Park(ing) Day is Friday, Sept 18th!

Providing Temporary Public Open Space...One Parking Spot at a Time 

We are taking the lead on PARK(ing) Day 2015 in Oakland! PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where metered parking spaces are temporarily transformed into parklets. The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat. 

We will be hosting an "old-school" themed parklet, going out with the old and in with the new. PGAdesign will be hosting an "ODog Patch," a parklet designed to raise awareness for more off-lease dog parks in Oakland. Check out our PARK(ing) Day map and upload your parklet! 

Interested in hosting your own parklet? Looking for nearby parklets to enjoy? Check out our parklet page for up-to-date locations of parklets and resources for creating your own (temporary or permanent) parklet! Don't forget to spread the word to your friends & neighbors! 

If you'd like to be inolved or have any questions: e-mail Christopher at christopheru@wobo.org.

Love Our Lake Day is Sunday, 9/20

It's baaaaack, and we've got a bang-up line up to have you playing, dancing, and rolling in the streets. Here's how you can help:

1. Become a sponsor
(info here)
2. Host an activity
(sign up here)
3. Volunteer for a few hours
(register here)

We're hosting three volunteer orientation meetings: 

• Tuesday, 9/1 at 6pm - Farley's East (Grand and Broadway)
• Sunday, 9/13 at 3pm - Picnic Potluck at Lake Merritt next to Boating Center (568 Bellevue, NOT Lake Chalet!)
• Thursday, 9/17 at 6pm - Lake Merritt United Methodist Church (1330 Lakeshore)

Most of all, we want as many people as possible to come out for Love Our Lake Day and experience a car-free, carefree day to play, meet your neighbors, learn about the surrounding resources, and be energized to get movin' all year long. Share the love through word of mouth, on social media, and neighborhood listserves. More info here on facebook or by old-school webpage.

We also have postcards to distribute.  E-mail us if you can help hand out info on days leading up to the event!

Less Talk,
More Walk 

Whose idea was this, anyway? 

We've been on the ultimate search for the best new sayings for our wicked cool WOBO stickers. We pass 'em out like candy, so they gotta be real good. 

We asked hundreds of people, "What should our new sticker slogan be?" We held The Great Sticker Contest at Love Our Neighborhood Day and polled the entire internet for suggestions, and boy, you guys sure didn't disappoint. By now you're dying to find out who's this genius that came up with the perfect slogan... Ok, we'll tell you. The suggestion which got the most giggles, smirks, feverish nods and eyebrow raises was slipped stealthily into the Sticker Contest box: "Less Talk, More Walk" by the adorable 12-year-old, Talia.  

"Talia is a third grader at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional. Talia loves bike rides with her family and friends, and tells epic stories to her little brother while hiking and walking. She is also a martial artist, poet and musician. Talia thinks that WOBO is the best, and looks forward to someday being able to safely bike and walk all over Oakland. Thanks WOBO!"

Besides Talia's contribution, there were so many great options to choose from that we're adopting two others:

• Wheeled the Power 
• I hella (bicyclist symbol) Oakland.

Look out for these new orange and white stickers to begin showing up on a bike near you! Find us and you'll be sure to get your own. 

Introducing... 
WOBO Weekends! 

Walk Saturday, Ride Sunday

What could be better than a weekend packed full of great fun with your feet? WOBO is proud to announce WOBO Weekends coming soon to a street near you! We are joining forces with the awesome folks at Oakland Urban Paths to keep you on your feet and on your bicycle seat all weekend long.

WOBO is planning to begin hosting fun, social bike rides on the second Sunday of every month, in congruence with OUP's super fun walks on the second Saturday of the month.  

This month we're gonna get started with a BANG! by joining up with Bike East Bay to ride in a big gay bike contingent in Oakland's Gay Pride Parade on September 13th. It's sure to be a rip roaring good time; you won't want to miss out! 

WALK: September 12: Oakland Urban Paths Fruitvale Foray + Book Reading
RIDE: September 13: Oakland Gay Pride Parade Bike Contingent

Next Step on Grand Avenue Road Diet 

Fresh updates and how you can help

The August 12th Community Workshop on Grand Ave. was a draw. With strong public support for a road diet and new bike lanes, Oakland is ready to approve Phase I of the project, from the Piedmont city line to Mandana Blvd, with new bike lanes, improved pedestrian crossings, and smoother traffic flow. However, our calls to extend the project south to Lake Park Ave, to connect with existing bike lanes, and to pilot back-in angled parking have overwhelmed staff and created a project much bigger than they are able to handle. We are not giving up.

As seen in the city's responses to questions, we have been heard, but we need to keep up the noise. The Grand Avenue Road Diet is expected to go to the City Council Public Works Subcommittee on Tuesday, October 13th. Keep your eyes peeled for more detailed information as the hearing approaches, but in the meantime you can e-mail Councilmember Guillen the following two asks: 

1. Pilot back-in angled parking on Grand Avenue
2. Commit to starting Phase II within 12 months

Questions? Suggestions? Want to help with outreach? E-mail Christopher here!

It was totally awesome! 

Wheels + Walls turns out to be a complete success, spurring WOBO weekends. 

Wow! What a great time we had on our inaugural Wheels + Walls Mural Ride. Over thirty riders rolled out on Sunday morning, ready to see the city in a whole new way. We wiggled and wound our way around town, gawking at some truly amazing art work and getting to know each other.  

Special THANKS! to Amana Harris from Attitudinal Healing Connection for describing the organization's inspirational work and community outreach surrounding their mural projects under the 580 freeway. Click here to check out the AHC website, where you can learn more about their work, sign up for their e-mail list, and get involved in the ongoing project.  

Since we had so much fun on our mural tour we've decided to do this more often. We'd love some suggestions from you guys: Where should we go? What should we see?  Lay it on us, we're all ears! E-mail your theme and route ideas to us. See you in the streets!