Facebook and Google Unite to Promote Cycling

Facebook and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) organized a Bike to Work Breakfast on Friday morning at the entrance to Facebook's new Menlo Park Campus for Google cyclists who began their commute at 6:30 am in San Francisco.

The 1800-member SF2G Cycling Club (the initials stand for "San Francisco To Google") was founded in 2005 by Google employees looking for a way to add some variety to their commute and get some excercise at the same time. The club is open to everyone, and employees of other Silicon Valley companies have joined it - including Facebook, Oracle, Apple, and many others.

Friday's ride was the club's monthly First Friday Friendly Frolic (FFFF), designed for first-timers who haven't yet learned the route. These are SF2G's most popular rides, typically drawing 40 to 50 riders in the winter months and up to 100 riders in the summer months.

The group came charging down the to Facebook's Menlo Park Campus at 9:10 am, full of smiles and pumped with adrenaline. Facebook provided free coffee, juice, pastries, muffins, and even bike maintenance - Mike's Bikes mechanics were on hand to adjust finicky shifters and brakes. 

Jessica Herrera, Facebook's Transportation Manager, welcomed the group and described how Facebook is helping make their commute easier.

"Facebook supports the - we've already agreed to complete a portion of the Bay Trail along University Ave between the Dumbarton railroad tracks and Bayfront Expressway - it's about a half-million dollar project," she said. "We hope that other companies will step up and support completing the as well."

Former Palo Alto Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, former State Assembly Member Sally Lieber, and current San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine were also on hand to offer some encouraging words.

Kishimoto is now serving on the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, which owns some land the passes through. “It took many years to complete the missing section of the Bay Trail around Moffett Field in Mountain View, but with the support of Facebook, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto all working together, I know we can complete this one-mile section much sooner,” she said.

"This can be a world-class resource. People of all ages can use the ," said Sally Lieber. "The commute route from San Francisco is impressive. Keep up the advocacy, and let's get more people on bikes!" exclaimed Dave Pine. 

Facebook and SVBC are planning a series of bike-related events throughout the Winter and Spring to build momentum for Bike to Work Day on May 10, when tens of thousands of Bay Area residents who don't usually bike to work will give it a try. 

With Facebook facing a vehicle trip cap imposed by Menlo Park in order to reduce potential traffic impacts, and increasing scrutiny of their Draft EIR's traffic analysis from both  and Menlo Park's own , Facebook is working harder than ever to get employees to use alternative modes of transportation, including bicycling.

Bike to Work Day at Facebook this year? We Like It!