BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Monday March 23, 2015
6:30 p.m. City Hall, Room 408
Regular Meeting

AGENDA

1. Roll Call – Determination of Quorum
   ● Present: District 1 - Kevin Dole, District 2 - Winston Parsons, District 3 - Marc Brandt
   (7:05 arrival), District 4 - Edward Nicolson, District 5 - Morgan Fitzgibbons, District 7 - Bert Hill, District 11 - Casey dos SantosAllen
   ● Absent: District 6- Richard May
   ● Vacant: District 8, District 9, District 10
   
   The meeting was called to order at 6:42 PM
    
2. Announcements & Acknowledgments
   ● Marc Brandt was reappointed by the new D3 supervisor Julie Christensen
   ● Timothy Doherty has resigned from the Committee.
    
3. Approve Minutes February, 2015 BAC Meeting
   ● Motion: Fitzgibbons
   ● Second: dos SantosAllen
    
4. Public Comment: (Discussion Item)
   ● Lisa Dougherty updated the Committee on her outreach to SFMTA and 311 requests to improve the Broadway Tunnel updates. She says some cyclists aren’t even aware it is legal to ride in the tunnel. The sign for cyclists is on only one side of the tunnel.
      ○ Brandt suggested heavy green sharrows in the tunnel
           ■ Chair suggested Brandt and Dougherty draft a resolution should be presented to the Committee and if passed sent to Sup. Christensen
   
      ○ Dougherty requested improved SFPD enforcement
           ■ Sgt. Mahoney: Tunnel connects two SFPD districts, with the inside under jurisdiction of Central Station, Larkin St is the border. Suggested emailing relevant captains.
      ○ Ralph Silberman: Lived in North Beach for 10 years and used to tunnel regularly, once cited for going too slow
   
   ● IIyse Magy introduced herself to the Committee. She lives in District 9 and is applying for the open seat. She has cycled in San Francisco for five years and splits between her travel 50% between transit and cycling. She works for San Francisco Transit Riders Union and wants to see female representation on the Committee.
   
   ● Shirley Johnson updated the Committee on the Bikes on Board project at SFBC. Caltrain is going electric by 2021 and will need new trains. Caltrain is not projecting for a bicycle ridership increase, SFBC is lobbying them to do so and requested the Committee’s support.
   
   ● Janice Li of the SFBC was unable to attend the meeting but sent an email update:
      ○ SFBC has from members that cars are parking in the protected bike lanes in Fell & Oak are have gotten support from Supervisor Breed's office to push SFPD/SFMTA for increased enforcement.
   
   ● The SFBC is unhappy with the modifications to the Wiggle project as asking SFMTA to build a full package of bike improvements and clarify what changes will be made around Haight St.
    
5. Committee Member Reports
   ● Chair: Will be sworn in in the GG Bridge Board on 3/27/15. Attended the National Bike Summit where much attention was given to women in cycling.
   ● Fitzgibbons met with SFMTA to preview the Wiggle neighborhood greenway project. The traffic diverter at Fell and Scott is the only remaining bicycle improvement. En route to meeting, the Oak street bike lane blocked. Called for additional SFPD enforcement and green paint to indicate no parking zone.
   
   ● Parsons is developing a family biking event in the Richmond district with Sup. Mar’s office. Project is in the planning stage.
   
   ● Dole is coordinating a ride for new riders in the Bayview on 4/12/15 in conjunction with Sunday Streets.
    
6. Governmental Reports
   a. MTA Bicycle Program Report Neal Patel:
   ● Division/13th Street Safety Project
      ○ Construction is anticipated for Spring 2015 and cattracking work is underway.
      ○ http://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/division13th-street-safety-project
   
   ● Embarcadero Enhancement Project
      ○ www.sfmta.com/embarcadero
   
   ● Howard Street Buffered Bikeway Project
      ○ Construction is complete
      ○ http://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/howard-street-buffered-bikeway-project
   
   ● Oak and Fell Pedestrian and Bike Safety Project
      ○ Project completion is set for lateApril.
      ○ http://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/oak-street-and-fell-street-pedestrian-and-bike-safety-project
      ○ Parsons: What was the length of evaluation on Oak and Fell and why did it take so long? Approved october 2012
           ■ Patel: Project was a multiagency coordination, have to route back through chair for evaluation
   ○ Fitzgibbons: Will green paint be restored full length of Oak and Fell?
           ■ Patel: Current paint is like Howard & Folsom, green at start and finish. Will take back input.
   
   ● Polk Streetscape Project
      ○ The SFMTA Board of Directors approved the Polk Streetscape Project on Tuesday, March 3. Construction for the project is anticipated to start in Summer 2016.
      ○ www.sfmta.com/polk
   
   ● Upper Market Street Safety Improvement Project
      ○ SFMTA is designing a suite of pedestrian and cycle improvements along Upper Market Street, from Castro to Octavia Streets with the input of local merchant and neighborhood associations. The corridor appears on the Vision Zero network.
      ○ Chair requested analysis of signal timing; cyclists can start on a green light and have it turn red before they finish crossing
           ■ Patel: SFMTA will do a “circulation study” of entire area
   
   ● Dole shared a 311 request for improvements in the Broadway Tunnel # 4586036
   ● Brandt called for an education campaign on the door zone threat to motorists
      ○ Fitzgibbons noted that cabs have sticker on the door interior warning exiting passengers to look out for cyclists but rideshare cars do not.
           ■ Patel: Transportation Network Companies are not under the purview of the SFMTA but he will check into it.
   
