BABC's Board of Directors is composed of one representative from each of the nine Bay Counties and four at-large directors. Officers are elected from the Board of Directors.
Officers
Chair - Andrew Casteel
Vice-Chair - Vacant
Treasurer - Mark Birnbaum
Secretary - Tom Ayres
Director Emeritus - Alex Zuckermann
The purpose of the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC) is to promote safe and enjoyable bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. BABC seeks to promote bicycling by:
Representing the local bicycle advocacy coalitions in the San Francisco Bay Area on issues of regional significance.
Working to ensure that cyclists have complete and direct access to all Bay Area bridges and transit systems.
Working with government agencies to ensure that all transportation policies and projects provide safe and convenient access for all bicyclists and pedestrians.
Supporting policies and legislation to increase funding for bicycle facilities.
Organizing public events to promote bicycling in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Working with public agencies, advocacy groups, and other parties to promote non-motorized modes of transportation, to improve air quality, and to encourage better coordination between land use and transportation planning.
The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition’s goal is to make the San Francisco Bay Area a national model for progressive bicycling policies, and to provide a safe and comprehensive network to facilitate bicycling throughout the region. BABC believes that bicycling can and should be a viable transportation and recreation option for all of the wonderfully diverse residents of the Bay Area.
Advocate effectively for improved bicycle infrastructure and safety at the regional level in the San Francisco Bay Area
Implement Complete Streets—streets designed and operated to enable safe access for all users—in the 9 Bay Area counties
Ensure complete funding for building out the Regional Bike Plan, including funding for bicycle access for bridges
Secure policies that improve bicycling and bicycle safety in all major regional plans and state legislation that affect the Bay Area
Promote bicycling as a fun, safe, economical, environmentally sound, and healthy form of transportation for the residents of the San Francisco Bay Area
BABC Member Organizations represent cyclists in each of the nine counties in the Bay Area. The BABC assists each coalition to develop working partnerships with government and community agencies to create safer streets and more livable communities for all Bay Area residents.
Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee (REBAC) founded to address multi-county and region-wide bicycle policy and infrastructure issues in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1987
San Francisco Bay Trail, “…a continuous recreational corridor which will extend around the perimeter of San Francisco and San Pablo bays,” authorized by the passage of SB100 in the California State Legislature. Regional Measure 1, which raised tolls on state-owned bridges to a uniform $1, is approved by Bay Area voters. Funds from the measure were used to build bike and pedestrian pathways on the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and the Al Zampa Memorial (Carquinez) Bridge.
1989
As one of the members of the Association of Bay Area Governments advisory committee, REBAC helps write the Bay Area Trail Plan to create a network of bicycling and hiking trails that when complete, will be 500 miles long and ring San Francisco and San Pablo bays.
1990
REBAC supports the passage of Prop 116 to fund the Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin, and Pacific Surfliner intercity trains which are equipped with bike racks in each of the specially designed California cars.
1992
Cal train introduces its Bike-on- Board Program. The success of this demonstration project and the hard work of regional bicycle advocates have led to several expansions of bicycle access on Caltrain.
24-hour bicycle access to the Golden Gate Bridge is provided by remote-controlled gates at each end of the East walkway. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is one of the partners in this cooperative project between the City and County of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District.
1994
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition sponsers its first pancake breakfast on Bike to Work Day.
1995
First organized by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956, Bike to Work Day goes statewide in California.
1997
After a six month trial period beginning in October of 1996, the inconvenient BART permit system for bicycle access is abolished.
1998
The Bay Area Toll Authority approves $50 million to build a bicycle and pedestrian pathway on the new East span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. When completed, the pathway will provide bicycle and pedestrian access from Yerba Buena Island to Oakland. It is named the Alex Zuckermann Bicycle Pedestrian Path after REBAC’s founder and commemorates his tireless efforts to win bicycle and pedestrian access to the bridge.
1999
Golden Gate Transit Route 40 buses are equipped with bike racks to provide bicycle access across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
2002
The Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee is reorganized as the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC). Recognizing that more county bicycle coalitions had come into existence and were growing stronger in membership and effectiveness on local issues, BABC became a non- membership organization representing the local coalitions on bicycle policy and infrastructure issues at the regional level.
2003
BABC successfully convinces the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the regional transportation planning agency for the nine Bay Area counties, to create the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Program to fund bike and pedestrian projects. $200 million over 25 years is approved to construct the Regional Bicycle Network and build bicycle/pedestrian projects serving schools or transit.
