City and County of San Francisco Tuesday, September 18, 2012
test
Roll call:
A> item 4, moved to approve the minutes. All those in favor?
aye. >> two is a go we lost john baker,
I highly regarded 28-year
employee. In 1984 he started as
a track worker, became finally
track superintendent. He will be greatly missed and I would
like to ask the board's consent
to adjourn in his memory. >> one more communication, no close session.
Item 6.
>> new or unfinished business.
Being none, thank you.
>> item 7, directors report. >> good afternoon Mr. Chairman
members of the board,, public,
staff. At the last meeting I provided a reminder that upcoming was the 49th annual
cable car bellringing
competition. I asked that the competition
be in Mr. Baker's honor, a tremendous loss. we had a great event. On September 6.
We had strong sponsorship from
girardelli chocolate, uncle
vitto's pizza, the chancellor
hotel, again the comedian
debbie durst, acted as the mc.
It was big time to get debbie
durst.>>
>> >> can you tell a few jokes for us?
>> I was commenting to my staff
that mta and -- figure prominently. I will leave it at that.
We did have for amateur bellringers, competing for
various charities, went before the professional competition.
the winner was scottie -- from cbs local media.
The proceeds for the amateurs go to a charity of their choosing. And then we moved onto the professional round.
We had seven competitors for
the title of world champion
bellringer, jorge -- cindy --
all vying to top the reigning
world champion.
The first time in 49 years in
the competition that after the first round we had a tie,
between leonard oates and an
upstart, with a cable car division only 10 years after a
ring off, the two of them came back to compete Mr. Whitaker
took the title and the bragging
rights to be the world champion bellringer for the next year we
are honored to have him here today with his wife. Maybe he can give us a display
of his award-winning talent. >> Mr. Whitaker?
[Applause]
>> [Off mic]
[Laughter]
[Off mic]
>> it is an honor and privilege
-- [Off mic].
Thank you all. My beautiful
wife, she was --
[Off mic]
[Bell ringing]
[Bell ringing]
[Applause]
[Applause] >> congratulations on behalf of the board of directors.
it was great.
Did not seem nervous to me. >> you can see why he won the award. You can see why with his
personality he and his cable car colleagues make such great ambassadors.
a few quick things. Missing
street repaving project, soon
to be completed. This is a
project I had the pleasure of starting in my previous job
before coming to the mta.
In the process, a lot of work
got done from 16th st. Down to cesar chavez.
in the interim, we have
upgraded our mission street
buses on -- working with ppw
construction team, the work is
coming to a close. Mission paving will be finished this week.
Final touchup and restriping
will be done next weekend muni
will move its buses back to
mission st., on saturday, September 29.
Other work that will go back. Temporary configurations will
revert back to pre-existing conditions by the end of October and in addition to getting the street date all
the way from cesar chavez and
16th, which will give muni
riders a smoother ride we added
bus bowls at 24th to help the
boarding process in
an area that could be congested. A good project for the city, the impact for us and big benefit for us and looking forward to getting back to mission street at the end of the month. We do have upcoming in a
couple of weeks our next and last really big special event
we can of the year. Weekend of
October 6-7, an incredible list
of events all coincide on that week. The next round of the americas
cup world series, coincides
with fleet week in the same
area, also the harley --
bluegrass festival, castro st.
Parade, the cruise ship
unloading and loading on that saturday. We have the grand
opening of the -- in union
square.
We have football game, 49ers against the bills. A
white likely be giants will be
in town with a playoff. An incredible amount.
>> [Off mic]
>> absolutely.
there's a map that shows some of the special event and you
can see there is a significant concentration in the northeast quadrant of the city.
We will be once again testing
some of the people-planned
concerts for the america's
plan, also supporting the fleet
events.
Also converting the
embarcadero, operating 47 limited and providing other enhanced services to support these events.
it will be a strong drain on
our resources but as we did during the last weekend we
will manage to make sure the vents are successful
and everybody relying on muni can still get around town even
if not going to the event. Agencywide, we have an
operations plan to serve these events. We had feedback from
the board within the last year following certain special events and feedback that we got in terms of not doing as
well as we could have, or
coordinating as well as we
could, we pulled together under
ms. -- coordinating activity
plugging in to the city's
overall planning activity to make us all more successful. The last thing I wanted to announce,
to really let you know that we are putting together a group
of folks to look at accessible,
on street parking. Everyone
knows that it has come up here before, that the current approach that we use here in
the city throughout california and really throughout the
country to manage on street
parking for people who need access, really is not working well. Our existing policies do not
create access for people with disabilities, and effectively
reduces parking availability
which impacts everybody in terms of transportation
particularly those really need access to those preferred spaces.
We are very committed to
working with stakeholders to develop recommendations.
What we will do is convene a group of stakeholders next
month to analyze and understand
the issue and develop
recommendations bringing back those to you in the spring.
When we launched that, I May
bring you more information in October when we put it together. It is a challenge that has bedeviled us here in san francisco and across the country for a long time and
it is frustrating to see people who see the abuse and
key people who need access to
the spaces from getting it. I don't know what the solutions will be; if we will be able to find solutions;
it's a complicated and sensitive issue.
We look forward to having recommendations to bring back to you next spring.
that is what I have in my report.
>> first of all, on the busy, hopefully really busy weekend in October during the us open
golf tournament, you took action in consultation with the
taxicab companies to allow this
and to operate during the golf tournament. Are you planning
to take similar action? >> I have not discussed this with the taxi services.
The intra-agency planning for
this includes the taxi staff. Making sure taxies have access to the event.
We have concern about the
ticketing of taxies.
>> I think that's great. We have to recognize that on
days like this, taxis are a key part of our public transportation system
and they should be encouraged to pick up and drop off at these events but not punished
to do so. In addition if we
make taxi service more available to the people at these events there will be
greater demand and should work with the taxicab companies. I imagine there will be plenty
of demand to go around and
plenty of drivers who would
like to work the shifts.
Also, I realize we will get recommendations. One thing I
want to raise rate that we
talked about, the community can really police itself. This is a situation where this
is an abuse that offends a lot of people in the community and
it should.
In the past we encourage folks when they see whether things
abuse to call 311, and report it. understanding that the person in question May have a legitimate disability that
they cannot see. It is better to have our and forced the authorities to have a lead rather than pursuing this in the ether. At least in my conversations with the community and other folks about this, people are willing
to help and they want to know how. I hope that you will
consider that as you look at
ways to end this sort of fraud. >> also on the issue of
accessible parking, as we formulate steps to resolution,
I would going to be looking at
this from our point of view? Or reaching out to other cities in california?
any resolution we to be sort
of statewide legislation.
>> it's a good point. We are not presupposing that the solution would be state
legislation, but it is quite likely. To think that we are
doing: we are gathering information, we actually have done so for a few years, and compiling information about
other cities around the country as well as across the state and how they are dealing with this. The second thing we will do is we are going to invite
the dmv to participate and we
will establish a conversation
with parking and transportation around the state that we will
engage in this. They will not sit on the panel
but we will meet by phone monthly to keep them up-to-date on what we are doing. To the extent that we do end up with any kind of
recommended installation we
want it to be something that
works for other cities.
Other cities like la are struggling with us right along.
Good point. >> I am excited about this
project for a number of reasons. It is a sensitive topic and I am glad that we are pulling in the dmv. Encourages us to consider
pulling some of the organizations in the area that can look at the legalities involved in terms of regulating this sort of thing and to make sure we have an adequate sensitivity when we
address this issue. Is it sensitive when we talk to
people in the community.
