Biketivist Forum Series
SVBC hosts free quarterly Biketivist forums on the third Wednesday of every month from 5pm to 7pm.
Our next Biketivist Forum: Wednesday, December 19: Building the Bike Movement in 2025
The quarterly online Biketivist forum is free and open to anyone:
First hour (5pm-6pm): a forum with one or more speakers and sharing info on the policy agenda, advocacy training, how to recruit your friends and neighbors, and learning from city staff and elected officials, as well as among your peers from other cities. See our Policies and Positions.
Second hour (6pm-7pm): Local Team meetings in breakout rooms. These breakout groups give attendees a chance to discuss the information from the speaker and apply it to their city’s context as well as conduct regular monthly business. Join a Local Team!
The goal of this program is to create collaboration among all of SVBC’s members and give you an opportunity to meet and connect with your neighbors to organize around better biking. There is so much work to do across 35 cities and towns and we HAVE to rely on you. We can’t be successful without teams of people working to make change in each community and fighting against the status quo.
Check out our past Biketivist Forums:
December 2024 - Building the Bike Movement in 2025 and Beyond!
Hear from Redwood City Councilmember Chris Sturken and Mountain View Councilmember Emily Ann Ramos about recent transportation victories on the Peninsula. Learn how new funding can build better bike lanes, and how YOU can get involved in local decision-making. Discover Urban Habitat's program empowering low-income communities of color to become effective commissioners.
June 2024- Driving Change Together: Vision Zero Forum for Safer Streets and Shared Solutions Driving Change Together
Hosted by SVBC, this event features Leah Shahum, Founder & Director at Vision Zero Network. Leah Shahum, known for her pioneering work in Vision Zero, moderated the forum, bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to the forefront for distinguished panelists Hans Larsen, Public Works Director at the City of Fremont, and Jesse Mintz Roth, Vision Zero Manager (Traffic Fatality Reduction/Safety), Department of Transportation -City of San Jose.
Jesse Mintz Roth, presented on San Jose-specific Vision Zero success stories and the challenges faced in advancing Vision Zero goals.
Hans Larsen, shared best practices and success stories from Fremont, demonstrating how these approaches could be applied to improve road safety and achieve Vision Zero goals.
April 2024 - Parking Requirements and the Builder's Remedy
May is both Bike Month and Housing Month. As a preview to both this April, we're covering one of the key connecting topics between housing and transit: parking requirements and the builder's remedy. Join Tony Jordan and Raynell Cooper of Parking Reform Network, Jordan Grimes of Greenbelt Alliance, and Alison Cingolani of SV@Home to learn about how parking requirements when building housing impact biking and public transit and how the "builder's remedy"—a policy which is making headlines throughout the state for facilitating housing development without local approval— impacts public transit.
101/Woodside Interchange Project
Special guests, Leo Scott, Redwood City’s consultant Project Manager previewed the current plan for new bike/ped infrastructure through this gnarly intersection. Local team members asked questions and gave some feedback.
February 2024 Biketivist Forum - Celebrate Bike Month with your Local Team!
We heard from SVBC staff about all the fun to be had in May 2024 (Bike Month), including classes and events leading up to the 30th Annual Bike to Wherever Days!
January 2024 Biketivist Forum - Accessible and Equitable Bike and Scooter Share
In 2022, the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) released a plan for a countywide bikeshare and scooter-share program to connect communities and reduce barriers to get around, including for historically disadvantaged populations.
November 2023 - Local Teams in Action!
November's monthly Biketivist Forum is dedicated to celebrating the actions of the local teams! For those who don't know, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is an umbrella organization, and we spend a lot of time supporting and growing local teams. The local teams are made up of biketivists in a particular city or region in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
February 2024 - Bike Month Preview
May is Bike Month and host to the biggest event on SVBC's calendar - Bike to Wherever Days, May 16 - 18. Whether you bike every day or once every couple of months - to work, to school, to the farmer’s market, to the library - you’re invited to join thousands in celebration of the humble bicycle. At this month's Biketivist Forum, we're kicking off plans for our Bike Month Celebration!
