Bike Coalition Executive Director Appointed to City's First-Ever Bicycle Advisory Committee

Andy Hanshaw appointed to guide city bicycle initiatives until mid-2016

Today, San Diego City Council appointed Andy Hanshaw to the City’s first-ever Bicycle Advisory Committee with a term ending July 1, 2016. Recommendations from Mayor Faulconer included Hanshaw, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and Point Loma resident, and Kyle Heiskala of Hillcrest. 

Hanshaw and Heiskala joined six additional bicycle advocates and residents from around the city to serve on the advisory board, including Coalition Board Member and Advocate of the Year, Randy Van Vleck. Others appointed include: 

• Kathleen Keehan (Rancho Bernardo)
• Michael Brennan (Hillcrest)
• Nicole Burgess (Point Loma)
• Petr Krysl (University City)
• Samantha Ollinger (City Heights)

In March, San Diego City Council unanimously approved its first-ever Bicycle Advisory Committee to provide guidance to the City on local bicycle projects to make a safer, more accessible and bike-able city, including the implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan Update.

“The City has a lot of great bicycling initiatives coming to fruition and copious opportunities to become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation,” says Hanshaw. “I look forward to working with the committee members and elevating San Diego to be a premiere city for bicycling.”

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, an organization protecting and advocating for the rights of all people who ride bicycles, celebrates that the City of San Diego joins numerous cities in the county that have formally and informally sanctioned bicycle advisory committees.

For more information on Hanshaw and the Bike Coalition, please visit www.sdcbc.org. 

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San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation. For more information, go to www.sdcbc.org.  

USA Today Names San Diego in Ten Best Bike-Friendly Cities

San Diego only California city recognized in national bikeability list

Yesterday USA Today released its list of the ten best cities nationwide for bicycling. San Diego was the only California city mentioned. To read the article, click here. 

According to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the recognition is warmly welcomed but long overdue. “San Diego is making great strides and we’ve got even more on the way to be excited about including CicloSDias, bike share and the regional bike plan,” says Executive Director Andy Hanshaw. 

Major accomplishments from the past year include: 

• Launching San Diego’s first ever open-streets celebration, CicloSDias
• SANDAG’s approval of $200-million for a regional bike plan Early Action program 
• San Diego’s first bike share program with DECOBikes unanimously approved
• Record number of Bike to Work Day participants in May, 2014

The USA Today article highlights scenic and luxurious bicycle routes in San Diego including the Silver Strand, the ride to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and the Pacific Coast Highway route up the coastline and through some of the county’s most beautiful beach towns. 

For more information on bicycle opportunities and developments in San Diego, please visit www.sdcbc.org. 

Summer Solstice Ride with the Bike Coalition this Friday

 

Meet at 6 PM at the Green Flash Brewing Co's Tasting Room. We will head out from there on a casual bike ride before heading back to Green Flash for beers and swag!   Your ticket includes a beer token, water bottle, and sunglasses- courtesy of Green Flash.

Purchase your tickets now or at the door. If you aren't a member yet, take advantage of our membership + ticket deal and save $5.

Members of the Bike Coalition support the bike movement in the San Diego region and receive exclusive benefits such as discounts at participating businesses and bike shops, discounts on rides and events, subscription to our quarterly newsletter, and most important of all- bicycle advocates working on issues that matter to you!

Bike to Work 2014

The long awaited Bike to Work Day 2014 took place on the morning of Friday, May 30th in neighborhoods across San Diego County. From Chula Vista to Oceanside, bright-eyed commuters were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers, and given encouragement in the form of refreshments, free t- shirts, and high fives all around.

At the downtown pit stop at Harbor Dr. and Grape St., riders had a chance to check out the new waterfront county park and enjoy some coffee and donuts, as well as pick up the coveted Bike to Work t-shirt. Volunteers saw a wide range of participants from an 84-year -old retiree who rides 10 miles a day, to a local mom dropping her two kids off at school.

In total, about  9,000 people  biked to work, surpassing last year’s record turnout of 8400 people. Each year, as our numbers increase, so does our influence in shaping the community. As San Diego becomes a safer place for cyclists, more people will make the decision to bike commute, saving the planet, getting in shape, and having fun, all in a days work.

Bike to Work 2014 was a huge hit, thanks to everyone who was involved. Dedicated volunteers, local organizations, and businesses all teamed up to give San Diegans an excellent reason to ride to work. Let's not wait until next year to get out there and move!