Plan for early October. It would be good to have
accessible services. It is important that the taxis servicing people with disabilities and drop of
people successfully. We need
to make sure that that happens.
>> advisory council report.
I don't see Chairman Here. >> comments on directors
reports.
only one nine [Indiscernible].
>> good afternoon sir. >> good afternoon Chairman And directors. I want you to know that when
we you allow the cab companies
to add more cabs on special
events, where is the money going? That should be useful. That's all. >> thank you.
>> next item.
>> citizen advisory committee.
>> this is just on the
directors report at this point.
>> good afternoon.
>> herbert weiner, sometimes
has parking problems when he uses his car in the city, rarely.
One thing that I noticed that contribute to the problem of parking is the parking spaces have been depleted over the
years. Dpt snatches up parking spaces.
you have restored some of them. >> sorry this is for items
discussed by Mr. Ruskin as part
of his directors report.
>> bethlehem addressing, the problem
of parking. It also brings less revenue to the city. >> there will be no report,
item 9, public comment an
opportunity for members of the public to address the board within the jurisdiction of the board of directors but not of
today's calendar. We will start
with benjamin [Indiscernible]
>> good afternoon sir.
>> my name is benjamin [Indiscernible] I would like to
say, as a cyclist in san francisco I am excited to see
the handout with new bike
lanes. As a taxi driver that will impact my commute to work.
It can be a a harrowing ride for me. C
not on the agenda today but
was on the agenda at the last
meeting were 200 taxi
medallions issued directly to companies. I would like to mention that there have been really shockwaves that have
gone out throughout the
industry by this decision. When
the current program for sales
was initiated, there was a promise made to the cab
drivers, one medallion, for
every new medallion issues we
will be offered to the list on
a seniority basis, and one for
purchase.
This has broken the promise. When I first came to san
francisco I was 22 years old.
I left my hometown on the east coast looking for a more
progressive city, more in line
with my own politics. i cannot help but view this decision is essentially
corporate welfare, and the
handout to the companies which
had really done nothing but
impede [Indiscernible] --
anti-progressive agenda, and
middle road politics, takes thousands of dollars of potential revenue away from working families in san francisco. Thank you.
>> mark kruger followed by
herbert --
>> mark gruber [Sounds like] In case you have not seen it you
should read this article in th
san francisco guardian.
Direct predecessors began in
england in 1635. (Reading
article from the san francisco
guardian)
These companies are thumbing their noses at hundreds of years of regulation.
Are you going to sit on your hands and let them get away with it?
United taxicab workers has
appeal the decision to release
the medallions.
The way you make your decisions is as important as what you
decide. Due process and fair
process are essential. It has
cost hundreds of thousands of
dollars. The report was a joke, a conclusion on 12-year-old information
suspect even at that time. Uses
as a comparison the city of
washington, D.C.
You approved full-time permits without giving a thought to part-time permits that can
serve the public every bit as well.
Thank you.
>> herbert weiner [Sounds like].
>> I am ssmta, I have been waiting for my bus for 100 years. You had a logo.
My own idea of a logo is a
ruptured duck, over it written
the inscription hell's transit.
67% delivery, 4 points off the
63% in the days of the [Indiscernible] --
this is very bad. Throughout the years people
could not --
and before any implementation of the transit effectiveness,
you have to focus on keeping
your present schedule. That is what you should be focused on.
Transit effectiveness project should be doing that.
Even with the service cuts
some lines have been cut, those buses don't show up. it's terrible.
I have a suggestion. Should spin off the taxi division. You should spin off the
department up public parking and traffic,
and leave muni intact as one agency. You have a lot of work
to do. You should be doing that. Is that interesting that 100
years ago -- ran just fine?
They had all of these bus
stops, all of these lines. Why
can't you do today? You have the technology and the personal to do it. It is time to really start doing this.
is a failed, defective agency happening on your watch.
>> [Indiscernible]
>> good afternoon, my name is
[Indiscernible],
l living in san francisco for
29 years, driving for 24 years.
We don't need more regular
cabs.
In[Indiscernible]
Directors, this is unfair.
When we put our name on the
medallion list, we saw the
concert with the city of seven
san francisco to earn the medallion
not to buy one.
You ignore us. Then you started the medallion
partner program and ignored is
again. We will never sign up for it.
Now you're releasing the medallions directly to the cab companies?
Don't do this.
who is serving the public?
[Indiscernible]
People call three companies, and take the first that arrives.
We lose time and money. Who is ready for people to
[Indiscernible]
it is the cab driver. Why are you avoiding those
[Indiscernible]
Can I have a few seconds?
why are you giving those medallions to the companies
and ignoring the cabdrivers who are doing the work? >> next speaker.
[Indiscernible]
>> good afternoon david -- this
is muni's 100th anniversary. I
wonder what is upcoming for the next of the year. I spoke earlier this year about the townhall meetings
that the director held in relation to the budget.
Anchors that we do that not just related to the budget; it would be good to do this again
so it is not an adversarial,
budget driven exercise. Next
the bart + fare instrument, I understand there is a notion to eliminate that.
I wonder how that will be handled as if their change. T
do believe that constitutes a
fare increase to the passengers using it. New traffic signs appear to
have mixed case lettering, I
was told it was related to the
mutcd. Lettering and traffic
signs is easy to read and this
mixed case is more difficult.
Next item, dpt friday hearings.
I was at two of them and asked for written procedures and guidelines for how the
hearings work. I was given some documents.
There is no complete set of procedures of what people can expect.
I suggest that be developed. Over the weekend I was at embarcadero. There was a new map on the platform that reflects service changes that have not
been approved, that have not
been cleared environmentally. I question that.
I wonder if that is confusing
to the public and somewhat
disingenuous. Suggestion changes that not
happen.
Finally muni signs at three
locations.
All of which are high-traffic locations. It would be great
if we can get muni signs at
those shelter locations.
>> I am a child advocate on
pedestrian safety advisory, and one of the things I am
advocating is the bicycle
ambassador program.
I have addressed this to cheryl in other meetings and we have
talked about this, and in the pedestrian safety task force meeting. I am looking at the rules of
the road that the bicycle coalition puts out with respect
to yielding to pedestrians and
stopping at stop signs and not
running red lights. I cannot
remember when I saw a
bicyclist not running a red light were stopping at a stop
sign.
Support the safety program
currently given by the coalition but we have people out on the street handing out
the rules of the road to bicyclists who don't obey the
law. The same thing for
pedestrians who jaywalk or do other things that are extremely egregious and could cause
injury and to drivers, being able to hand them out to them. This would be a transportation
safety issue, and I know that
fmta does have federal funding.
I hope that you will consider this, because it would really be helpful. And I think that
it would be good-will for the bicycle community to have a
program like this, bicycles
monitoring out of bicyclists. Not easy but something we
should look at.
>> [Indiscernible] >> good afternoon.
Barry -- with the san francisco cabdrivers association. You have ignored the three years of meetings
that we had discussing a fair
way to go about this process
without jeopardizing what people have worked for her
whole career. In looking at
some of the e-mails, a lot of
chatter going on, director
hyneke [Sounds like] -- in a
previous board meeting he said
some of the money will be
towards illegal limo and taxi
enforcement. It's not good for
cabdrivers of public safety.
people are running around mad because they cannot lift
anybody.
You can't make a living.
You get frustrated. People start driving around angry. That is not a public safety
thing. So, you need to consider the industry more and not just be
in it for your profit. The main priority here
city seems to be that the mta is making a profit,
not doing anything about the
illegal demos and cab services.
