The Political Evolution of San Francisco's Bicycling Community

"The political influence of San Francisco's pro-bike movement has risen steadily over the past decade to the point where the chief advocate for cyclists sits on a powerful city commission and elected officials rarely tell them no.

"We've achieved a lot. There's no doubt about it,'' said Leah Shahum, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, which boasts a membership on the plus side of 6,000, making it one of the largest advocacy groups in the city.

It was Shahum whom Mayor Gavin Newsom tapped last year to serve as a commissioner overseeing the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which is in charge of transit, traffic and parking operations in the city."

Just this month, the alliance claimed a long-fought victory by pushing a plan through the Board of Supervisors to ban cars along some roadways in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays, despite a two-time loss at the polls in 2000.

"The City Charter, San Francisco's bible for governance, now mandates that "bicycling shall be promoted'' when it comes to crafting plans for traffic flow and public safety."

"It wasn't until one man sued last year to stop San Francisco from fully implementing its official bike plan -- the roadmap for enacting bike-friendly policies in San Francisco -- that the bike lobby hit its first major bump in the road."

"Much of the growing influence of the bike advocacy lobby can be pinned on political sophistication.

Shahum and other bike coalition leaders have joined forces with environmental organizations (think global warming), public health interests (think heart-healthy exercise), pedestrian rights and transit advocates (think alternatives to cars), the Green Party and some Democratic clubs -- a powerful alliance of special interests that grabbed the attention of left-leaning City Hall. "

"San Francisco pollster David Binder said the pro-bike interests represent much more than simply making the city safer and easier for cycling. Some bike advocates are promoting a political and social statement against big oil, big business and the car-based society."

"It's symbolic of the progressive-moderate split in San Francisco,'' he said.