2004
Regional Measure 2, which raised tolls on state-owned bridges by $1, is approved by Bay Area voters. Funds from the measure have been used for a variety of transit, bike, and pedestrian projects, including $22.5 million for Safe Routes to Transit, a program that funds improvements for bicycle and pedestrian access to regional transit stations. BABC receives a grant from Bikes Belong for Regional Transportation Plan advocacy efforts. The Metropolitan Transportation Commissionawards BABC a contract to coordinate Bike to Work Day in the nine Bay Area counties.
2005
BABC hires its first Executive Director, Cole Portocarrero. Despite rainy weather, BABC holds its first successful Bike to Work Day on May 19. BABC organizes a 100 mile ride around San Francisco and San Pablo bays called Bay in a Day.
2006
With strong support from BABC and the local coalitions, the MTC approves Resolution No. 3765 – Routine Accommodation of Pedestrians and Bicyclists Study and Recommendations. This policy, along with the MTC Transportation 2030 Plan, mandates that bicyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users must be given full consideration in all transportation construction Team Bike Challenge is launched as part of Bike to Work Day. During the month of May teams of individuals, including seasoned and novice riders and an optional “Big Wheel” (elected official, CEO, manager, or journalist) keep track of their bike trips and compete against other teams for the most points and a grand prize. BABC organizes the second Bay in a Day ride with 100 and 200 mile ride options around San Francisco and San Pablo bays.
2007
BABC is awarded a grant from the San Francisco Foundation to complete a strategic plan. BABC receives it second grant from Bikes Belong for Regional Transportation Plan advocacy efforts BABC hires its first Advocacy Director, Sabrina Merlo.
2008
BABC, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Marin County Bicycle Coalition and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition win a victory in the decades-long struggle to secure bicycle access on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge when the Bay Conservation and Development Commission passes a resolution in support of bicycle and pedestrian access on the bridge. Despite recent setbacks in this effort, BABC will continue its work to ensure that access is finally secured. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission releases the Draft Regional Transportation Plan which outlines how $226 billion in transportation funding will be spent over the next 25 years. BABC successfully leads the fight to increase designated funding for the Regional Bicycle Network from $200 Million to $1 billion.
In 1986 Alex Zuckermann, an enthusiastic bicyclist with a strong belief in the bicycle as an everyday means of transportation, founded the Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee (REBAC).As a founder of the local East Bay Bicycle Coalition in 1972, he saw the need for a regional organization that could address multi-county and region-wide bicycle policy and infrastructure issues. With a background in city planning, Alex Zuckermann combined policy expertise and an effective style of advocacy to advance the cause of bicycles as an integral part of the long-term transportation plan for the 9 Bay Area counties.
In 1993 REBAC was renamed the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC) and incorporated as a non-profit membership organization with volunteer representatives from each county serving on the board of directors.Recognizing that it could increase its effectiveness by creating a formal relationship between the various county bicycle coalitions that had been established over the years, BABC was reorganized in 2002 as a non-profit non-membership organization. The Board of Directors now consists of 9 members who are appointed by each of the 9 county coalitions and 4 at-large members who are selected by the 9 county Board members.
On November 15th the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition was honored by Kaiser Permanente and the Association of Fundraising Professionals for our contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area community as part of National Philanthropy Day. The award ceremonies honored non-profit organizations and individuals and foundations who give generously to organizations working to improve the Bay Area. The Commonwealth Club also hosted a panal discussion: “Philanthropists Who Inspire” with Warren Hellman, Diane B. Wilsey, Laura Scher, and Akiko Yamazaki. Our thanks go out to Kaiser Permanente for honoring us and for their continued support of bicycling in the Bay Area.
Frances Lois Robinson is a part-time assistant to the executive director at the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition. Additionally, she attends San Jose State University studying Public Relations as a major and Recreation as a minor. Her expected graduation date is in the Spring 2012. She is a member in good standing of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA).
415.787.BTWD or 415.787.2893
510.250.0906 fax dianarohini(at)bayareabikes(dot)org
Diana Rohini LaVigne comes to the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition as Executive Director with over 20 years of journalism and communications experience. She is a member of the Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Committee (BPTAC) in Fremont.She graduated from Harvard University with a BA and attended Hebrew College for her MA and has worked for over a dozen media outlets in the past decade. She's received several awards for her work.
The purpose of the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (BABC) is to promote safe and enjoyable bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. BABC seeks to promote bicycling by:
The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition’s goal is to make the San Francisco Bay Area a national model for progressive bicycling policies, and to provide a safe and comprehensive network to facilitate bicycling throughout the region. BABC believes that bicycling can and should be a viable transportation and recreation option for all of the wonderfully diverse residents of the Bay Area.
On November 15th the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition was honored by 