That seems to be okay with you
as long as you're making money. >> hello directors, I will keep
coming here until I get my
point across. I know I am getting my point across. I'm here to talk about
the lists, number 34 on the
waiting list, driving almost 20 years.
I've done of the things. I used
to act; I almost went back to
new york, I wanted to stay in
san francisco, I had the anticipation I was going to receive the medallion.
People that I know who have got
medallions much older, sold
their medallions, received something, not retirement but
something.
And I am just pleading my case.
I don't know what else to say. I am driving right now. I
parked my cab. I'm here to
plead with you, to give your
medallions out. I have
anticipated, worked almost 20 years. I still have to call in
for shifts. That's the way the cab industry
is. Pleases, it's been said, I drove friday and saturday
nights, pink cars, sedans,
picking up people without reservation. From the street. And they are charging more. It
is frustrating. I have taken pictures of them.
i have said something to them.
I wish there was some way you could get people out there. S
would do it myself if you
would deputize me. They runaway when I say something. I don't want to get into a
whole lot of argument. >> mary mcguire the last
person.
>> taxi driver, mary mcguire.
What he said is exactly true,
playing the lines at caltrans,
regency, did not customers. What is it with these private
cars? They are soliciting us.
There was a recent article.
Kind of made the cab industry
like dinosaurs. You are. You have not kept up with the
demand for cabs, so busy trying to figure out how to make money from that but we have a
huge gap in your doing
nothing. I hope you are doing
something we're thinking about it. How much insurance do
these people have? I was told that one driver has 15,000
dollars insurance which is the
minimum. We have 1 million. I don't understand how they
can do that because it is an
app, how can an app insure cars? Can you regulate this? Something that is going to happen. We are losing all our business to these people and
part of it is as the article
described, it is dated. You are not allowing us to have
a universal app to compete. We cannot advertise.
we cannot prepay. Need an additional cab stand,
on the west side of townsend,
90 percent of the rides are
heading westbound.
If you have another stand, the cabs would not be forced to make a u-turn.
thank you so much. >> all those in favor?
Opposed? >> moving on to the regular
agenda item.
1:40.
>> to the shot of cope copenhagen were that hope
to reach people. We do want to affect people's behavior. We're very excited about doing that the right way. I love your ideas now and later.
This is tough to see, I apologize, but it is also in our newsletter.
these are the top 20 or worst intersections in the city, for collisions. For vulnerable people being hit and injured. It means people walking
and biking in 2011, getting hit and injured. These are injury collisions. I bet these won't surprise you.
A lot of them are on market street.
Number one is market noctavia. These are not surprises. most of them are not new areas of problems. I highlight these to transition to enforcement.
As much as we educate and campaign and talk, there
is still a role for enforcement. We've been working with the police department and your agency to focus on smart enforcement. The police surely don't have enough resources to be everywhere every minute. Where do you put your energy. We think you should be putting your energy here.
If we know these 20 intersections -- they're
not all intersections, 20 locations are the worst and the most problematic, are where most people get
hurt and should height vulnerable road users, people walking and biking, are 30 times more likely
to be hurt at one of these intersections. If we know these are the problem, let's put our enforcement efforts there.
I would be happen happy to go there and put our materials out. I would like to see the
police department and the M.T.A. Efforts focused on
these locations. I would like to see you
all coming back on an annual basis reporting,
and letting them know how it goes.
We know these are problem intersections, might will be a problem with the makeup of the street? Possibly see. I'd love to see a report that actually comes back and shows you progress. Just like the state of cycling, we don't know if
we're doing better unless we track it and unless there is transparency there. In conclusion, I want to bring it back to some
points made in selita's presentation.
There is a lot we can do. Education, enforcement,
marketing or promotion,
but the leading cause of behavior change when it comes to biking, and that means encouraging more people to bike, and encouraging more people to bike safely and respectfully.
The leading change is infrastructure. It is making safer streets.
We know from various studies, from berkeley to
new york city to
copenhagen, there is a far greater reduction in poor behavior when you're
creating physically separated bike ways, far
more than cracking down on
enforcement or putting stens
stencilling on the streets. it is part of a bigger puzzle that we're all working on. But the number one piece that we know makes changes and helps make the little
ones ride is having physically safe places to ride.
The end goal is a safer,
healthier safer san francisco. We want to lower private
auto trips, increasing transit, walking and biking. We want to say thank you, and I'm happy to answer any questions now or later. >> thank you.
An excellent presentation. Directors? >> sure.
>> you were part of this trip? >> yes, indeed, I was.
i want to extend my gratitude to you,
Ms. Sham, and to you, selita as well. Thank you very much for these presentations. I've been really looking forward to this discussion
and acting on the experience that at least I
got to have, having ridden
a bike in denmark, and speaking from the prospective of a former mammal.
I used to run around in
the lycra, but got out of that because I didn't feel it was a practical way to
bike and really enjoy the more casual speed and
approach that is happening in other cities and countries. The thing that I thought was so interesting about the cycling experience in
denmark was that it is so regularly -- so many people regularly bike that it is not even seen as a thing. It is a utility. Like you putting on your shoes. Everybody has got a bike and a pair of shoes. And so many people do it,
and I want to reiterate her last point about the protected infrastructure, and I'm really looking forward to having more conversations about that.
But the 35% to our 3.5%, so correct me if I'm wrong, the math there is
like 10 to 1 for every one bicyclist, multiply it times 10 on our streets, and that's what it would be like to have a street similar to denmark. I think the way they
really do that is these protected cycle tracks and infrastructure, and I'm
really hoping we can move these kinds of things forward and really make people feel safe to ride a bike.
There are times when it is simply not practical for
me to ride a bike, like when I'm dressed like this. Right now I don't have one of those great dutch bikes yet, but I mean to get one.
And I'm crammed into an enjuta during rush-hour,
and I'm looking at these
people who aren't wearing this, and I'm thinking,
why aren't you biking? I encourage you to ask those questions. And I think about the relief that having more people biking would be on our system, on our transit system. I guarantee if we get out
here at 5:00, I'll be waiting for an end that
gets to van nuys that will have space for me to get on. I think about all of that capacity and strain on our system from people not being on bikes.
I want to have you folks think about that the additional benefit that wasn't mentioned was that for every bike, there is more parking spaces that are out there.
There is also more seats on traffic for people who can't take transit. There is an additional benefit that wasn't even discussed today.
So I really do think that
we're heading in the right direction. I think that as I'm -- as long as I'm a member of this board, I'll be pushing as hard as I can,
and ready to do whatever the community would. However we could move
those goals forward to get
to that 2020 ratio that so many people would like to
see happen.
I really love the reemphasizing good behavior thing. I think that is brilliant, and I cant wait
cant wait to see that implemented. When I'm out there on my
bike, I feel like the status quo really is to
sort of roll through stop signs, unfortunately in some places, like along the wiggle, for example,
and that if we do reward
the positive behavior, we
do change -- we can change that behavior. I would like to put the
call out to some of the
more artsie types, the
call for the better bike rack. I think if you go to denmark and all of the other countries in the neth
netherland, they love design. That's why all of the fancy cars are so great from there, but they have yet to figure out bike racks. So let's get on them and beat them. I'm sure we have the creativity here in san francisco, and we'll be
creating some sort of a bike-sharing system that
will have them yearning for it.
thank you so much. I look forward to doing more of this. >> thank you for the presentation. Always great working with you.
At the risk of being
discuffing the parish picnic, I'm far more interested in the diversion and enforcement. I like to think that all
of the positive reenforcement is totally worthwhile, and it is totally worthwhile for us to keep pursuing infrastructure changes, but the behavior has got to change. Maybe we're focusing on a very small group that you mentioned, but they cause an awful lot of trouble, and they cause an awful lot of reaction that is really, really negative. I am very interested in
seeing how this diversion
program works, and I totally agree with the suggestion that it be in the areas that is most harmful.
