• 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.

At last month's WOBO meeting and brainstorming session, volunteers picked our next pedestrian campaigns. This month we will focus on the next steps: campaign planning, messaging and discussing volunteer opportunities – including Bike to Work Day. Come out and show your Oakland bike/ped love (and bring your friends)! Did we mention free food?

Details: Both the March and April meetings will be from 6:30-8:30pm at Bay Area Wilderness Training (2301 Broadway, Suite B – enter on 23rd Street).

From an email received from Speakeasy Theaters, longtime home of Bike to the Movies Night:

After more than twelve years of serving the great cultural crossroad of Oakland, the Parkway Speakeasy Theater will be closing at the end of business day this Sunday, March 22, 2009. It was the first theater in California to offer food, beer and wine service in a lounge style movie theater... We, at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater, are deeply proud of the Parkway and will profoundly miss serving its community. Thank you for your patronage.

Blow the dust of that old cruiser or road bike, oil up the chain and get ready for Bike to Work Day 2009! Here at WOBO, planning is underway to make this year's BTWD the biggest and best ever! Bookmark our BTWD page and stay tuned for details on all the excitement, including: Oakland energizer station locations, BTWD festivities, volunteer opportunities, and this year's BTWD Pedal Pools (coordinated by WOBO) – an opportunity to bike to City Hall with your City Council member/staff, neighbors and friends.

In the meantime, WOBO is looking for donations for the BTWD musette bags that will be handed out to over 4,000 Oaklanders. In the past, donations have included stickers, water bottles, chocolate, etc. Use your imagination! If you can hook us up, please contact dominic@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

The City of Oakland Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program invites the public to learn about and comment on a new bicycle wayfinding signage system for use along Oakland's bicycle network. See the signs for yourself on Market Street – between 3rd Street and the Berkeley border – and get involved by hitting the meetings & joining us for the WOBO-led ride on Saturday, April 25th (leaving from Market St and 3rd Street at 10am).

For details on wayfinding meetings and events, click here or check the list of Upcoming Events.

For a two-year old, we get around pretty well. Expect us to be at more events and leading more rides in 2009. As for things we're committed to, you'll find us at: Tip Top Bike Shop's 2nd Birthday Party, the Earth Day festivities at City Hall, farmers' markets (Downtown Oakland, Temescal, Lakeshore), the First Friday Art Murmur and leading both a bike tour and walking tour at TransForm's 12th Annual Summit on May 16th. This year TransForm's Summit will focus on the critical role of transportation and land use in the health of our economy, pocketbooks, and planet – highlighting solutions that can help on all three fronts – so we're thrilled to be part of it.

For information or to register for the Summit, visit transformca.org. For a rundown of where we'll be, see Upcoming Events.

Location: Grand Ave & Bay Pl (Eastbound). This sunken manhole cover may not look like much, but at two inches deep, a foot in diameter, and lying in the middle of a heavily trafficked bike lane, it's a doozy. Watch out for this one (especially at night)!

For info on street repairs, visit the Oakland Public Works website. To report a pothole to the Infrastructure Maintenance Division, visit this page or call them at (510) 615-5577. Under California law there is greater incentive to fix a hazard once reported, so your odds of seeing action when you report one are better than you might think.

Do you have a nominee for next month's Pothole of Shame? Please send a picture along with a short description to dominic@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

Ciclovia, a Spanish term meaning "bike path", is most commonly associated with various cities in Columbia, such as Bogota, Cali, and Medelin. A ciclovia is either a bike route or (more commonly) a closed street that is used exclusively for biking, walking, and similar activities. Recently, the idea has caught on and ciclovias are popping up all over North America including in several US cities like New York, Portland and San Francisco.

Can you imagine a ciclovia in Oakland? We can! WOBO is looking for ideas and volunteers to help bring Ciclovia to the Town. Peep this vid for some added inspiration.

If you'd like to get involved, email: dominic@walkoaklandbikeoakland.org.

Bike Racks – The city of Oakland recently installed a plethora of shiny new bike racks in several of Oakland's main shopping districts including Grand Lake, Piedmont Ave and downtown, with more on the way! Did they miss a spot? Let them know by submitting a location request using the City's online request form.

Medians on MacArthur/Kaiser Construction – The concrete medians (with no bike/ped cut-throughs) are still in place on MacArthur Blvd and the City's Building Services Division is in favor of a cut-through for bikes. They will be presenting their options and soliciting input at tonight's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting (Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 4, 5:30-7:00pm).

Open Hours: Community Bike Shop, Fruitvale – Every Monday

A community bike workshop with a focus on (but not limited to) being a resource for the Latino immigrant communities. Details: Oakland Catholic Worker house at 4848 International Blvd, shop hours are Mondays from 1pm-dark.

