• WOBO is run entirely on volunteer power.
• We're efficient and effective and 100% of donations go into public outreach materials and programs to make Oakland more walkable and bikeable.
• Help us do more by making a donation or purchasing a WOBO annual membership (Individual - $35, Household - $50, Individual w/WOBO t-shirt - $50). To contribute or discover member benefits, visit our Donation Page.

Yesterday was the one-week anniversary of Oakland's biggest Bike To Work Day (BTWD) ever! According to the City of Oakland website: "Bike To Work Day was a great success... Alameda County energizer stations showed a total increase of 44% over last year with [more than] 9,600 cyclists riding on Bike to Work Day!"

We'd like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported WOBO's efforts on Bike To Work Day:

• Oaklandish (temporary tattoos)
• Dr. Holman (sunscreen)
• Z Café
• Xtracycle (stickers)
• Farley's East (coffee)
• Arizmendi Bakery
• Jennifer Stanley
• The Oakland City Council Members and staff

(Check the WOBO Facebook page for BTWD pics, and don't forget to look for yourself in the photos from our 27th & Broadway energizer station and the BTWD Pancake Breakfast.)

WHEN: Tuesday, May 26th, from 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: B.A.W.T., 2301 Broadway (enter on 23rd)
WHAT: Did you know that Oakland has a Bicycle Master Plan? Well, it does. Recently updated and approved in December, 2007, the Oakland BMP serves as the citywide, long-range policy document for promoting bicycling as a viable means of transportation and recreation in Oakland. Join Jason Patton (Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner for the City of Oakland) as we learn about the Oakland BMP and discuss how it can be used as a tool for advocates. (As always, grub will be provided - yum!)

Find out what projects we're working on and how you can get involved by visiting our Campaigns page. There you'll find the latest information on our Bike Broadway, Harri-Oak, Ciclovía and Pedestrian Campaigns as well as links to email campaign coordinators.

If you don't find the volunteer opportunity you're looking for there, we also need volunteers to help manage our website, write and produce our e-newsletter, follow City Council, CEDA and other board agendas for important policy discussions, and represent WOBO at planning meetings (e.g. Oakland Central Estuary, Safeway on College Ave, Upper Broadway). For more information, email Dominic@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

WOBO's Successful Campaigns Training is modeled after the curriculum of the Alliance for Biking and Walking (formerly Thunderhead Alliance) on choosing, directing, and winning campaigns to increase bicycling and walking. You'll come away with the tools and confidence to not only advocate for improvements, but win them! The course will be instructed by SF Bicycle Coalition's founding Executive Director Dave Snyder and WOBO Board members.

Registration includes snacks Friday evening and breakfast and lunch on Saturday – the registration deadline is May 30th. Click here for more specifics on the training.

WHERE: Offices of Bay Area Wilderness Training at 2301 Broadway, #B off 23rd
WHEN: Friday 6:30pm-9:30pm & Saturday 8:30am-5pm
COST: $50 for WOBO members, $85 for non-members
CONTACT: Roger@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org

Check out the newest bike lanes in Oakland – 40th St. adjacent to MacArthur BART:

They may be only a couple of blocks long, but getting bike lanes on this stretch is huge – it provides a safe way for cyclists to approach MacArthur BART, the lanes will eventually connect to bike lanes on Telegraph Ave (and Market Street, then on along 40th into Emeryville), and the bike lanes are now in place before the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) goes up where the MacArthur BART parking lot stands (click for details on the project). The development will transform the area and make the bike lanes on 40th even more valuable.

You've read about it, now come ride with the one-of-a-kind Speed Vest! The vest and its inventors will be holding court at the Maker Faire the weekend of May 30th & 31st, and they've generously agreed to bring the vest to Oakland for a Saturday night social ride with WOBO. Join us and see it's awesomeness up close! Click here to get a taste of the Speed Vest in action.

DETAILS: 8:30pm at Jack London Square (Broadway & Water St) just inside the Broadway entrance of Jack London Sq. and in front of the Barnes & Noble.
BRING: Helmet, front and rear lights. The Speed Vest is most effective after dark, so that's when we're riding.
STAY TUNED: We'll have even more information available on our Facebook page and blog in the next few days, so make sure to check back or email Alec@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

With all the work and running around we WOBO-types were doing to get ready for Bike To Work Day, we didn't have time to take photos of the ugliest, meanest pothole we could think of. So now it's up to you!