I'm currently doing some work in the city, and I'm
on the mission, and I can assure you every day at least once somebody is riding their bike very fast on those sidewalks. But there isn't a safe alternative. There is not a bike lane on either one of those streets, and the traffic is extremely fast coming off the freeway, down mission, and the other side as well, I noticed down that way. That is something I'd like to take a look at.
It is a very dense of populated office space on
both sides of mission.
You have the department of delta and aging services, and all of the non-profit and for-profit things on the other. And on the other side is the human service agency, lots and lots of people, and it is a very dangerous intersection. I support all of these.
I think I supported leah sham. And everything that has been before this body, involving bicycle improvements. I'm interested to see this thing working, because I have a little more
pessimistic view of human nature.
We need the thought of being caught and punished.
we have a couple of counter-views. >> I don't know if the police department is here today, but they have been doing a lot of enforcement. It definitely gets out in social media. Those of us who bike want a lot more enforcement.
It is not happening everywhere, but it is happening a lot more than it used to be. >> both pieces need to be done. >> and I'll pick up on
that, although I'll talk about more positive things, too. I appreciate the chart
about the accidents, and I appreciate the suggestion that that is where we
should be focusing, and
that makes inherent sense. to pick up on tom's point,
and if you want to hand
out danishes to people who do well, I'm not going to stop you.
But to pick up on tom's
cynicism, if you're a motorist in the city, for
example, and you pick up a
ticket for a
non-life-threatening
violation, but a violation nonetheless, a right turn
and a no-right turn, you
face a very stiff repercussion.
You've got a points on your record, and you have to go to traffic school for eight hours.
And if you do it within a certain amount of time, you're going to get another hit and you're going to have a hit on your insurance. Almost all, if not every driver, in the state knows
you really want to avoid a moving violation, even if
it is a minor moving violation because there
are severe economic and personal repercussions. My question to is you:
what are the repercussions on a person on a bike who gets a ticket. You don't have an expensive insurance policy. You can't kill somebody as easily with a bike, but you can, kind of. So I guess what I'm going to get at is just to leave it to you to answer the question for me, which is: what are the repercussions, and have we
done enough to make them serious, and to educate
people as to what they are? >> that's a great question.
I think there is some confusion around this.
First of all, for most infractions -- it's called basic moving violations, it is the same fee. So if I run a red light on
my bike, versus run a red light on the car, to put it in monetary terms, for a second, a lot of people
are surprised to hear that. I forget the amount
personally, but I just got an "x" hundred dollar ticket for running a red light and I was on a bike. whether in a car or on a
bike, you get the same infractions, for the most part. The biggies that I've heard about. So there is the monetary piece.
And that is, I think, what stings people, often, the most.
>> but my point is motorists face a lot more because there is the whole insurance angle of it.
Which is, in many ways, the most significant stick for people to not mess up. So my question to you is to focus a little bit is, I'm glad we're making people aware they'll pay the same fine.
But do we need any sort of changes with respect to licensing or mandatory insurance, or something,
that will create, as tom
says, even greater
disincentive so people are as weary of violations as I think drivers are. >> I'm sorry, can I leap in? There are a couple of things that are concerning me right now. One is that I feel it is
not fair of us to put the onus on the bike coalition
to answer for or correct the bad behavior of cyclists. Leah has already pointed
out it is not the bike coalition members who are likely the problems, because the bike coalition nobodies
members are the ones who are interested in increasing biking and solving these problems.
are we calling the A.A.A. In to answer for all of the bad car driver behavior? >> I'm not asking leah to apologize or to condone these people.
All I'm asking is: do you
think there are legislative changes we can
make so people will realize the repercussions of their actions so they're less likely to do it.
I apologize to cheryl and you if I sounded like
you're members are rolling red lights. I'm asking is there something we can do to
make enforcement more
suggestive.
When it was dis repect
full of
dis -- disre
dis
disrespectful. The ticket I just got or the warning or the slap on the hand or the rude comment I got from someone else on the street, it is because I did something
that wasn't right. People on bikes get caught a lot easier than people in cars.
And I don't mean to do an either/or, but we literally just heard from a police officer on market street. You're here ticketing bicycles. is there some interest in that. I didn't get stopped, but
I wanted to ask what was encouraging this. I wasn't critical. He said bikes are easier to stop than people in cars. He said I literally have to give out so many tickets, and I can't catch people in cars. People on bikes do get tickets. we can get caught. So I think that is a really strong behavioral incentive to do the right thing. But it shouldn't be the only thing.
I would love to be working on efforts compaigns,
where biking is legitimized, and the
infrastructure and other
great programs here at the M.T.A.
meanwhile, when people do
something disrespectful or dangerous, they are given a cost, whether it be a ticket or something more.
>> and really quickly to
address the bicycle licensing issue. The trick is we don't have
the authority to license bicyclists.
We can license their bicycles, and that has been done in davis, but the administrative costs outweighs the benefit. But having said that, we have to do something about it.
And I think that the best enforcement compaigns --
right now it happens on a complaint-driven basis an at the discretion of the local stations. if we want to do something that has a big impact, we need to do something that
is very public, that is coherent, that looks like -- we actually create
a memo every year where we think bicycle infractions ought to be enforced. I think it should be
paired with the carrot. So the stick and the
carrot are both sort of right there in people's consciousness. I will say -- I've heard
from people that new
bicyclists out on the road are seeing this bad behavior and mimicking it. The research from davis,
new bicyclists say their number one and two fears are cars and other bicyclists.
So when new bicyclists see
other people behaving
badly, they don't mimic the behavior. They stop bicycling. It is important we go about it in a conscious way.
What we've been doing to date hasn't been as effective as we would like.
we need something more thoughtful that has the carrot and the stick.
In a public way & intentional weigh so we can explain what we're doing and why.
I think we have the data to do that.
>> so on the other topics,
I'll try to be brief. Brief. You said infrastructure is the key.
That is one of the two
take-home points I got from the two presentations.
And we see evidence of real sort of concentration
of the injury-accidents on market street. We talked about this before. I know there are other projects in the pipeline.
I'll try to make it a
simple question: do you think the closure of market street to private
vehicles or the relative closure of market street
to private vehicles, would
significantly alleviate those injury accidents? >> I do believe so. We see in the pilot efforts of lowering the number of car use at certain intersections, like 10th and 6th, you've seen not only more
people biking and walking, but fewer collisions between motorists and peeking
people walking and biking.
>> that adds to the list of reason to look at the market street as for safety, which is another one. That chart is very compelling.
the second take-away I had
is that you said the
danish people said they
have five-fold bike rentals, and everything says more people are biking. I heard from you over lunch, I wish there were more parking spaces. But I really haven't heard anything else.
are we, as an agency, learning from the danes
and preparing or at least
catching up to this biking
onslaught with proper parking spaces?
>> our program is request-driven. It is one of our great hopes we can get to a
place where we're more proactive. Instead of answering requests right now, we're overwhelmed with requests. We're trying to get out there as quickly as we can.
We have one planner who
works on this program, and in livable streets, and it is really a funding question. That one position is able
to meet or almost meet the demand, but not able to get into proactive mode. So we have two efforts under way.
one is a strategy for long-term bike parking that we're doing over the next six months, and our
other one is the bike transit integration, which
is going to address bike parking. Beyond that, we would love to get into the proactive mode. We think we've been able to grow bicycle parking, and we've almost caught uf, post-injunction with all of the requests, but there is just a lot more
we could be doing, and
we're really taking v.Of -- advantage of every last dime to do that work. We're kind of at our limit, and our limit is just keeping up with requests. >> and I suppose part of that would be collaborating with businesses, if it is really true that biking
costumers spend more money than driving costumers. Maybe businesses would have a reason to fund their own parking. >> we're trying to make it easier for them to do that.
