Mayor Flor Nicolas, Vice Mayor Mark Nagales, Council Member James Coleman, City Manager Sheron Ranals, and South City staffers, pose for a group photo with housing and bicycle advocates at the Grand Avenue Library on Saturday, March 6, 2023.

The Housing Leadership Council, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, and Peninsula for Everyone joined forces for a FANTASTIC kick-off to Affordable Housing and Bike Month!

On Saturday, May 6, bicycle, public transit, and housing advocates gathered along with community members, city staff, and leaders to celebrate these movements, and their recent accomplishments, and to participate in a seven-mile affordable housing bike tour.

There is a direct link between affordable housing, public transportation, and active transportation, and this event allowed us to show solidarity, collaboration, and collective determination that the future we envision for our communities CAN be a reality!

With the support of South San Francisco, the Grand Avenue Library hosted event-goers on its scenic outdoor patio, where folks mingled while munching on donuts and sipping on coffee. Although the forecast predicted some showers, it did not discourage our people from turning out. Take that Spring weather!

We were also honored to receive a warm welcome from several partners from South San Francisco, including Mayor Flor Nicolas, Vice Mayor Mark Nagales, Council Member James Coleman, City Manager Sheron Ranals, and some city staffers. Vice Mayor Nagales set the tone by emphasizing the central role affordable housing and a robust transportation infrastructure plays in creating healthy and livable communities.

After a brief but thorough safety test, we hit the road! Our first stop was 1051 Mission Road, South San Francisco, where we heard from Florence Hsueh, program manager for BRIDGE Housing. Florence walked us through the fascinating details of the soon to be 800-unit, mixed-income housing development. While we were here, city staffers shared additional details on how the city plans to redevelop the surrounding land to be a walkable, transit-oriented housing community.

*Florence Hsueh, program manager for* *BRIDGE Housing, speaks to ride participants near 1051 Mission Road, the future site of affordable housing.*

Our second stop was on the Centennial Trail at the edge of Lindenville, a historically industrial part of South City that is slated to see significant investments in the next decade and beyond. City staff shared their progress on the Lindenville Specific Plan, highlighting its prioritization of mixed-use developments and multi-modal transportation. The plan will be adopted sometime in the Summer of 2023, and feedback should be offered imminently.

Our bike ride ended at Millbrae Gateway, an innovative mixed-use, transit oriented development, where we learned about the Rollins, an affordable housing development built by The CORE Companies and managed by John Stewart Company. During our visit, we had the pleasure of hearing from Kathy Tran, the resident manager, about the 80-unit community's mission to provide a safe, modern, and affordable home for vulnerable communities, particularly veterans. Additionally, SVBC Program Coordinator Jianhan Wang shared how he’s been helping residents feel more comfortable ditching their cars through SVBC’s bicycle education classes, social rides, and an exclusive bike-share program just for Rollins residents.

*Ride participants on the stopped on the Centennial Trail to hear about the Lindenville Specific Plan, highlighting its prioritization of mixed-use developments and multi-modal transportation.*

Let's not forget to mention the mouth-watering spread we enjoyed from La Tapatia! Despite the sudden onslaught of rain (curses, rain!), it failed to dampen our spirits or our appetite. The food was simply exquisite - warm, hearty, and bursting with flavor! It was heartening to see so many residents join us for a community meal, even amid the downpour. There was something undeniably beautiful about the experience of breaking bread together and sharing the joy of food and fellowship.

The event had barely concluded when we began brainstorming the next big affordable housing and bike infrastructure ride. The attendees were enthusiastic about the idea and eager for more! The feedback we have received thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, with people raving about the chance to stay active, connect with new faces, acquire new insights, and indulge in fantastic food.

*Event goers enjoying Mexican food from* *La Tapatia* *on the patio of the Rollins, an affordable housing apartment complex at the Millbrae Gateway Station.*

The experience highlighted the fact that we are at our strongest when we unite and work together towards a common goal. As a community, we have the power to drive meaningful change and create the world we want to live in. If you're passionate about advancing affordable housing in South San Francisco, Daly City, and San Mateo County as a whole, we invite you to sign our petitions and join our email lists to stay involved and informed. Also, please stay connected and engaged with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition!

Don't worry if you missed out on this incredible event or are eager to participate in more Affordable Housing Month and Bike Month activities!