October 2023 - Advocating for Safe Routes to School
Learning how to advocate for Safe Routes To School from the journey of two parents, Soren Spies and Rachel Sussman, who started Trace Elementary Walk n' Roll in San Jose.
Making El Camino Real safe for those walking and biking has been a long-standing priority for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. SVBC's Strategic Plan specifically calls out a focus on making El Camino Real safe and accessible. With all of this background, SVBC is getting ready to launch a 5-year campaign to push for safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on this corridor all the way from Daly City to San Jose.
July 2023 - Biketivist Forum Enhancing Safety and Accessibility
Presentation by Brandon Whyte, Active Transportation Planner at the City of Mountain View, on the latest design guidelines for bike facilities recommended by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These guidelines are aimed at providing cities with state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists.
June 2023 - From Orchards to Bike Paths
Join us for an in depth conversation with Wendi Baker, Principle at Harmonie Park to learn how this project came to be, why the developer opted to prioritize bike infrastructure, and what we can all do in our own communities to influence new development and ensure that how our communities develop, results communities where affordable housing, jobs, and parks are all within walking and biking distance.
April 19, 2023 - A Bay Trail for All
To address inequities, the MTC established an Equity Platform centering equity in its planning, investment, design, engagement, communications and project delivery. The Bay Trail Equity Strategy is the first step relating to the trail. At this Forum, we heard a presentation by MTC staff member, Lily Brown, and had a discussion what the trail.
March 16th, 2023 - How to Navigate your City’s Plans
Here’s an overview of the planning process to help navigate through and better understand how they can impact your community.
We heard from Patrick Gilster of San Mateo County Transportation Authority and Ramses Madou: of San Jose’s Department of Transportation.
February 15th, 2023 -Learn what needs to be done to bring historically underserved communities at par with other areas.
SVBC is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and centers it’s work around ensuring that underserved populations are a part of the bicycle moment now and in the future. Belen Seara, San Mateo County’s Equity and Belonging Manger moderated.
We heard from:
Tyrone “Champ” Stevenson- Founder and Chief Visionary Office, The Original Scraper Team
Yesenia Perez - Climate Equity Program Manager, The Greenlining Institute
January 18th, 2023 SVBC's 2023 policy agenda. Welcome to SVBC's first Biketivist Forum for the year 2023! The forum will focus on SVBC's 2023 policy agenda, the local team toolkit and work planning for advocacy in the new year.
SVBC's recently adopted Strategic Plan lists "People Centered Communities" as one of its three prime strategies. It also lists key activities to accomplish each of its strategies. The 2023 Policy Agenda further breaks down these key activities into goals, strategies, and metrics to help advocates advance "People Centered Communities."
December 21, 2022 - Elections Next Steps & Strategies
With newly elected officials taking office in every city, the most recent Biketivist forum focused on next steps for the bicycle movement – and specifically on how to make connections with these new decision-makers.
September 21, 2022 - City Budgeting
The Importance of the City's Budget A panel of local City staff and consultants to offer insider knowledge about how being engaged in the budget planning process can provide opportunities for changes to streets! If you're an advocate of better bikeways (or would like to be) this is the session for you to learn how to use this key opportunity to create the changes you'd like to see by ensuring that there is an adequate budget for important bicycle infrastructure.
April 20, 2022: Role of Video Surveillance in Bike Safety: Can a bulk of people biking having cameras increase safety of those walking? Can video surveillance help bring transparency and accountability to our legal system? Are all types of video evidences admitted at court? Come find an answer to all these questions and more at our April Biketivist Forum.
Moderator: Andrew Hsu, Speakers: Craig Davis (Cyclist video evidence), TBD
2022 March Forum - The Problem of Parking: Parking has been one of the major barriers for implementing bike lanes. People are very rigid in their parking being taken away for other uses! Is it fair to prioritize vehicle storage over safety of those biking? The government is subsidizing driving by providing ample space for cars on streets and for vehicle storage. Is the government equally subsidizing other modes of transportation? Should there be a bar on parking requirements for new developments, or should it be left to the discretion of the developers? Would discouraging parking or making it difficult to find parking make people shift to use other modes of transport? Find an answer to all these questions at thus forum.