>> my final question, and I'm sorry for taking such a long time, but something that you said gave me an idea.
i have biked from my house to work before. There is just know way it is as efficient as taking the metro, so I will continue to take the metro.
I'm sure that makes Mr. Hayley happy. The interesting thing about muni riders, unlike going to a giants' game and going out into the public and trying to convince people to change their commute from whatever they're doing to biking, a muni rider, you know where that person starts and you have a pretty good idea about where they stop.
I just wonder if we, not
to take away from our muni traffic, but if people would rather bike and they
lower traffic, if
identified those stops and
those areas where our muni
riders would have a good and efficient biking alternative, and targeted those stops and routes just to let people know,
hey, you're riding this bike as -- you know, ed rides to work every
morning, and he could take a bike and say here is how you can ride a bike to work and it would be really easy. We have sort of a known quantity at the bus stop. I just wonder if just telling people the routes that exist, especially as we build them, and how they're flat and have safety designs, just so people know there is the biking alternative. That might encourage more
people to take their bike. >> one more question -- I'm sorry, go ahead. >> I'm really disappointed
to see that market and octavia still leads the list after all of the efforts. It used to be cars turning east -- is that what it is now, still? It seems like it is harder to do, for sure. >> it is right hooks, so it is illegal right hooks, is what is happening. So right-hook collision is where the bicyclist is going straight and the motorist is going straight in front of them, and there is a broadside. Yes, turning right illegally on to the freeway there. That's the issue, and
there is probably -- there
is probably a handful of things that are left that we could try, short of getting rid of that
separated bikeway, and enforcing bicyclists to get back into mixed flow.
We have in our C.I.P. Money, now, for the first time, for spot improvements, a dedicated stream that will come from prop "k" and other places,
to deal with our tric trickiest places. >> we talked about a number of things through
the years, and it is disappointing it is still
such a high number. >> what we see out there
in terms of raw numbers isn't telling us the full story.
the near misses and the conflicts, and the road rage that results from that location is extremely challenging for us.
Our oakenfeld project -- you'll see it next month, and it does focus on those three blocks, going in each direction. But we also note we're on
track to already have over
a million bicyclists ride past that spot this year. Which beats where we were last year.
So we know that bicycling is extremely popular and growing.
And short of closing one of those driveways, into the gas station, which is
difficult, we have to just keep trying different things and new approaches to the design. Because it is clearly a location, where whatever
we do there will have a huge benefit because of the pure number of people
bicycling past there. >> it's a very tough area. >> yes. >> be careful.
>> thank you.
>> thank you so much, both leah and cheryl.
I want to reiterate a couple of things, and malcolm, I didn't mean to jump on you, but I'm sensitive to the fact we
don't want to put the onus on the bike coalition.
>> the next time you come after me, ring the bell.
>> I want to remind everybody we spend 60 to 70 years en kung encouraging people to drive their cars. There aren't a lot of people you find who are frightened to drive a car in san francisco.
They May hate it, but they're not frightened by it.
But we have people who are frightened to ride a bike in san francisco. We put a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of street space into encouraging cars.
Now we need to take some of that time, money, and street space, and put it
towards transit and put it towards bicycles. It is going to take us a little while.
We're at 3.5%, and we could probably expect a
10%, 15% boost when we get our bike share. >> in the location where we do it.
>> where we put it. >> so if there were city-wide, we would still
only be at 13% or 18.5%, and we need to get to 20% of trips. I'm hoping that we have roadmap that is available or that's under
discussion, or that's in the planning stages of how
we're going to get to that
20%.
We have transit lanes
where they're okay for taxis. Technically, it seems that bikes aren't supposed to
be in that transit lane. And every time my husband goes to work he rides to work on mission street. It sounds like we May be
leaving our cyclists in a legally transit position, by not specifically saying bikes are okay. It is totally unclear to me what the legal position of the city should be around those transit lanes.
Are taxis really allowed in them under the california vehicle code?
Could we legally allow bicycles in them under the
california vehicle code. Our rapid bus network doubled up on a lot of bike routes.
I know we did get -- I got
the memo, thank you -- on sustainable street division on post and sutter, and where we need to go with bikes and transit. But we do need to figure that out. We, even more quickly than that, need to figure out
what is the cyclists legal position. for me, that's an extremely personal position, because I ride them, and people I know and love ride them, and I
don't want to hear about a cyclist being injured and being told they have no recourse because they're not legally allowed in that lane.
It is an odd situation.
roadmap and making it
easier to get a roadmap to get to that 20%. >> thank you very much. Any public members?
>> yes, you have link Electronics, Inc.
Model number: pdr-885
software version: 3.0c
i think that would be a good way of ensuring a safe bicycling.
and the thing is once -- one thing that does happen when bicyclists get injured, I'm sure a lot of them have gone through the red deer. Red light. Some driver is probably driving under the influence and you have a collision. That's one aspect of going through the red light. I think it is very important to do this for
the safety of pedestrians,
and also for the bicyclists as well. Yes, I think some regulation is in order so
you do have a mutual
respect for the pedestrian, the bicyclists, the motorist,
and the transit driver who
might collide with the bicycle. I think it is very encouraging.
I think the danish example is good. Because in denmark, I'm sure there is a respect for pedestrians.
I would like to compliment council member cheryl because I've seen her walk the bicycle on the sidewalk.
I'm sure she obeys the
laws. What I would like to see
diminished is when buys bicyclists go through the
red light, and they make ab
an obscene gesture and told where to go. I've seen where bicyclists are dragged from their bikes and beaten up by irate pedestrians. And we want to put a stop to that. >> thank you.
this is followed by robin
brasso. >> good afternoon, board,
my name is dennis valins.
I'm a bicyclist here in san francisco who happens to make my living driving a cab.
It gives me a unique perspective because I'm able to see two sides of the issue.
One, when I'm on my way to work, or when I'm going to
see a show, or the other side, when I'm at work. There are three areas I would like to talk about
and some ideas that I have to improve safety. The first is market and octavia, which was mentioned earlier. It is an accident waiting to happen the way it is set up now. an idea I've always had, which I thought would be really cool, which reminds me of some things they do in davis, with signage, is
a long, gradual, sloping bicycle over pass on the inbound side of market for the bicyclists to use to
go over the freeway ramp,
and drop them off before valencia.
And have a bicycling motif link Electronics, Inc.
Model number: pdr-885
software version: 3.0c
and you just get out of
that whole illegal turn, or I saw the green bicycle, but I thought it was a green light for me. and a vehicle hitting a bicyclist.
Thirdly, I'm not going to
have time for the report.
i of the
upgrade with the target?
>> I amvisibility.
I don't know if a left-turn arrow for that movement.
>> my question is along similar lines. So thank you for a very good report and illustration.
i realize that one way this is
being facilitated is removal of
parking places on the side of masonic.
And the other change is removal
of the peak lane.
Is there a peak lane in both directions? >> only in the morning on one
side and evening on the other.
>> in the evening time it's south and the morning north? >> that's correct. >> okay, that's my question,
what I don't see in these
proposed adjustments are
modifications of the left-hand
turn restrictions.
I will pick one intersection for example.
You are proceeding on masonic northbound in the morning time.
