Some chickens, a friendly beard and a greasy handshake greet you and your ailed bike at Bike Man Dan’s community oriented shop.

His is a different business model: dedicated to recycling parts, Dan asks customers to pay their own price for his services. Such a model makes cycling affordable and gives more people the option to cycle.

As East Bay streets grow even more bicycle-friendly, a growing group of East Bay entrepreneurs is proving that it is possible and even profitable to run a business by bicycle.

Oaklavia invited Oaklanders to “come play in the streets” without cars on Sunday and come they did  - on bicycles and roller skates, in strollers and pedicabs. It was a great, sunny day to play in the streets.

“Don’t play in the street.” 

Most of us heard this from our parents during childhood. But why do we perceive the street as a dangerous place, rather than a community commons where we meet our neighbors, share stories and play with friends?