Over at SF Appeal, Jackson West has word that Mission SF Federal Credit Union offers bike loans to those in dire need to two wheels. "They'll loan up to $2,500, which could buy you quite the performance machine, but $800 is enough to get you a basic single-speed from the folks at Mission Bicycle Company and quite a bit of ride nearby at Valencia Cyclery," West explains. "And $93 a month isn't that much more than the full-rate Fast Pass from Muni, frankly." Hear, hear. The only catch is that you must live in specific neighborhoods to take advantage: opening an account is available to those living in Mission, Excelsior and Bayview neighborhoods.
Bike Loans Available
Photo du Jour 116
This is all kinds of genius, here. Why don't we have bicycle lifts installed on every hill in San Francisco? Oh right, because we live in a dangerously litigious city.
A Caltrain Death, From Inside The Train
We were stuffing our stuff into a backpack as the train left 22nd Street at 4:30 this afternoon when the hissing started and the train slowed. All of the people in the bike car stirred; something had happened. The train stopped in the middle of the tunnel, and the conductor came over the PA. He sounded tense. "There is an emergency situation," he said. "We'll be delayed here for some time. Please be patient."
Gavin Drops The Axe
We woke up this morning to the news that The Gav went all Lizzie Borden on the Transportation Board, ousting Peter Mezey, Will Din, and Leah Shahum of the Bike Coalition. What happens next? Our bets:
Give the Gift of Consumer Insight to 511
If you're done with your pagan tree-worship holiday, head on over to MeTransCo's 511 Survey, and let them know just how bad they suck. 'Tis the season! You could win an iPod, as if you didn't already have four or five of them already.
Bike Plan Injunction Injunction, What's Your Function?
Today's rally at City Hall in support of Bike Plan implementation
SFist Blotter
-- In the 3600 block of Waterbury Court way down in San Jose last night, a double shooting left one man critically injured and another man dead. According to CBS 5, "no arrests have been made and no description of the suspect or suspects was immediately available."
SFist Photo: SFBC's Winterfest 2007 a Huge Success
Photos from the San Francisco Bike Coalition's Winterfest
SFist Tonight
-- Post-Postcard 11: the 11th Annual Small Format Art Sale: At this event, you are the artist and your work is on display. "Artists are encouraged to submit small format multiples--whether that be a series of hand-made paintings or a stack of production run postcards." Plus, this is the perfect SF-y place to go to buy your holiday cards. The postcard kickoff goes from 6-9p at the Lab; free admission. Also, cash/checks accepted; $20 minimum for VISA/MC purchases.
Winterfest! Bikes Winterfest! Fun Winterfest! It's On!
The SFBC will have its annual fundraiser party this Sunday at 6:00 PM
Your Election Night Fêtes
Too real, if you ask us. Election night will soon fall upon the city like a blanket of darkness. But that doesn't mean you should celebrate or grieve alone. Ripping off Inspired by SFBG's Election Night Parties, we present to you SFist's...election night parties. Ta-da. -- Gavin Newsom's (Victory) Party: Pros: at the Ferry Building, the thrill of victory, Gavin's form Cons: at some point you will be snubbed by someone in the society...
SFist Photo: CA's New Law for Lighting Bikes at Night
News of a new law expanding the requirements for bicycle lighting.
Waiting for the Bus is About to get TOTALLY RAD
We have incredibly exciting news about bus shelters! The city just reached an agreement with Clear Channel, your favorite company, to provide bus shelters and advertising and revenue. It's a complicated relationship, and totally boring -- like, alt-weekly-level boring -- but here's what it all means to you, the common man on the street:
Measure H Math
As part of its campaign against Measure H, the SF Bicycle Coalition has notified us that there are more parking spaces than cars in San Francisco: our fair but congested city has "603,000 on-street and off-street parking spaces" but only "469,489 registered vehicles."
Not Just Prestige... Super Prestige
The best sports, we say, combine beauty and ridiculousness, and that’s why cycling is a favorite of ours. But, like many others in the Bay Area--too many, it turns out--we’ve recently discovered cyclocross, a form of Pure Sweet Hell. Others have written eloquently on the attractions of this "bike-riding amalgam of roller derby, steeplechase, mud wrestling, and ballet" -- so let us just say here that, as a spectacle, it combines all the beauty and ridiculousness of your standard road race with an added beautiful/ridiculous component of leaping on and off the bicycle to surmount the various natural and artificial obstacles by sadistic (and therefore beloved) race promoters.
Week Around the -Ists
This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King and appreciated their beautiful skyline.
SFist Photo: Lexus vs. Bike on Confusing Octavia Blvd.
Photo of a car/bike accident on Octavia and some questions about how Octavia's intersections are designed.
SFist Photo: What's This Ferrari Driver Doing Wrong?
A dicsussion of the illegality of iPodding while driving or cycling
SFist Tonight
-- Audiofly: Euroduo (England's Anthony Middleton and Italy's Luca Saporito) throw down here in the states. Expect lots of basslines, techno-ness, and Italian-pop. Music starts at 9 p.m. Mighty,119 Utah (at 15th Street); $10-12.
Week Around the -Ists
Protest over national vs. regional chains, the never-ending debate over the place of cars and bicycles in our metropolises, professional sports scandals, remembering a solemn day, and being issued a search warrant - it all happened across our sites this week!
Week Around the -ists
With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to.
Good Magazine Will Do You Good (Block Party This Sunday!)
We've been big fans of Good Magazine since their premier issue came out last fall. We love the inspiring stories they cover and the ways they present them -- graphics, design, and concept are given as much weight as the words. We also love that the staff is predominantly made up of young people -- much younger than we are, we might add. (Incidentally, bad-boy Al Gore III is the associate publisher.) Some recent,...
SFist Photo: Fell and Masonic Deathtrap Revisited
An illustrated discussion of the intersection at Fell and Masonic.
SFist Photo: Octavia Boulevard Betterment - It's On!
A hearing at City Hall on Monday, 7/9/07 regarding Octavia Blvd.
SFist Photo: Deathtrap Intersection at Fell and Masonic
Photo and discussion of the news conference concerning ped and biker safety.
We Read The Weeklies
Last week's winner, as picked by SFist Sarah -- the Bay Guardian! Steven T. Jones takes over the opening editorial from Tim Redmond this week. It does not mention Burning Man! Recalls go too far. Club 6 -- still open. Why can't the Chron make money? Now serving at Cafe Gratitude: "I Am....Sued." San Francisco water may be causing rashes. Thank goodness Ed Jew doesn't have to worry about that! (okay, to be fair, we're sending the water all over the area so it might be in the Burlingame system too). Cover: Marke B's Club Guide, a glossy insert. Cute picture of bears! (picture not online.) Goth band comes to town. K Records founder Calvin Johnson has a retro haircut. And Frameline! Oh yeah -- and vote for us for best blog in the Best Of!
SFist Watches: Your Locals On Reality TV
Previously on "Pirate Master" the show sucked, but we continued to watch hoping to spot local contestant Nessa. And she was nowhere to be seen.