There is a restriction in the
left turn on katel in the evening but not the morning.
the way that the pattern flows,
if you get stuck in the left-turn lane and everyone to
the right and bypasses.
And for the morning commute we
are getting rid of that
left-hand turn lane and it seems
we need that peak northbound and there are some turn restrictions
in there.
The one that pops in my mind and
the goal is traffic call --
calming and pedestrian and bikes
and we don't want people steady flow.
The long way to ask the left-turn
restrictions on the peak flow, northbound morning and
southbound evening to eliminate
this peak lane?
>> the majority
hayes and perk are permitted at A.M. And P.M. Peak.
>> okay, on the feldstreet will
we have left turn restriction?
>> no, the travel between oak and stell has three lanes.
And it feeds into the next block
that will merge into two to feed
the rest of the project.
even northbound vehicle at stell
and feld is blocking and in the
turn they have to go to two lanes.
The two adjacent to that left-turning vehicle flows smoothly.
You are going from three to two, basically.
>> the improvement is not south
of feld, it's north of feld. so the continue that is there
south of feldwill will will will
will-feld, will remain.
>> but south of feld, if you
don't make that left turn
restriction on feld-street. You will have a situation where
someone in the morning hours
makes a left turn you have one lane of traffic going northbound.
>> the vehicles heading
northbound on masonic as they approach feld. There are three lanes.
>> what about after they cross feld?
>> you will have restrictions.
>> from hayes to feld, will you
have three lanes of traffic? >> yes, it merges.
>> where does it take place?
>> mid-block.
>> you see the concern, I
appreciate the answer but I
don't know how many are making
that turn from masonic to north of feld.
All it takes is one person and
you are waiting for a yellow light.
And you are reducing the option of that northbound traffic.
not only affecting traffic flow and you have people changing lanes in pedestrian area and bike area. That's a concern to me. I have to say that's the only
concern as I looked at this very thoroughly-done project. And your ability to answer the questions and know what is happening is impressive. But that remains a concern to me.
>> I think we can sketch that
out to make sure we are all understanding this.
To the extent as we get into design.
We identify the need for additional traffic restrictions
and parking changes, we can
bring those back to the mta board. Maybe in the course of design, for example, we find that we
would like to restrict that
northbound left turn on to feld.
During rush hour or otherwise, we can bring that back.
>> what is the reason for not
restricting that left turn?
It's a pretty heavy left turn usage.
the avenue is there for
northbound and southbound traffic.
>> yes, ultimately masonic to hayes north is two lanes.
I think that people will line up
in two lanes anticipated the merge.
I don't want to call it the bottle neck.
but the limiting factor is two
lanes is north of hayes, and you have three from feld.
And if one car is blocking the
turn, and the two lanes are unirm un
unimpeded and carry through.
>> I thought the merge was between feld, and hayes.
>> it is, and you might as well
line up earlier, if you turn at feld.
And you might as well get into that lane that is northbound, the lanes that continue north.
>> okay, your point is that you will blocked. I see the point.
The key is that we are switching
because of the median approach,
so at that three-lane intersection the one lane if
it's blocked by a left turn is
the one lane we will lose in 250 feet anyway.
>> essentially, it's the
right-most lane that gets
blocked but as they go through the intersection they can merge over.
>> okay, it's not the one lane lost.
I will stop here, but say I have a concern with this configuration in the morning
time to accommodate that loss in the peak line northbound. And that's what I suggest you
guys take a hard look at it.
And I won't take anymore time.
>> members of the board.
>> yes, comment noted.
When we have a drawing, it will be easier to understand.
and get that to you.
>> okay.
>> coming back to the question
Inaudible: .
do we have configuration on that?
>> northbound south turn.
>> thank you very much, I got
lots of experience riding down
masonic and surprised that I can
live to tell about it.
It's horrifying.
>> but you had lycra on.
>> yeah, had more hair.
The cars don't want you on that road. They were angry.
That was my sense and not just
one or two, but all of them. Am really excited to see this happen. And I thank the community here
and the residents and the people that participated in this solution. I think it's brilliant and look
forward to seeing it happen.
A couple of observations.
On slide 11, and where the bus
bulb is, you have that dead
space and wonder if we can be
create and I have a place where
debris gathers and dead space.
Maybe put bicycle parking there
or something there. Planters.
But we should be mindful of utilizing that dead space.
In the areas where the bus bulbs did exist.
One thing I enjoyed seeing in
denmark, where they had these
things they also had cross walks in the cycle tracks.
For people coming off the buses
and alert the bicyclists and the pedestrians have the right-of-way, and need to yield for them.
I thought that was brilliant.
And for you folks to consider
that as you implement this or
consider them in the drawings. Or decide against them.
But think about in the cycle
track where the unjida unloads folks.
it can get chaotic when the door opens and the bicyclists getting through and pedestrians crossing.
May not be that big of a deal,
the speed May not cause a crash
but to be mindful to prevent
that would be worth our while.
but this is fantastic.
Can't wait to see it happen. >> real quick.
Thanks for the great outreach.
>> I am glad to see the design
solution, and I look to continue
the outreach and look beyond for the access.
I know in the disability
community there is concern from
the bulb out across the bike track. And I second the opinions about
the cross walk there to alert cyclists to crossing pedestrians. >> lee.
>> I thought it was a very good presentation. It's a very exciting project. What I want to look at, when we look at the opportunities to do this, want to do it right.
I look at it and there are eight
blocks of residential housing there. Right?
And I know they will get their
ebays and amazon delivery ies, can
we look at that park and down to
one lane, can we look at? >> yes, that's a challenge. >> thank you.
>> you have a number of members of the public to address this
item. >> if okay with the board, I
would like to let this woman
with the child speak before me.
Has been waiting a long time.
>> suspend the rules of order.
>> good afternoon to you both.
>> good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for the people that put this together. >> would you tell us your name?
>> amanda pupnikles, I live on son
masonic, and have lived there three years. And for years I have been concerned about the street in question.
As a bicyclist it's scary.
I feel vulnerable and defenseless.
there is not a lot of
consciousness about bikes there. The boulevard plan I think it
will be great.
For what san francisco values in
terms of being eco and green and asthetically pretty. And safe.
It's not a safe place and doesn't feel safe. Thank you.
>> Mr. Patele.
>> abraham amadra.
>> thank you, I am neal patel, a member of the san francisco
bicycle coalition.
We have been working tirelessly
to improve the safety on masonic
avenue for over five years.
The report that we document and every account of the members of
the city and the coalition to
improve safety on masonic avenue.
This is an essential route for getting people safely across town.
We are hearing from students from university of san francisco
that want to bike more and as
well as professors, and that's a dozens of community that we hear from. And hear from more today. The community members have been working for five years to get this project off the ground and bring it here to you today. Five years of organizing.
five years of meetings, and five
years of door-to-door outreach,
and it's been five years of unsafe conditions that claimed a few lives.
I want to thank the mta staff.
James was a bit modest.
This project and outreach
project has been highly regarded by staff and other agencies in the city.
He's done a tremendous job and with this strong partnership of community groups.
I want to commend him on this very model process. I know when other streets look to redesign, they look at the process on masonic avenue and try to epiicate it.
I want to encourage your support.
And just mentioned that these
critical safety improvements cannot wait any longer. Thank you.
>> abraham alonahal.
>> good afternoon, directors and members of the public.
i am abraham, owner of the
business of fulton foods,
located at fulton street and masonic. And I have been there for the last 18 years and have seen it all. And I am here today to give my
comment on the masonic plan.
First thing me and other 300
people who signed this petition
against this plan.