Bike Wayfinding Signage Community Meeting – Thurs, Mar. 19th

Community meeting on Oakland's new bicycle wayfinding signage system. Details: Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 4, 7pm.

WOBO Meeting – Tues, Mar. 24th

At last month's WOBO meeting and brainstorming session, volunteers picked our next pedestrian campaigns. This month we will focus on the next steps: campaign planning, messaging and discussing volunteer opportunities – including Bike to Work Day. Details: 6:30-8:30pm at Bay Area Wilderness Training (2301 Broadway, Suite B – enter on 23rd Street).

Manifesto Bicycles' 1st Anniversary Party – Thurs, Apr. 2nd

Celebrate with Manifesto Bicycles as they turn 1, with music, bikes and more! Details: The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave, Oakland – party starts at 8pm.

Tip Top Bike Shop's 2nd Birthday Bash – Fri, Apr. 3rd

WOBO will be on hand to celebrate with Tip Top Bike Shop as they celebrate their second birthday with music from The Vultures, goodies, cake and more! Details: Tip Top Bike Shop, 4800A Telegraph Avenue, Oakland – party starts at 6pm.

Oakland Art Murmur/Critical Mass Ride – Fri, Apr. 3rd

Join us at Oakland's Art Murmur on April 3rd. Look for the WOBO banner at our table near 23rd & Telegraph and come talk with us about walking, biking, art or what have you. Free stickers? We've got 'em! And say the magic word ("please") and we'll clean your bike chain, free of charge.

If you're looking for a is a pre-Murmur bike ride, then you can join Oakland's fun-loving Critical Mass riders (it's a social ride, really) for a mini-bike tour that ends at the Art Murmur with things already in full swing. For more info about the ride, click here.

Oakland EarthExpo – Wed, Apr. 15th (City Hall)

Come mingle with Oakland's downtown workforce at this annual event, as over 100 dynamic businesses and organizations showcase their contributions to the sustainable urban environment, and make sure to drop by the WOBO table while you're there. Details: 10am-2pm, Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (14th & Broadway, in front of Oakland City Hall)

Bike Wayfinding Signage Presentation – Tues, Apr. 21

There will be a presentation on Oakland's bicycle wayfinding signage at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition monthly meeting – Rockridge Library (5366 College Ave) from 8-9pm.

WOBO Wayfinding Bike Ride – Sat, Apr. 25th

Join us as WOBO leads a community ride to tour the new bicycle wayfinding signs in Oakland. If you want to be part of the ride, meet us at Market and 3rd Streets (near West Oakland BART) for a 10am departure. The ride will run from 10a-12p.

WOBO Meeting – Tues, Apr. 28th

WOBO's monthly volunteer meeting. Bring your ideas, concerns and questions regarding bike/ped issues. Snacks will be served. Details: 6:30-8:30pm at Bay Area Wilderness Training (2301 Broadway, Suite B – enter on 23rd Street).

Downtown Oakland Farmers' Market – Friday, May 1st

8am-2pm, 9th Street between Broadway and Clay.

Lakeshore Farmers' Market – Friday, May 2nd

9am-2pm, Grand Ave & Lake Park Ave.

9am-1pm, 5300 Claremont Ave (DMV).

Downtown Oakland Farmers' Market – Friday, May 8th

8am-2pm, 9th Street between Broadway and Clay.

Lakeshore Farmers' Market – Friday, May 9th

9am-2pm, Grand Ave & Lake Park Ave.

9am-1pm, 5300 Claremont Ave (DMV).

Bike to Work Day 2009 – Thurs, May 14th

The San Francisco Bay Area's 15th Annual Bike to Work Day will take place on Thursday, May 14, with all nine Bay Area counties participating in the celebration. The event is just one day of many events taking place in May as part of National Bike Month.

TransForm 12th Annual Summit – Sat, May 16th

This year, the Summit will focus on the critical role of transportation and land use in the health of our economy, pocketbooks, and planet - and highlight solutions that can help on all three fronts. As part of the day's activities, WOBO will be leading both a walking tour and biking tour. Details: 8:30am-4pm, Laney College – 900 Fallon Street

Deadline for Public Comments on Wayfinding Signage – Sun, May 31st

May 31st is the deadline for public comments on Oakland's bicycle wayfinding signage. Send your input to bikeped@oaklandnet.com.

While you're powering your bike, this messenger bag from Sakku can recharge your phone, PDA, iPod or what have you with the solar cells integrated into its design. And if that wasn't enough, two of the models feature the bonus eco-benefit of being made from recycled sail and awning material. Danke, Sakku!