BikeSummer 99 FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

Who came up with the idea? Several activists affiliated with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, organizing as a self-described "Ad-Hoc Committee on Governmental Insurrection," floated the idea for a "Bike Summer." The idea quickly circulated in cyberspace and elsewhere, attracting a number of other activists who have been meeting to develop the concept. In the mode of the 1960s "Freedom Summer" or "Summer of Love," Bike Summer would attempt to shift the balance of forces regarding transportation policy in San Francisco, "ground zero" of the global fight for sustainable cities.
Who do I contact about...?
Media/outreach: Paul Dorn
Event Organizing: Craig Snyder
Web stuff : Mark Motyka
General Questions: bike@bikesummer.org
Why is Bike Summer happening only in August? In their initial planning, Bike Summer organizers decided to focus their energies on the period between the July and August Critical Mass events, though certain events are likely to fall outside this period. This decision was based on several considerations, including:
  1. focus - intensive, rather than extensive - a belief that 30 events in a 30-day period would have a greater impact than 30 events over a 90-day or longer period;
  2. August is a traditional period for European vacations;
  3. an event in August would have maximum impact on the mayoral election in SF, which traditionally kicks off on Labor Day, ensuring that bike and transportation issues aren't overlooked by candidates;
  4. August is generally a "dead" period for the media, meaning BS could fill the vacuum and receive greater attention;
  5. and so on....

If the momentum builds and the mixed metaphor spills out onto other months, then we, the organizers of Bike Summer, have done our work well.

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