Second there are 90% of masonic
street are residents. And they need their parking spot
to go on with their lives.
Second we need a better plan for
masonic other than making it
nice, beautiful and danger by
making it erasing truck.
For our goal is to make it safer and better environment for all.
Third, we are not targeting the center the problem.
Which is the speeding traffic.
because most accidents happen from the reckless drivers that try to beat the traffic lights and where the most accidents
happen. Fourth, if our goal is really
the safety of the pedestrians,
we should stress and enforce the
drivers who drive on masonic so dangerously to change their direction of alternative streets.
By having more force on traffic
lights will do the job or have a
longer waiting time on masonic
traffic lights will help too.
that's my suggestion, my idea. Finally I am for change.
But this is a bad plan, and we need to have a better plan that suits all.
And I am for the coalition, bicycles.
And I am for the addition of bike lane.
But we need to make it safer
environment for all.
>> edward depalma.
>> good afternoon, I am a
resident of haight ashbury district.
i ride a bicycle everyday and on
masonic corridor on a regular basis.
And it's incredibly unsafe and I
feel threatened and I am sad to
say, I do ride on the sidewalk,
and I don't want to get killed
on the way to trader joes.
I am here to ask you to approve this plan.
It's a good plan, and will help
myself and other bicyclists and pedestrians, and make the neighborhood look nice too.
>> dan landry. >> good afternoon.
>> good afternoon, board.
My name is actually dan landy, no "r."
I live in the north panhandle
neighborhood, two blocks from grove. i am a bicyclist. I am a car driver. I am a pedestrian.
And every now and then I take the 43 masonic bus.
I think I avail myself of all transportation options.
And I think this is an excellent plan.
I will speak first as a bicyclist. i have been living in the neighborhood 15 years.
And during that time bicycle transportation has definitely improved a lot. And I thank you for your part in that. I now have great ways to go
east, south and west.
Unfortunately north the only
real way to go is masonic.
And as others have mentioned,
it's unsafe and scary. I too ride on the sidewalk at night. I don't like riding on the
sidewalk, but I do not want to
take my life into my hands.
So you will probably hear from
plenty of people telling you
it's necessary for cyclists. That's a no-brainer. As a car driver I have to go that way sometimes.
And as was mentioned in the
presentation [Bell] It's a very short stretch. If traffic slows down it's not
going to significantly reduce people's travel time.
And frankly, I would rather be on a pleasant street when I am in my car.
I sometimes go out of my way to
drive on delores street. Because it's so beautiful.
I would love to see masonic to
be beautiful also.
As a pedestrian I avoid masonic.
>> david pellpell.
>> I have a number of concerns
here, primarily legal. With respect of the brown act
and sunshine ordinance, it
requires description of the item.
I don't believe that the 11-word
item is appropriate and less detailed than previous items.
And in a number of items the detailed traffic modifications have been included here.
i don't think it's clear to the
average person what the masonic
street scape project is.
This does not include the limits
and it's not a commonly used term.
I think there is a problem in terms of the brown act and sunshine ordinance to that.
in regard to ceqa and the document did cannot include the
case number and did not locate
where available. Not on the web,
by the way, the addendum.
it's not in a attachment before you.
The resolution does not indicate
if this board received dir and addendum.
I think those are flaws procedurally. I would encourage you to delay this item or deal with these concerns.
I would say that this is not
just a bike plan project as I understand it.
it loses parking spaces.
It degrades traffic los and slows down transit.
I don't understand how one can conclude it's not significant.
And finally on masonic and
geary, this is the first time I understood that frontage road in
front of what used to be the pub.
Would be closed.
That would mean that cars going
east on geary and south on
masonic go around the plaza and
make a new and more dangerous turn.
you don't know how well that is analyzed.
>> laney motave.
>> hi, I am tracy buck, I have
lived at the corner of masonic
and grove for the past 18 years.
as my neighbor has said, we have seen it all.
I have heard the horns honking
on a daily basis. I have seen car accidents.
I drive, and I need drive.
And nine times out of 10, I park
on masonic.
Whether across the street or a
block away or five blocks ark way.
I park on masonic because there
is no other place to park.
Is there no paid parking.
The buildings in my area aren't single family homes. They are apartment buildings.
Which means even more cars in the area.
The thought of having my neighbor's parking taken away scares me to death.
And I think if you were faced
with the same prospect you would be concerned too. So I think while changes do need to be made.
And I wanted to say the statistics about parking.
I think those are way off.
And had I known of the other
meetings going on, I would be at
those too to voice my concern as well.
I think that parking needs to be factored into this.
And a lot of reports I have been
reading, a lot of articles I have seen. Seem to gloss over the fact that parking will be gone.
And not just one spot [Bell] Not
just five, but hundreds of parking spots. Thank you.
>> thank you. Next.
>> andrew narvag -- no,
catherine orgman. Followed by catherine ross.
Are they here?
>> I think catherine orgman
left, I am catherine ross.
I am a long time resident, I
live directly across the panhandle from masonic. I ride a bike.
I have nevered own a car.
Anyone who is complaining about
parking spaces, has been using
the parking space I have not
used in the 25 years in san francisco.
I don't take up a parking spot.
I don't have a driver's license,
they can thank me after the hearing.
But now masonic is my north/south route. And other streets go straight hill and dead end.
If there was another option for bikes, we would take it. Believe me.
And the conditions on masonic
are completely unacceptable, not
just me but the people that have
been killed there that I am totally heart broken about.
And to me that takes such precedence over parking, and the
fact that people are complaining
about the loss of parking
spaces, and in the light of the
slaughter on this street.
It's shameful of that priority.
This is a great plan, I am
extremely impressed what they have come up with.
and it's no loss of muni speed.
As experienced as I am in a
bicyclist in this city. I have been extremely close to
being killed on masonic. To the point that the person in
the back has their heart in their throat.
Don't want to do that and please
approve this plan.
>> anan marie pierce.
>> good morning, I am ana marie pierce. I would like to thank those who prepared this plan. We fully support it.
we took a survey of our members
and most of them supported it.
And I want to add that Mrs.
Myers who was here until a little while ago and represented the university of san francisco
was here to also support the plan. >> thank you.
>> marian casey. >> hi. I am marian casey.
I live at -- I own a condo at
227 masonic. I myself do not have a car. But the fact that there would be
no parking on masonic is really
just impossible for me to comprehend.
because of service vehicles and
all of the friends coming on the weekends. Because the particular area that
I live is across from the blood center.
And across from the park, from
the school on the other side.
And there is no side street parking. because the university of san
francisco is right behind us.
Just ewing terrace is small and
we all have old houses.
And not room for the cars and there are two flats at every unit.
i went to all three meetings.
In fact I am the pitcher of the first meeting.
Not like I wasn't involved. But I really have difficulty.
And I have to say this is not, I
didn't know about this meeting.
If I didn't google something from the bike coalition. I wouldn't have known this
existed today. I have been inquiring.
I think a lot of safety issues can be addressed.
There is still not a pedestrian
count-down light on masonic and church. The biggest street.
I don't think there should be
left-turn lanes at all.
excuse me, no right on red.
Because the drivers don't look
for pedestrians.
And they are busy looking for turn.
And I am a pedestrian and the
limit is pointless. And because of the commuter lanes are going to be eliminated.
Why not eliminate them now. And see what happens. [Bell]
As of now the parking is too big
of an issue. >> thank you. Next speaker.
>> elizabeth stamp.
>> good afternoon, I am elizabeth stamp, the execute you have director of walk san francisco.
I am here to speak in support on
behalf of walk sf for this project.
