In 2009, we told you about Crimespotting, a website that lets you look at crimes in your area down the square block.

There’s a new crime mapping service available via Trulia, the popular real estate web site. The site uses crime data from CrimeReports.com, Spotcrime.com and Everyblock.com; it’s currently in beta. According to their website, the vision for the service is “help home buyers and homeowners make better decisions.” More on their methodology

The site lets you zoom in on San Francisco, and then click on a particular neighborhood. Much like Google Maps, you can move the map around, zoom in and out. From a zoomed out perspective, you’ll see dots with numbers on them, representing the number of reported crimes for that area. As you zoom in, individual dots representing each incident start to appear.

The site also allows you to view all or some types of crimes for the an 11 day period (their data is about 2 weeks behind), including shootings, arson, burglary, vandalism and assault.

Click on a dot to view more info about the crime; a “View Details and Comments” button takes you to a new page with more specifics on the neighborhood’s crime and safety rating. You can also click to “Follow this Area” and get updates via email.

The site also lists the most dangerous intersections/areas in the city. You’ll be glad to know none of them are in the Richmond District. The most dangerous for the time period from May 8 – 19 was Golden Gate Avenue and Octavia Street with 36 crimes.

Thanks to RichmondSFBlog reader Jim for the tip.

Sarah B.

This weekend, residents that live in zip codes 94115, 94118, 94121, 94129 can get in FREE to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

Each visiting adult must show a valid photo ID with proof of residency. The following items or combinations are acceptable: A driver’s license or state ID card; Photo ID plus postmarked envelope, postcard, or magazine label with name and date; Photo ID plus utility bill (gas/electric/cable), bank statement, or letter from a government agency with name and home address (not a P.O. Box). Only residents from the zip codes invited on the designated dates will be admitted free of charge.

Each visiting adult is limited to six children for free entry.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the new Snakes & Lizards exhibition. I recommend getting your pass to that show (and the planetarium) as soon as you arrive.

The next free weekend for our neighborhood is September 30 – October 2. Visit their website for more information on 2011 free days at the Academy.

Sarah B.

Around 9:25pm tonight, a blackout occurred in parts of the Richmond District, Laurel Heights and Presidio Heights. Based on reports from readers and the info on PG&E’s power outage line, the blackout ran from Arguello out to Park Presidio, and from Lake over to Geary Street.

The Examiner reports that the outage was due to “an underground equipment failure”:

The outage, which took place around 9:27 p.m., affected 3,660 customers north of Geary between Lyon Street and 24th Avenue, PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi said.

The outage was spotty with some blocks in the dark, while others right next to them were lit. Check out the above video.

Some readers reported sitting in the dark, while others experienced flickering but no complete outages.

Power was restored around 10:30pm, despite PG&E’s outage line saying we should not expect to have power back on until 12:15am.

Were you affected by the blackout? I made sure to polish off any ice cream in the freezer. How did you pass the time?

Sarah B.

This Saturday is the 24th annual Multicultural Children’s Arts Fair at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center.

Stop by from 11am until 3pm to enjoy music and dance performances, one-of-a-kind art projects, and scrumptious snacks. The event will take place at George Washington High School; enter at 30th Avenue and Anza. Admission to the fair is free for everyone.

Sarah B.

Neighbors celebrate the city’s first bike lanes, installed on Lake Street
on May 23, 1971. Photo courtesy of Ann Diaz via sfbike

Streetsblog had a great article yesterday about the 40th anniversary of the first official bike lanes that were painted in San Francisco.

The first ones were installed right here in the neighborhood on Lake Street, from what looks like 3rd Avenue out to 25th Avenue (1971 SF bike route map).

The photos in the article were from the grand opening celebration, which took place on May 23, 1971. As Streetsblog points out, you don’t see many bike helmets on riders:

Old photos of the celebration recently turned over to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition show groups of happy bicyclists in their everyday attire. Men, women and children on foot and in strollers can be seen playing in the street, along with a marching band. As one bike advocate noted, “sousaphones outnumbered helmets.” That’s because bicycle helmets didn’t exist. The weather forecast for that day was typical: fair skies except low clouds along the coast.

Read the full article & see more pics at Streetsblog San Francisco

Sarah B.

Photo by Ann Diaz, via sfbike

Photo by Ann Diaz, via sfbike