SVBC’s Bicycling Highlights for 2023
At Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, we saw an exciting 2023, with record-breaking enthusiasm for biking at all of our major events and hundreds of biketivists building momentum within their local communities for safe, comfortable, and accessible biking for all.
Thousands of people went on rides, joined biketivist local teams, or learned new riding skills in our classes. We parked thousands of bikes securely at major events from the Taylor Swift tour to 49ers games. We launched campaigns for a safer El Camino Real from Daly City to San Jose and for street safety in East San Jose, and we saw big safety wins across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
We also searched nationally and then reached into our own ranks to find a new Executive Director, Clarrissa Cabansagan, with a strong forward vision.
Check out some of the highlights below.
Impact by the Numbers…
Bike Month - SVBC’s Biggest Event of the Year!
This year during Bike to Wherever Days, our region-wide celebration of the humble bicycle, more than 4,000 people pledged to ride. Hundreds more volunteered to support riders at 90+ local Energizer Stations, offering prizes, snacks, and encouragement to passing riders throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. We also hosted dozens of local rides and Bike Month events during May with the help of community partners, challenged local cities to a heated Pedal Power ridership competition, and spread the joy of biking wherever we rode!
The 13th Annual Silicon Valley Bike Summit
Our annual Bike Summit is the Bay Area’s largest gathering of active transportation leaders and organizers from government, the private sector, non-profits, and the general public. More than 300 active transportation change-makers packed into the Mountain View Community Center, with many of the sessions standing-room only. Sessions included 40+ diverse speakers with topics ranging from e-bikes and evolving micromobility technologies, to equity and privacy concerns relating to speed control traffic cameras, designing for green and safe streets, and youth engagement in local transportations issues. Andrew Fremier, the Executive Director of MTC, joined us as a keynote speaker. Clarrissa Cabansagan, SVBC's new Executive Director, took over leadership as our previous leader Shiloh Ballard stepped down after having served the role for eight years.
Bike to the Future Annual Fundraiser Ride
Our annual fundraiser ride, Bike to the Future, is an opportunity to bring our community together and at the same time to support the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition mission. This year, hundreds of bicyclists from throughout the Bay Area showed their support by donating and riding 6, 15, 31, or 51 mile routes. The event concluded with a Bike Fest featuring local music and a family-friendly bike rodeo workshop. This fundraiser remains open for contributions through the end of this year, in support of safe streets and better biking for all. Stay tuned for news of the 2024 Bike to the Future event, planned for September!
More Highlights from 2023
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) is the ONLY non-profit working for safer bicycling infrastructure and a stronger bike culture in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
SVBC does this by:
Engaging in local-level efforts to advocate for safer streets, bike trails, and lanes.
Hosting year-round, complimentary, captivating, and informative events aimed at both educating and drawing in new bicyclists.
Your contributions make it possible to host social rides, advocate for safe streets and access, and provide riding skill and bike maintenance programs for children and adults of all levels.
We believe that one simple tool – the humble bicycle – can combat such regional challenges as high transportation and housing costs, growing inequities based on race and income, climate disruption, a lack of physical activity, and growing health problems while making our communities greener and healthier.