As you know masonic is a big,
wide, fast, dangerous street.
and earlier a speaker mentioned
going to trader joes and not wanting to be killed on the way there.
And to bike on the sidewalk, and
to provide space for people to
bike on the street and get people off the sidewalk.
And have a ripple effect to
reduce the speeds on corridor, because someone was killed
walking back to her car with her
groceries recently from trader joes.
It's a real tragedy and totally preventable.
And one shortcoming on this plan
is that it doesn't go as far as it could.
it doesn't go to trader joes. We ask that there are some
improvements made at oak and masonic. Which is one block south of
where the project extends to.
Feld and masonic is a big place
for bicyclists to cross, because of the light.
but oak and masonic is a place for pedestrians to cross.
It was a two-lane left turn from oak to masonic.
It's now one lane, which is much
better but there still could be
a lot of improvements.
this will improve conditions for
everyone, walking and driving and biking.
And it will make clear that
masonic is not a speed way.
People live along masonic, it's a neighborhood street and should be a place for people to walk in
safety and comfort.
>> stephanie tucker.
>> good afternoon.
>> good afternoon commissioners.
I am stephanie tucker, we are
here to express our strong support for this project.
we have heard from district 5
residents their strong support for this.
Two deaths are too many along masonic avenue.
And we thank everyone who has
done their due diligence in outreaching to the community.
And problem solving any potential issues that could come
up as a result of removing parking.
and I just want to say, our
office is highly empathetic to
our residents who are losing parking.
Especially those who have disabilities that prohibit them from being able to walk or take the bus. But in the end, we feel that this project is the right project for district 5. And it's the right thing to do for the citizens of san francisco. For five years we have been
pushing to have this project realized. We are very grateful to see that
we are taking this very
important step today.
And I -- I strongly support you
approving it and moving forward. Thank you. >> thank you.
>> peter lauterborn.
>> good afternoon. >> afternoon. Thank you board for hearing this item.
I am peter lautenborn, I am here to voice strong support for this project.
it's a little to the east of our district.
But it is used heavily by our residents. It's the way that the people connect to the new routes in the park you put in.
And connect people to the paved streets and northern bike routes and people coming from the north to the wiggle. We are really supportive of this.
And we are more supportive of
the words that supervisor marr introduced a hearing request of the impact there.
And that was supported by
supervisor alagy and supervisor feld.
and we will go to the T.A. To
find ways to fund this project. Thank you and we appreciate and hope this gets approved. >> next speaker.
>> michael helquist.
>> good afternoon, I am michael
helquist, I live at golden gate and central. One block east of masonic. I lived in this location in a
home I own for the last 15 years. I use muni.
I walk and sometimes drive and bike.
I try to avoid traveling on masonic by any means. Because I know it's not safe.
i helped organize two community
vigils for people hit and killed
by motorists driving dangerously on masonic.
Neither the pedestrian nor the bicyclist were crossing or
riding against the law or
against the light or doing any unlawful.
I want to thank you for
considering the change on this corridor.
There are two additional points. I was involved in the plan and development for the last two years. First and foremost the strongest feeling is that this is about safety for all road user. It was never just a bike plan.
this is what neighbors and community organizations have
stressed for several years now.
I am a member of the north of panhandle association, and I can't remember how many articles there were published.
Not only published in our newsletter but that gets hand
delivered to 3500 residents in the neighborhood. Our side of masonic.
And second I want to commend mta
for recommending the most
comprehensive outreach undertaken. It was almost like someone would have to decide not to hear about
this to avoid the mailings and
post cards and e-mails and door-to-door contact.
And I want to mention about the
north panhandle neighborhood group.
With they took a survey of the
residents, 80% of the people supported.
>> elias sumari.
The last person that submitted a card.
>> I am elias and I bike on
masonic going to trader joes and
places north of presidio.
It's crazy and scary and I try to avoid it.
But most of the time I try to
avoid it. Sometimes I ride on the sidewalk
because I am afraid. Someone said she is scared to death to lose the parking.
And I am scared to ride on it,
anyone with a parking as a
fundamental right, shouldn't be living in san francisco.
I am excited to see the changes after all of these years. i guess that's it. >> thank you. >> any other member of the public wishes to address the
board that has not spoken?
>> I am going to close the
public hearing. >> aye.
>> this passings es. >> I want to say I thank you for all of your work on this.
I know that you were personally
involved with mill's vigil and
reaching out to the family.
I hope they aware of this.
>> a motion and second. Any further discussion? >> first to those who have come down to say they are concerned about parking or driving and all of this.
We welcome your voices here. You shouldn't feel shame of voicing your views about what you want for your neighborhood.
I hope that is some response to
you and comments made.
That said I favor this program.
I think it will enhance safety. I have
I have voiced my one concern.
We need to look at ways to be
sure that traffic flows evenly.
And there is confusion when the
director and I spoke, and the offers.
I hope you look at no turn
restriction on the northbound masonic at feld.
I think that will cause congestion.
I want to address that and note that. >> we have a motion and second
to approve the resolution as amended. >> aye.
>> ayes have it. Thank you.
>> item 13, approving proposed
policies.
>> there are no speakering
cards.
whereas clause the word proposed
has removed from the fifth,
sixth, seventh language whereas
clauses.
inserting language for policy. The whereas clause would read,
the management of policies that affirm existing parking management practices and
continues as is.
And deleting the word "proposed"
out of sixth whereas.
and on the eighth whereas and
the language inserting: as a separate policy proposal.
And the language is the same.
Mta will consider reform to
better reflect the needs.
And then with read to the result clause. Delete
ing the words "approved the
proposed" and inserting the
affirmed parking policy for
approving for parking management. >> deal with the amendment first. Does a member of the board. >> motion to approve. >> second. >> so we have that.
On the item itself, members want
to discuss. We have a written report.
>> we had this at policy and governance and we had a discussion about it. And I believe we were all pretty much on the same page in improving it.
>> I was surprised, did I read
this correctly, no other city in
the country has done this. Putting these together, as far
as we know?
>> as far as we know, these are
policies and practices that have
been in place for years that reflect the engineering judgment of our transportation professionals.
They have not for us been documented and codified in one place.
And the clarifying amendment to
the resolution was to clear up confusion among the public.
Whether we were implementing
something new than documenting the existing practices. And any changes that we make in
traffic will always come to you.
We are starting practices, and anything that we contemplate
there, we will take through an exhaustive public process.
this item is articulating and documenting existing policy.
>> we have not done that and
this is fine.
Members of the public didn't understand this. There were a number of things.
>> I wanted to commend the staff for putting together such a
great report.
I thought it was fascinating.
Learned a lot. The parking program was
brilliant and helped me to
inform this decision.
>> okay, we have --
>> not specific to this item,
but I expected this to be in the
policy breakdown.
We hear a lot from the public on
the meters on holidays.
And I realize that's a separate item, and one that I shouldn't
bring up at this hour of day.
But I would like to find out
more about that at another board meeting.
And since we put that in place,
and how it's been working out.
And has it been effective and
promote what we want, parking
turn over and what is it costing
us per what we are getting from it. that's separate but related.
>> you are right, we get a lot of comments about fourth of July and labor day.
>> part of that is selfish, I
want to have an intelligent answer to respond.
>> anything else? So the amendment first.
we have a motion and second on
the amendment, all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> ayes have it.
And on the amended resolution. >> motion. >> second. >> all in favor? >> ayes. >> ayes have it.
And no closed legal session.
>> no closed legal session.
>> that's a shame.
>> thank you, Mrs. Morley.
Thank you everyone.
We are adjourning in memory of Mr. Baker. >> thank you.
