San Francisco city leaders broke ground Monday on a nearly decade-in-the-making street redesign that will transform one of the city’s main arteries that carries vehicles to downtown.

The Folsom Street streetscape project will remake the bustling thoroughfare across the entire SoMa neighborhood, from 11th Street to Second Street. While drivers are currently able to travel in three, and sometimes four, lanes on Folsom Street, the project will permanently funnel vehicle traffic into two lanes. Meanwhile, builders will add a transit-only lane on the 1.3-mile strip and install a two-way bikeway protected from vehicles by concrete islands.

“This project is about making the South of Market neighborhood a safer, more inviting place to walk, bike, shop and take transit,” Supervisor Matt Dorsey said. “Obviously, there’s going to be cars, too, but this is what 21st century urbanism is.”

The Folsom Street rebuild is part of a long series of projects aimed at San Francisco’s goal of pushing people away from driving cars and trucks and toward taking transit, biking and walking. By the year 2030, the city hopes to ensure that at least 80% of trips taken in San Francisco use methods that produce low amounts of carbon emissions, including riding transit, walking, biking, driving electric vehicles and carpooling.

Here is a list of events this week.

• Tuesday East Bay Car Free Happy Hour. Whether you’re car free, car light, or just want to hang out with fun people and have nerdy urbanist conversations, everyone is welcome. Tuesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m. Triple Rock Brewing, 1920 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
• Thursday Bike to Wherever Day San Francisco and Bike to Wherever Day East Bay. Join people all over the city in riding your bike to get to wherever you need to go. Thursday, May 16. Location: all over.
• Thursday Bike with your Oakland Electeds. Walk Oakland Bike Oakland has organized a ride with Oakland’s mayor and other elected officials. Thursday, May 16. Meet at the 81st Ave Library at 7 a.m., roll out at 7:30 a.m., stop at the Fruitvale BART Station, and end at Frank Ogawa Plaza around 8:30 a.m.
• Thursday State Housing Legislation Roundup and Budget Update. Join SPUR and hear from veteran Sacramento lobbyists and senior housing advocates about several of the key state housing bills currently making their way through the legislative process. Thursday, May 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Register for Zoom link.
• Thursday Bike to Wherever Day Happy Hour. Celebrate Bike to Wherever Day in Old Oakland. Come together for Drake’s Beer, a pedal-powered DJ set by Rock the Bike, and conversation with local bike and transportation-focused community members and organizations. Thursday, May 16, 4-8 p.m. Old Oakland, Washington Street at 10th Street, Oakland.
• Saturday 81st Street Workshop/Calm East Oakland Streets. OakDOT is reaching out to the community about this project as they enter the design phase. Saturday’s meeting will focus on 81st Avenue. Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 81st Ave Library (1021 81st Ave, Oakland.

Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.

The PTO have revealed the wildcard picks for the women’s race at the San Francisco T100, which will be held next month in California.

The third leg of the brand new T100 Triathlon World Tour, San Francisco follows the Miami T100 and the Singapore T100 in the eight-race series this season.

With the contracted races already announced, the four additional wildcards look set to add an additional dimension to an exciting field of professional athletes.

Metzler looks to continue early season form

PTO World #40 Jeanni Metzler will make her first appearance of the season over the 100km distance in San Francisco, after the South African opened up 2024 with a fourth place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George.

Grace Thek, who also finished fourth in her last outing at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, has also been named as a wildcard, and the Australian will race her first PTO event since the European Open last May.

Making up the quartet are Estonian Olympian Kaidi Kivioja, who was tenth in Miami and ninth in Singapore, plus Jocelyn McCauley, who was 13th in Singapore and finished third at IRONMAN New Zealand earlier this season.

The full list of athletes racing is as follows: 

1. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
2. Taylor Knibb (USA)
3. Anny Haug (GER)
4. Daniela Ryf (SUI)
5. Laura Philipp (GER)
6. Paula Findlay (CAN)
7. Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR)
8. Kat Matthews (GBR)
9. India Lee (GBR)
10. Chelsea Sodaro (USA)
11. Imogen Simmonds (SUI)
12. Lucy Byram (GBR)
13. Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
14. Marjolaine Pierre (FRA)
15. Skye Moench (USA)
16. Tamara Jewett (CAN)
17. Kaidi Kivioja (EST)
18. Jocelyn McCauley (USA)
19. Grace Thek (AUS)
20. Jeanni Metzler (RSA)