The tech jester who pranks San Francisco
The city has long embraced eccentrics and their wacky ideas. Riley Walz is right at home.
From The Times
October 8, 2025

In San Francisco, a city that has long embraced eccentrics and their wacky ideas, Riley Walz, a 23-year-old software engineer, has gained fame for his online antics.

Riley Walz rides a Lyft bike, which he often takes to and from work, at night on a San Francisco street.

Poppy Lynch for The New York Times

But his most recent stunt has upset city officials.

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