andrew's blog

Download CycleTracks, the free app that generates maps and statistics of your rides that you can share with friends now available on Android phones and iPhones. Time and route data is saved for you—and also transmitted to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to improve the bicycle component of their travel forecasting model, helping planners better understand and serve the needs of San Francisco cyclists. You’ll be promoting Bay Area cycling with each ride you record! (All data collected will be kept confidential).  For more information and links to downloads visit: http://www.sfcta.org/content/view/666/375

A new study says Californians could save billions each year and cut greenhouse gas emissions by developing neighborhoods within easy access of public transportation. The study – "Windfall for All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate and Safeguard California's Economy" – was conducted by Oakland-based TransForm, formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition. This is another example of how saving Safe Routes to Transit is a good idea. Read more...

Calling all biking iPhone users! Download CycleTracks, the free app that generates maps and statistics of your rides that you can share with friends. Time and route data is saved for you—and also transmitted to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to improve the bicycle component of their travel forecasting model, helping planners better understand and serve the needs of San Francisco cyclists. You’ll be promoting Bay Area cycling with your iPhone! (All data collected will be kept confidential)

Win a $50 iTunes gift card!

If you download CycleTracks and use it for at least one trip by November 27th, you’ll be automatically entered in all drawings to win one of ten $50 iTunes Gift Cards*. Download CycleTracks or search for it in the iTunes app store. For more information about CycleTracks, visit www.sfcta.org/CycleTracks or our Facebook page.

*—We’ll need your email address, but it won’t be shared with anyone—and we’ll keep you posted on the progress of the study.  (See complete contest rules)

The BABC was awarded $15,000 to create the iBikeChallenge web and iPhone application to promote bicycling trips throughout the Bay Area. The iBikeChallenge is an online competition that encourages users to bike for everyday transportation by tracking the total benefits to their budget, their health and the environment. The iPhone application will track users trips which will generate data that will be used by transportation planners to improve the network of bicycle facilities. The goals of the program are to increase the number of bicycle and trips throughout the region, improve bicycle planning by providing more accurate information about cyclists route choices and measure the impact of increased bicycle travel on the environment and public health.  Check back for updates on the progress of the application which we will be launching in May.

In a rare example of harmony in San Francisco, merchants, transit advocates and pedestrians have all expressed some degree of support for the much-ballyhooed experiment to restrict cars on Market Street that started last month. The current situation, which took effect Sept. 29 with the backing of Mayor Gavin Newsom, forces private automobiles traveling eastbound on Market Street to make right turns at Sixth and Eighth streets off the thoroughfare. Read more...

The American neighborhood since World War II has been built on the back of the automobile. In some parts of the country, it's impossible even to run out for a gallon of milk without a car. The growing threat of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions means we can't continue building like it's 1949. But the ubiquity of cars in our lives and our urban environments makes it unlikely that the automobile will disappear any time soon. Read more...

Although there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out on Market Street to make the six-week trial diversion of personal automobiles more efficient, the sky did not fall and reaction to the changes was fairly positive, even from drivers in personal vehicles. One consistent complaint was the relatively small signs affixed to street posts, which several drivers claimed they didn't see. Read more...

Three weeks ago, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership called on parents, children, school officials, and community leaders to write "Dear Congress" letters to demonstrate the importance of the Safe Routes to School program.  We're now extending the campaign deadline until Friday, October 23.
 
So far, we have received over 150 meaningful and powerful letters from around the country.  A few examples include: whole classes of students in Milwaukee, WI and Las Cruces, NM showing through words and pictures why they love to walk and bicycle to school; several city leaders in Tonganoxie, KS describing the numerous SRTS infrastructure needs remaining in their community; and parents and grandparents in Santa Cruz County, CA explaining why it's important that children be able to safely walk and bicycle to school.  We are grateful to each and every individual that has taken the time to participate in the "Dear Congress" campaign. Read more...

1. Have one source for all your content
   It would take an army of people to maintain every possible social networking presence.  Choose one source for creating and storing each type of content you have:
   1. Stories and News - on your main web page
   2. Images - In a Flickr account
   3. Video - On YouTube
       
2. RSS is a Really Simple Solutiona
   Actually it's Really Simple Syndication (RSS).  When you post something on your web page, you need it to migrate to all your social network sites automatically.  If you have an RSS enabled Content Management system, it is easy to automate this task so you only have to write your content once.
    
3. Let your Members make content for you
   It's expensive and time consuming to create good digital content.  At the same time, digital cameras are ubiquitous.  Make sure your members have an easy way to share their pictures and video of your events on your site by setting up groups on Flickr and Youtube. 
    
4. Frequent Updates are Refreshing
   New updates are what draw in your members to visit your page again and again.  It doesn't have to be an involved article or complex multimedia piece, but share something at least once a day.  It seems like a lot, but there's a lot of content you can share from the web.  Each small post is an invitation to bring someone back to your web page where they could sign up to become a member or make a donation.  If you collect and share your local bicycling news effectively, your users will come to trust you as their source for bike info and visit more often.  Here's a hierarchy of items to share:
   1. Reminders about your Events
   2. Updates on your campaigns
   3. New content (images, video, etc.) on your site
   4. Bicycling news from your area (Set up a Google News Search to watch for items)
   5. State and National Bicycle News
   6. Articles on biking tips and tricks
       
5. Monetize - No Money.  No Movement.
   Make sure your web presence works for you.  Your content should promote all the great work you're doing with the goal of bringing in the revenue to allow you to keep doing it.  Make sure that you monetize all your web presences by providing easy and prominent links to:
   1. Membership
   2. Merchandise
   3. Donations
       
6. Track your web following
   Measuring the size of your web following helps you demonstrate the size and strength of your organization.  Analyzing what content get the most attention on your site also helps you identify your most effective online outreach tools and focus your efforts there.  Here are some stats you should track:
   1. Hits for each of your pages
   2. Fans of your Facebook page
   3. Visits to your Facebook page
   4. Supporters for your Facebook cause
   5. Twitter Followers
   6. Twitter @mentions
   7. Twitter searches for your event names
      (Example: "Bike to Work Day", "Car Free Friday")
   8. Views of your YouTube Videos
   9. Comments on your images, videos and stories.
   10. TweetStats (when do you post)

Facebook Applications extend the functionality of your Facebook Page allowing you to automate the sharing of your web content, take in donations, and customize your page's look.  These are the most useful applications I've found for Facebook pages so far:

RSS to Facebook Notes
The most essential tool for a good Facebook Page.  Automatically posts your RSS feed to your Facebook page, automating the process of sharing content from your web page with Facebook.

Causes
The fundraising and membership tool for Facebook.  It allows your supporters to make a "Birthday Wish" for their friends to donate to your organization.