Speakers: Patrick Siegman (Siegman and Associates) and Justin Wang (Greenbelt Alliance)
2022 February Forum - VivaCalleSJ - Ed Solis (creator of Viva Calle, San José) provided a Viva Calle "Behind the Scenes" tour. VivaCalleSJ (pronounced Vee-Va Ka-Ye SJ) is an open streets program that closes miles of scenic San José streets to bring communities together to walk, bike, skate, play and explore the city like never before. VivaCalleSJ has become a San José favorite that many cities have taken notice of. Learn how you can advocate for your city to start an open streets event of their own!
2021 September Forum: Diversity-Equity-Inclusion | Presentation: SepBiketivistForum_DEI
Septmeber 2024- Join a Bike to the Future fundraising team, Meet SVBC's New Director of Advocacy!
November 2022 - How to Start a Bike Bus
We’ve seen the videos on social media and local news: hundreds of children crowding residential streets on their bicycles on their way to school. These images of bike buses evoke feelings of warmth and optimism, and inspire us. The forum featured Peter Belden and Jess McClellan and both advocates shared their stories of how they started bike buses.
July 20th, 2022 - SVBC’s 2025 Strategic Plan
SVBC in partnership with Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) in hosting the July Forum. SVBC's Executive Director Shiloh Ballard will be presenting the newly adopted Strategic Plan. Learn about SVBC's vision for the future, our theory of change, and how we plan to make biking the most obvious and attractive form of transportation in the Bay Area.
2021 November Forum: Repaving and Restriping | Guest Speakers: John Brazil, Transportation Options Program Manager, San Jose Department of Transportation, Jessica Manzi, Transportation Manager, City of Redwood City, Sergio Ruiz, Complete Streets Coordinator, CalTrans District 4, with Special Guest Moderator: Vignesh Swaminathan (AKA Mr. Barricade), CEO and President of CrossRoad Labs | Presentation: Repaving and Restriping
2021 June Forum: Bike Plans – Inception to Completion | Presentation: 210505 Biketivist VII_Bike Plans
2021 February Forum: Campaign planning best practices. Discussion with Jen Wolosin and Seema Lindskog.
2021 December 8—National Transit Justice We welcome you for an exciting discussion about National Transit Justice, and how to apply that on both macro and micro (local) levels. Our panel warmly welcomes: Georgia Dohrmann, Associate Manager of Government Relations, Bay Area Metro and Chris Rall, Outreach Director, Transportation for America
October 19th, 2022 - Safe Routes to School 101
SVBC local team members heard from agency experts about various Safe Routes to School initiatives and opportunities, and then from passionate advocates who have run successful campaigns relating to safe routes to schools in the past.
May 18th, 2022: Integration of Affordable Housing and Land use z
It's MAY! It's not just Bike Month, but also Affordable Housing Month! In order to celebrate both, SVBC in collaboration with SV@Home, dove into the importance of affordable housing in land use and what impacts it has on different modes of transportation. We also talked about how a sustainable land use model can bring people out of cars and encourage the use of other modes. Moderated by: Shiloh Ballard, Speakers: Gloria Bruce, Warren Logan, Daniel Chatman and Matthew Lewis
2021 October Forum: Micromobility | Guest Speakers: Emma Shlaes, Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program Manager at Commute.org., and a one of a kind Q&A panel with moderator Jennifer Fierman (AICP)of Swiftly and Guest panelists: Bivett Brackett (Lime Bikes), Neal Patel (Lyft BayWheels), Bob Walsh (Bird), and Paul White (of Link by Superpedestrian) | Presentation: History of Bike and Scooter Share
2021 April Forum: Safer Streets via Vision Zero | presentation
2021 January Forum: Discussion on city budget process with council member Russ Melton
2021 March Forum: Growing Your Team: Guest speakers: SURJ at Sacred Heart | Presentation
2020 December Forum: SVBC Policy Agenda
For any questions, contact: Santa Clara County: Diana@bikesiliconvalley.org | San Mateo County: sandhya@bikesiliconvalley.org