On the eve of San Francisco Bike and Roll To School Week, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) hosted an event today to get students ready. His annual bike fair offered safety tips, bicycle tune-ups, a free helmet giveaway and more.
“It’s good for the environment and their health when we show our kids there are other ways to get to school than a car,” said Ting. “I’ve been a champion of active transportation, working to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. Slowly, but surely, we are making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone.”
This legislative session, Ting is carrying AB 2669, a bill banning tolls for people walking and biking across a state-owned bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. It passed the Assembly Transportation Committee earlier this month and will be considered by the Appropriations Committee next. In addition, in the current 2023-24 budget year, Ting secured:
- $1.2 million for the Arguello Quick Build Bicycle Safety Project
- $1 million for the YMCA of San Francisco YBike program to bring bicycle availability, maintenance, and safety education to youth and families
"We at the Y are extremely grateful to Assemblymember Ting for providing funding to help sustain and grow our programs. YBike serves students and families in every corner of San Francisco, and we're excited to continue to ensure that every young person who grows up in our beautiful city has the chance to learn to ride a bike. Bike riding helps us and our planet stay healthy, expands our access to the places we want to go and connects us more deeply to each other and our communities” said Matt Dove, Program Director at YBike. “From all of us at the Y of SF and YBike, and from the thousands of kids we'll work with in the coming years, thank you!"
A.P. Giannini Middle School was chosen as the host site for the Bike Fair to showcase the upgrades recently completed with the $5 million in state funding Ting championed in 2019. The work included the modernization of the auditorium, gym, locker rooms, bathrooms and hallway lighting.