BIKE NOPA Bikes And The City have spun out a new collaborative bike series, Women Who Bike. Each Monday and Wednesday we will feature San Francisco women and their bicycles. Check both our blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you.
Let us know your thoughts and leave comments for the featured riders.

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Women Who Bike: Karen

How would you characterize your bicycling style?
K. Assertive and noisy.

Something basic: how often do you bike and what for?
K. I ride everyday to work. I really like the idea of [someone else’s] “Ride to Life”. Bicycling is the cheapest and healthiest way to get around.

What could be done in SF to encourage more women, including teens and younger, to bike?
K. Continued street infrastructure improvements and more separated bike lanes.

How many of your best dates/friendships started with biking?
K. Many! Cyclists are generally a friendly bunch given our mutual vulnerability in traffic.

I surprise people when I bike by (or with) –
K. with my furry helmet [a concession to vanity/whimsy/safety] and my obnoxious bike-bell.

Other little things:
My favorite meal after a long ride (or in between) is:
K. a cheeseburger

The best way to hydrate in between rides is: (coffee, beer, tea
etc.)
K. A personal item I must have or bring while riding my bike

My message to women who want to try biking:
K. Don’t be intimidated; there is a style/speed of cycling for everyone.

I met Karen through mutual friends and by joining our mid-week ride, butterlap. Between our not-so secret love for Lady Gaga’s lyrics while riding around Sea Cliff and Cliff house, we have tons of fun eating tater tots, beers and riding every angle around our beautiful city’s perimeter.

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♥ Gracias Karen!! ♥

Don’t forget to check out BIKE NOPA for more Women Who Bike profiles.
Women who bike: Take the Writing Women Back into Bicycling survey online by May 15th. More than 7300 women already have. Survey conducted by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). See survey here: link
If you or someone you know would like to participate email me at bikesandthecity +at+ gmail
For women in the NOPA area, contact Michael at BIKE NOPA
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See previous Bikes & The City profiles here: Women Who Bike Series

Linden at quarter after 7AM

volunteers are awesome!! this station is at Civic Center, 7AM – ROCK ON!!

the CTX

7:10 AM – May 13th San Francisco, Califas.
ding ding
ding ding
(bikes uTurn- swooooooon.)
– sup
– sup
– got coffee
– oh, got to get some
– ok, you heading to work?
– yea, you heading to volunteer, then work?
– yea
– rockstar.
– tsssss
– ok we talk soon.
– okthxbye

Perhaps the earliest morning quick conversation to date between the Calitexican and the Meligrosa.
Then coffee. Then bikes. and more bikes.

Market street and I in the early times last week. Thanks J for the photo. A tad quiet for 8AM, but it sure picked up.

Ride of Silence 2010
The San Francisco contingent will meet at Justin Herman Plaza at 6:30pm and leave at 7:00. Please wear clothing that will help bring attention to the fact that we are riding:

To HONOR those who have been injured or killed To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD Map Details [here]

During bike awareness month it’s important to remind ourselves that sharing the road can be a dangerous game and safety should always come first, followed very closely by lots of fun.

Wear white for visibility and to represent the spirits of those we are honoring, mourning attire, or safety gear. Bring candles, flowers, photos, ghost bikes. Don’t forget your lights!

Can’t believe it has one year since the ROS 2009 [link]
See ya there!

Tessa and pal – all smiles 😀

Bike to work day was -is- a holiday. Here are two lovelies with balloons on Fell st.
Tessa is always representing the SFBC on the bike lane and what better way to be fabulous than with a pal hauling an awesome orange balloons invasion. Swell.

I met Carlos on BART. People with bicycles enjoy checking out each other’s bicycles. Maybe the bicycles talk to each other when we are not busy talking as humans. They say:
– “sup, back on BART again eh – did you get carried or were you in the elevator”
– “noooo, I got carried and my basket was not having it, almost broke a spoke”
– “you must be kind of old”
– “yeah, I’m a French, frame from the 70s”
– “well you look good for your age”
– “why thanks, my name is Frenchie.”

Carlos was telling me how much he likes his bike and how he rides it everyday to his work near the Embarcadero. He was stoked to have joined the SF Bike Coalition, had a quick tune-up at one of the morning stations and some free schwag. We chatted about bikes. It was great chatting with Carlos, because his happy energy and positiveness is floating all around him. Cheers!