RiDE LiKE A GiRL Workshop just around the corner!   

Because last year was so much fun, we've expanded our women's bicycling workshop to a 3-part series, beginning April 10th!

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland, with generous support from Bike East Bay, presents RiDE LiKE A GiRL, a 3-part bicycling skills workshop series designed for every woman who wants to ride. This first workshop (April 10th) focuses on commuting basics, just in time for Bike Month and Bike To Work Day.

Meet us at Fruitvale BART Bike Station around 12:30 for safety checks, workshop begins at 1pm.  Bring your bike+ helmet, stories of biking past and a smile.

Meet Carolyn, your RLAG Instructor!

For the past 9 years, Carolyn has led bike trips and classes for riders of all ages and abilities. Carolyn currently teaches bicycle skills at REI, Bike East Bay, and in schools around Alameda and Contra Costa counties. For 8 Years she directed the Albany YMCA bike camp, a week-long camp that aims to train youth to navigate urban streets independently. Her passion for bikes extends to mechanics, and she has enjoyed teaching mechanics skills to high schoolers, middle schoolers and incarcerated adults. Carolyn brings equal enthusiasm and knowledge to each group of students and believes the best way to learn is in a safe and fun environment. 

Every woman is warmly welcomed at our workshops! Suggested donations accepted here: https://squareup.com/market/walk-oakland-bike-oakland/ride-like-a-girl
If you're already a WOBO member, it's on us.

Get more info on our first workshop on our RLAG Facebook page.

Future workshop dates:

June 12 - focusing on choosing the right bike(s); and a 10-12 mile flatfish ride. 
November 13 - how to prepare for going on longer rides, say like touring local wineries...like the secret Bay Area spots we'll take you to during the 20-ish mile ride (details still in the works but stay tuned)

Can't wait till April to spend some quality time with other women who ride bikes?  I know how you feel.  Join us for our very first Women Bike Happy Hour - Oakland at the Good Hop Bottle Shop (2421 Telegraph Ave.), March 24th from 5:30 on.   Bring your friends!
 

Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution

SPUR Shares a One-of-a-Kind Evening with Transportation Heavy-Hitter Janette Sadik-Khan

During her time as New York City’s transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan did what could have been deemed impossible: transform a network of streets that had long been dominated by the car into spaces safe for pedestrian and bicyclists. Starting with simple paint cans, she and her team made the streets quantifiably safer and unquestionably more dynamic, increasing foot traffic, reducing congestion and improving the bottom line of businesses practically overnight. In her the book, Streetfight, she and co-author Seth Solomonow break down what it took to fully realize these changes and showcase how cities around the world are taking back their streets to shape active and successful public spaces.

A Taste of the Neighborhood

North Oakland, West Berkeley and Emeryville neighbors invite you to pre-Love Our Neighborhood Day festivities a la Kala Art Institute, March 25, 6 to 9pm

Ever wanted to check out local artist talent in a classic brick and mortar gallery on San Pablo Ave? Want to learn about the burgeoning art, brewery and music scene in the multi-city corner of bustling East Bay? Want to get a taste of this fun neighborhood which will play host to Love Our Neighborhood Day, a car-free day on State Hwy San Pablo Avenue?

Where Are The Stripes?

An update on Telegraph Avenue and those promised bike lanes! 
 

Telegraph Avenue was paved months ago, but remains unstriped. Walking, biking and driving is more than a little confusing and a whole lot of dangerous on the unstriped blocks and folks are left wondering where they belong on the road. 

So where are the stripes?  Here is what the City of Oakland had to say:

"The permanent striping work on Telegraph Avenue has resumed! Lane lines and crosswalks from 20th Street to 17th Street, near the under-construction Latham Square project, will start appearing the final days of February into early March. Between 20th Street and 29th Street lane lines and crosswalks will be installed beginning early March, and the final cycle track and floating parking lanes will follow in mid/late March, weather permitting."

Learn more about the Telegraph Avenue project!

There you have it folks, the stripes are on the way!  But the work isn't over yet!  Volunteers are needed during morning and afternoon commute hours to hand out good parking awards to drivers and educate bicyclists about new curbside bike lanes.
Sign up with Bike East Bay to be a Street Ambassador for Telegraph Avenue. 

Every 2nd Saturday & Sunday of the month! 

SATURDAY! March 12

The March Oakland Urban Paths walk will be Hiller Highlands and the Claremont Hotel!

In March, we’ll be exploring part of the hills near the Berkeley border and getting some different looks at the classic Claremont Hotel. This is a hilly walk, and includes a number of long (secret) staircases. 

Map of the route.

Heavy rain cancels, light rain - forge on. Dogs welcome. Check the OUP website for updates.

SUNDAY! March 13

Motivate, East Bay's Bike Share operations partner, and WOBO team up to lead you by bike to several locations where 800 Bike Share bikes are slated to appear in the next 12 months. Lob your questions about Bike Share to Motivate and learn up on all the planning tools to make Bike Share juuuust right for Oakland. 

Meet up Sunday, March 13th 2 PM at the 19th St BART Station. Speaking of friends bring em' along. Members ride free, donations appreciated. 

Speaking of WOBO Weekends...
Whoa!  February's WOBO Weekend was a huge success and so much fun thanks to the 132 folks who strolled with OUP and the 36 riders on the Wheels + Walls Mural Ride. Kudos to everyone who came out last month! We're sure glad you were there.  As for the rest of you, here is what fun with WOBO looks like!  

Bike To Work Day, May 12th! 

Pedal Pools, Pancakes and People on bikes, Oh my!  

Mark it on your calendar and schedule a spring tune-up because Bike Month will be here before you know it.
  
Sign up to help us out this year. We're looking for bag handlers, pancake flippers, bike ride leaders, and extra pairs of hands to set up and table with us. (A sure way to score one of those coveted "Volunteer" T-shirts...)

Got a bike-friendly activity or bike commute tools and tips to share? Let us know

Business Partner Spotlight 

GJEL Accident Attorneys keeps our sneakers squeaking and our wheels spinning. Known for their insightful blog posts, we're proud to partner up with GJEL for their vision and tenacity.  In their own words,

"Great cities for walking and biking don't always need to have memorable streetscapes or flashy infrastructure. In an ideal environment, the ubiquity of relaxed, inviting places should sweep away concerns over safety and stress. By transcending barriers to walking and bicycling, we can solidify a culture where they become ordinary, everyday means of connecting people and communities.
 
GJEL takes pride in sponsoring local organizations that are committed to improving the community and advocating for street safety. Through our support of WOBO we hope to help contribute to making Oakland a better place for pedestrians and cyclists alike."

Learn more about GJEL

WOBO Wants You!  

Take the handlebars by the horns and steer yourself to WOBO!  We are looking for some excellent folks to join our all-star team and we want you!