Taken with Transportation Podcast: What's Your Bike Story?

SFMTA Transit Priority Manager Michael Rhodes discusses his biking habit in the latest episode of our agency podcast. 

Everyone who bikes in San Francisco has a story. And we’re telling some of them in the new episode of our Taken with Transportation podcast. 

“What’s Your Bike Story?” features city residents, including some of our colleagues, talking about their experiences on two wheels. It’s the perfect episode for Bike Month. 

“I’ve been riding a bike, I think, my whole life,” SFMTA Assistant Engineer Jack Anninos says. “I’ve never owned a car. So, this has always been my ride, [along with] the train and the bus.” 

Friday morning bike rides often end with coffee and pastries in the Inner Richmond neighborhood.

Safety first and always

Safety is a top priority at the SFMTA. And it’s a vital part of helping everyone get around.

Transportation Planner Christy Osorio explains in “What’s Your Bike Story?” that a strong bike infrastructure reduces conflicts between cars, bikes and people who are walking or rolling.

“As more and more people ride bikes, it’s important that we’re creating spaces,” Osorio tells us. “Building separated bikeways or roadways…lets everyone know what to expect.”

Transit Priority Manager Michael Rhodes also bikes, and that informs his work. “I think it’s great if you work on transportation projects…to have experience with all the different travel modes: biking, walking, Muni [and] driving,” Rhodes says. “The more that we get that experience, the better projects we can do.” 

The bikeshare station at West Portal is one of hundreds in the city. 

Pedaling throughout the city

We also discuss the increasing popularity of bikeshare in “What’s Your Bike Story?” There are more than 350 bikeshare stations and counting in San Francisco. And ridership keeps growing. There were almost four million bikeshare trips in the city last year.

“On a very basic level, bikeshare just removes some of the next-level barriers to bicycling,” explains Adrian Leung. He’s the agency’s bikeshare and bike parking program manager. “It takes away most of the pain points of owning a bike. And the flexibility helps everyone.”

How to listen

You can find “What’s Your Bike Story?” and all our Taken with Transportation episodes at our podcast webpage (SFMTA.com/Podcast) and our YouTube channel. We’re also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most other podcast platforms.