If you have a gnarly street-divot you'd like to see repaired, send us a photo along with its location (bonus points if you report the bike-eater to the city and send us both before and after pictures). If we declare your pothole "King Hazard", not only will it become our next Pothole of Shame, but you'll get a free WOBO t-shirt. Send your monsters to Alec@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

Manifesto's Memorial Day BBQ – Monday, May 25th

Join Manifesto Bicycles for an all day BBQ in their cozy side yard (weather permitting!) – Manifesto Bicycles at 421 40th St.

WOBO Volunteer Meeting – Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30pm^{WOBO Event}

WHERE: B.A.W.T., 2301 Broadway (enter on 23rd)
WHAT: Join WOBO and Jason Patton (Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner for the City of Oakland) as we learn about the Oakland Bicycle Master Plan and discuss how it can be used as a tool for advocates.

San Francisco Bay Area Momentum Launch Party – Thursday, May 28th

A great way to celebrate local cycling culture and to meet Momentum staff and contributors. DJ's Primo and Serious Lee will be spinning tunes. Refreshments provided. Free bike valet provided by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. For details email mia@momentumplanet.com – from 7pm 'til 10pm, Exit 154 at 154 7th St, San Francisco.

WOBO Speed Vest Ride – Saturday, May 30th at 8:30pm^{WOBO Event}

Join WOBO as we take an evening ride around Oakland with the legendary Speed Vest – bike vest, speedometer and advocacy tool all rolled into one mind-blowing package. Put your lights on your bike (the more the better) and join us! The ride leaves at 8:30pm from Broadway & Water Street (map) (on Broadway, in front of Barnes & Noble just through the Broadway entrance of Jack London Square). You'll need front & rear lights and a helmet.

East Bay Tweed Ride! – Thursday, June 4th

From SF Tweed: We are pleased to announce the first East Bay Tweed Ride – or eastTweed, as the snappy east Tweeds are calling it! Our previous Tweed Rides had quite the showing of charming lads and lasses from the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, and we sincerely hope to meet more dapper eastTweeds! 6:30pm, sally forth from Mosswood Park at Broadway & MacArthur.

Art Murmur – Friday, June 5th

WOBO will have a lil' table at Art Murmur, the first Friday of every month. Stop by and say hello and bring yo' bike – we'll have a stand and some tools for free light bike maintenance! From 6ish 'til 9ish, 23rd & Telegraph.

WOBO's Successful Campaigns Training – June 5th & 6th^{WOBO Event}

Get training on choosing, directing, and winning campaigns to increase bicycling and walking. You'll come away with the tools and confidence to not only advocate for improvements, but win them! The course will be instructed by SF Bicycle Coalition's founding Executive Director Dave Snyder and WOBO Board members. Friday 6:30pm-9:30pm & Saturday 8:30am-5pm. Click here for more information.

Sunday Streets: The Mission – Sunday, June 7th

Sunday Streets creates a safe, fun, car-free place for people to get out and get active in San Francisco neighborhoods. Everyone can explore the streets of San Francisco and participate in a wide variety of activities, including: dancing, biking, skating, walking, hula hooping, yoga, and just plain people-watching. From 10am 'til 2pm.

2009 Rad Massaker Alleycat — Sunday, June 14th at 1pm

The 2009 Rad Massaker Alleycat is a bicycle race to raise money for Cycles of Change, a non-profit dedicated to bringing cycling to low income areas of the Bay Area. Starts from Mosswood Park in Oakland – registration begins at noon, race starts at 1pm. $10 registration fee.

Two items this week. The first you should file under "Don't Try This At Home". It's the bike joust and is just what it sounds like. Jousting was dangerous enough in its original form, but this version features no horses and no armor. Check out the homebuilt tall bikes they're riding:

At the cool-but-incredibly-expensive end of the spectrum is the Fender Blender Pro – truly the Rolls-Royce of bike blenders. And then there's the more reasonable, Xtracycle-based (and available as a rental) FBX. Of course, if you want some human-powered blending on the go (and don't have the bike rig or finances for the first two options) you can toss a hand-crank blender in your backpack, on your rack or what have you and it's smoothie time!