   PUBLIC COMMENT:
   ● Ralph Silberman noted the three foot law was passed a year ago and there has been no education campaign to promote it
   
   b. BART Task Force – Dr. Shirley Johnson, BART Bicycle Advisory Task Force:
   ● BAC chair attended the most recent BART board meeting and introduced the Committee resolution on new BART car layout into public comment:
   http://sfgov.org/bac/bicycleadvisorycommittee/meeting/2015february23supportingdocuments
   
   ● The pilot train will go into revenue service at the end of 2016
   
   c. Report on PSAC Joint Initiatives – Morgan Fitzgibbons:
   
   ● Still working on daylighting still, commended Ben Jose for a recent article on SFMTA website:
   https://www.sfmta.com/about-sfmta/blog/%E2%80%9Cdaylighting%E2%80%9D-makes-san-francisco-crosswalks-safer
   
   d. SFPD Report on Safety and Security Issues – Sgt. Eric Mahoney:
   ● Enforcement operation at Pierce & Waller caught 48 vehicles, running stop signs, 14 of which were bikes. Not “California roll” but full speed.
      ○ Fitzgibbons expressed appreciation that motorists were cited along with bikes, as opposed in previous stings
   
   ● 3/2/15 Fatal car collision with bike at 14th & Folsom. Cyclist found at fault for failure to yield.
      ○ Chair request SFMTA look into engineering solutions intersection
      ○ Fitzgibbons: What is the status of the automatic review process for fatal collisions? Is SFPD meet with SFMTA?
           ■ Mahoney: Fatal reports go up chain of command, unknown.
      ○ Chair: Used to take months for reports on fatal collisions to be released. Has Vision Zero sped this up?
   
           ■ Mahoney: Realignment 2.5 years ago, reports generally out on a calendar week barring unusual circumstances.
   
   ● 3/7/15 collision between bike and fire engine at Turk & Mason. Engine not in emergency mode, bicyclist still alive. Turk, Mason & Market a “very confusing intersection”
   
   ● 2013 Fatal Collisions:
      ○ 2/9 - 3rd & King
      ○ 5/23 - 16th & South Van Ness
      ○ 8/14 - 6th & Folsom
      ○ 10/18 - 11th & Division
      ○ Fitzgibbon noted that motorists found not at fault in majority of cases
      ○ Nicolson noted that large vehicles were involved in 3 of 4 cases
           ■ Chair: large vehicle initiative in is development at SFMTA
           ■ Mahoney: FedEx, Sunset Scavenger, etc. have improved operator training
   
   PUBLIC COMMENT:
   ● Ilyse Magy suggested it was likely that the cyclist at 14th & Folsom proceeded on the pedestrian signal instead of waiting for a green light.
7. Vision Zero Coalition Report – Winston Parsons
   No report.
    
8. What Constitutes a Bicycle Stop?
   The Chair gave the CVC definition of a “bicycle stop” which differs from the standard SFPD has been enforcing. Sgt. Mahoney said he didn’t realize it was an issue. Fitzgibbons acknowledged and commended SFPDs “spirit of the law” approach.
   
   PUBLIC COMMENT
   ● Ralph Silberman was cited for not putting his foot down when stopping by SFPD when CVC only requires cessation of forward momentum
   ● Magy asked if time was a factor in citation
     ○ Mahoney said a “track stand” counts as a stop d there is no forward motion
    
9. Bicyclists Riding in Crosswalks
   ● Chair: CVC defines crosswalk is as a “prolongation” of the sidewalk, legality of riding in crosswalk is left to local discretion. Cmdr Ali has told Chair that City policy is not to ride on crosswalk. If true it needs to be explicit in the transportation code.
   ● Nicolson asked about children riding on sidewalks
       ○ Chair: Under 13 can ride sidewalk, including prolongations
   ● Chair: Also need clarification on dismounting in crosswalk before entering sidewalk
   ● Magy: requested to make sure box turns are not penalized
   ● Bialik: Legislature created an exemption for designated bike paths e.g., panhandle, Lincoln & 3rd Ave
    
10. Bicycling RediRef (Resolution Hill)
    A resolution was not presented. The Chair and Parsons will draft a version together. The Chair requested Committee input on relevant sections. Sgt. Mahoney spoke in favor of a bicycle RediRef, saying that SFPD is always of additional tools and information.
     
11. 311 Process Improvement – (Resolution Dole)
    The Committee made several suggestions to improve the resolution. Dole will revise the resolution for a vote next month.
     
12. Bicycle Access to GG Bridge Bus Shelter (Resolution Hill)
    
    ● Motion: Dole
    ● Second: Parsons
    The resolution was approved unanimously with minor modifications for clarity.
    
    DISCUSSION
    The chair will present the resolution to the Golden Gate Bridge District and the Caltrans Bicycle Advisory Committee.
     
13. Adjournment
    ● Motion: Parsons
    ● Second: Brandt
    
    The meeting adjourned at 9:04 PM.