueless adolescent, I thought that was a pretty good deal. Mass transit ridership is skyrocketing all over the country, as more and more people are utilizing more sustainable methods of transport and bicycles. A few weeks ago, when I saw this notice that Muni fares will be going up to two dollars on July 1st, the first thing that I thought was: “I actually feel pretty good about spending two bucks of my meager resources to ride the streetcar. I want to support my local transit agency and help it to be a success.” Man, I am getting old.

SF Bike Plan Unanimously Approved by the MTA Board

Hundreds of ordinary citizens, as well as scores of environmental and bicycle advocates, packed the fourth floor of San Francisco City Hall today for the SFMTA’s hearing on the city’s long-awaited Bike Plan.

SFMTA Hearing at City Hall

The Board heard hours of impassioned public comment in support of implementing the city’s desperately needed Bike Network; they voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the Bike Plan EIR and finally adopt the complete Bike Plan.

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Sunday Streets Takes Over the Mission

Sunday Streets in the Mission

Thousands of my fellow San Franciscans poured into the beautiful car-free space of the Mission District yesterday for Sunday Streets. The warm sunny day inspired scores of families, bicyclists, dogs, pedestrians, dancers, roller-bladers and skaters to come together and frolic in our city’s public streets.

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Cyclecide Reinvents the Bicycle

Heavy Pedal Cyclecide Bike Rodeo is a consortium of inventors, bike mechanics, artists, musicians and visionaries who love bikes and building stuff. Their wild imaginations having created all manner of beautiful recycled bike art machines- everything from a wacky two-wheeled Chupacabra to a complete bicycle-powered carnival. Bicycles are seen not only as a vehicle, but also as a medium for creative expression and fun. Cyclecide member Jarico Reesce explains, “Historically, when you think about bicycles, there is no other machine that is more democratic and versatile than the bicycle itself.”

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Cyclecide will be displaying their brilliant bicycle monstrosities in San Francisco this Saturday, June 6th, during the Bayview Artfest. This free event is taking place on Third Street and Fairfax (one block from Evans) from 11am to 5pm.

Foster Farms Runs “No Plumping” Chickens at Bay to Breakers Race

San Francisco’s zany Bay to Breakers race brings out not only world class runners but crazy costumes as well. Some companies took advantage of the crazy and healthy atmosphere to promote various items (energy drinks, anti pain patches) but we had to question the Foster Farms “Say No to Plumping” race team.

Sure, everyone seemed to enjoy having their photo taken with the plump Foster Farms chickens but the brightly colored 16-person Foster Farms race team seemed bent on raising awareness of a little-known food fact: “plumped” or saltwater-injected chicken that costs consumers their health and money. Read the rest of this entry »

San Francisco Unveils First EcoMap

In the continued effort for San Francisco to stay ahead of the green curve as well as the technology curve, the San Francisco EcoMap comes to a computer near you. Although still in “preview” stage the real deal launches in a couple days.

The EcoMap gives San Franciscans the ability to see the collective results of their individual footprint but also offers up nifty comparison of other zip codes so we can all spy on how Pac Heights compares to Potrero Hill. How many of the Marina crowd pours CO2 into the air from transportation, energy and waste versus their Russian Hill neighbors? With this map it’s easy to check out the various carbon footprints of the various ‘hoods. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the Dish on Grease Recycling in SF?

Did you know that San Francisco spends approximately $3.5 million dollars every single year to unclog our sewers? Commercial restaurants and household kitchens are the largest controllable sources of Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) in the City’s sewer system. Although most individuals don’t produce very much used cooking grease, collectively what we pour down our drains all adds up and makes a disgusting unhealthy clogged mess in our city’s sewers.

greasy SF sewerBefore and after photos of a San Francisco sewer encrusted with used grease

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Golden Wheels Honor Sunday Streets

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition just held its 17th annual Golden Wheel Awards and fundraiser in the swanky Green Room in the War Memorial Building in downtown San Francisco. The SFBC honored Sunday Streets for their ongoing work to make our public streets more accessible to fun and healthy activity for everyone.

Golden Wheel AwardsSFBC Executive Director Leah Shahum inspires scores of bike activists and supporters.

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