The Kids Are More Than All Right: Young Bike Advocates

Tonight San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) members will gather to honor advocates of better, safer streets in the city. The 2019 Golden Wheel Award will be presented to former SF supervisor Jane Kim and to People Protected founders Maureen Persico and Matt Brezina. (People Protected mobilizes activists to form a temporary human barrier on city streets that lack adequate bike infrastructure).

To prep for tonight's celebration, I reviewed the latest issue of SFBC's "Tube Times." For me the 16-page newsletter is impressive for its production and editing quality, readability, and diversity of perspectives. Featured is the article "The Kids Are All Right." It highlights the work of young SF bike advocates who take their demands for safer streets to their schools and neighborhoods and to City Hall. In the words of 14-year-old Oscar Denmark, "It is important for kids to advocate because it is our world as well, and we will be living on it for many years to come." The youth advocates recently promoted -- and won! -- safety upgrades to a street where a soccer teammate was hit and killed by a driver. One of them advised readers of a city newspaper, "It shouldn't take our friend to die to fix this problem." 

Join our first ever @PeopleProtected crosswalk! Weds May 1, 5-6.30pm Montgomery @ Mkt. @SFTRU @walksf @sfbike & @PeopleProtected are demanding SFMTA implement turn restrictions and get cars off market now! Cars slow buses and kill people walking & biking https://t.co/EBfP1RhhMk pic.twitter.com/tv5elOPSD7

— People Protected □ □ □ (@PeopleProtected) April 24, 2019

✨The Golden Wheel Awards are TONIGHT! Grab your ticket online and meet us at the Green Room to celebrate. ✨https://t.co/hT5tBuInV4

— SF Bicycle Coalition (@sfbike) July 25, 2019