Why Do You Ride? Ladies Share Their Stories On Bike To Work Day
Happy Bike to Work Day! Here at Human Streets we strive to share a plethora of diverse stories about the people who bike, skate and walk on our city’s streets. Today we’re handing over the mic to several women who ride around San Francisco’s hilly streets every day. Here’s what they have to say about why they bike, what their favorite routes are, and how these streets can become more cyclist-friendly.
Rosamaria Cavalho
I generally enjoy riding around this hill-filled city as a female. I feel that often times, cycling can often be seen as a guy thing. However, there have been a number of times, where I have gotten props: “you go girl!” “you can do it” or “my hero” from random pedestrians and drivers when climbing some big hill or navigating a busy street. There have been the few times I’ve received inappropriate remarks or was offered some dudes number but I’ve generally shrugged it off.
I think living particularly in the Tenderloin as a cyclist has been cool because from the kids to the homeless people, they have come to know me as “bike-girl.”
My favorite route before and after work is taking the Tenderloin to Hawk Hill, for a ride from super urban to super serene. My least favorite intersection would be Hyde and McAllister streets at commute time.
I really wish there would be more visibility of women cyclists, commuters, hobbyists, racers etc. I think a campaign featuring S.F./Bay Area riders, especially women, who are activists, artists, daughters AND commuters too would humanize and hopefully make dangerous drivers use more caution.
Jessica Jenkins
I started biking daily for my commute in 2001, usually only 2–3 miles each way. My husband and I gave up our car in 2007. After I had a kid in 2014, I started doing the weekly Butterlap ride as a way to get my regular exercise and socializing in. I made a lot of friends through that ride and started going on and planning longer rides and bike camping trips.
About a year later, I was relieved to ditch the stroller and start taking my kid everywhere on bike. At that point, I started feeling more vulnerable as a cyclist. Whereas I used to be able to pedal faster and merge into traffic when there was a car blocking the bike lane, I can’t do that with 40 extra pounds and the concern for a kid on my bike. I started to become more political about biking: more active with San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, going to SFMTA planning meetings, writing supervisors and SFMTA in support of bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
And on the personal, daily level, I ask drivers to move out of bike lanes rather than going silently around. It’s difficult to have daily confrontations like that, but it’s put me in touch with my activist side. I believe that bikes, walking, and public transit are the future for sustainable, dense, community-oriented cities — not cars, even self-driving ones.
You can find me biking some of the most popular bike routes in S.F. every day — Page Street, Market Street, Polk Street, Golden Gate Avenue, Turk Street, the Wiggle. My experience biking around S.F. is mostly great. I get compliments on everything from my bike lights to my snazzy jacket to my cute kid. I’m also psyched to see more and more people biking every day.
Pro-tip: drivers are much more careful around you when you have a kid seat on the back of your bike. I won’t judge if your passenger is a teddy bear.
Melinda Greene
My favorite routes to ride are along the Panhandle and anywhere through Golden Gate Park or along the water. I know thats probably what everybody says but hey, they’re fun places to ride. Biking through the city has given me a sense of freedom I never had before. I don’t have to rely on anyone or anything but my own abilities to get around and I experience the city much more intimately. I see more, hear more, smell more (sometimes that’s not awesome, but that’s city life and I love it). I don’t feel like other cyclists or cars treat me differently because I’m a woman. I feel like cars treat me like vermin because I’m a cyclist. I feel a camaraderie with my fellow cyclists and frequently talk to other random cyclists at stoplights or just while riding along. I’ve made a few friends this way and tell everyone on a bike about Bike Party.
Speaking of Bike Party…I’m part of “The Hub”, the core group of bikey folks who organize this monthly party on wheels. If you’ve never been, it’s a helluva good time and I promise if you come alone, you will leave with new friends.
I’m not sure how to get more women to bike besides better infrastructure. Also, the more women who bike, the more other women will be encouraged to bike. So ladies, if you’ve got a bike, ride it. You never know who may be inspired to ride because they saw your fearless self.
