Meeting Information

SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES

25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 345, San Francisco, CA 94102-6033
For information, leave a message for BAC Chairperson James Morrison at (415) 282-8564

Wednesday, July 19, 2000, 6:30p.m.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street) Room 408

MINUTES

Present: Casey Allen, Steven Bodzin, Jean Diva, Emily Drennen, Laurence Li, Victor Veysey

1. Call meeting to order and adoption of agenda **

6:45 pm. Agenda adopted; Item 8 considered last to allow VV to participate.

2. Assign time slots to agenda items

Time slots assigned by consensus.

3. Review and approval of minutes from May/June 2000 and any other as yet unapproved minutes**

Minutes from June full committee, July working committee considered and approved without changes.

4. Administrative business and announcements**

JD: BAC's one open "general" seat should be in Tube Times.

JM: Transportation Authority wrote back regarding the Doyle Drive reconstruction project. SFBAC had demanded that the TA continue studying traffic calming on Marina Green as part of the project. The TA is interested in continuing the study, but not as part of the Doyle Drive project.

5. Public comment--non-agenda items; Please limit comments to 3 min. per person

No public

6. Transit Reports - BART Bicycle Advisory Task Force

No BART report.

Ferries: Blue & Gold Fleet is charging a dollar on top of regular fare for passengers with bicycles. SB suggested that this might contradict the state's common carrier laws. SB will write a letter to Blue & Gold.

7. DPT Reports

I. Bicycle Program Manager’s Monthly Report

II. Bike/Ped Safety Coordinator’s Monthly Report

Nick Carr (Department of Parking and Traffic) presented both reports, attached. Additions: Arguello lanes have actually been ground and striped. Carr unsure what ever happened to detour signs for the Duboce bikeway. Will find out more about bike lane interaction with MUNI stops.

8. Discussion period concerning the prospective CalTrain bikestation (continued from June meeting) at 4th and King Sts. Possible appearance by non-BAC advocates or project managers/planners. Discuss and possibly approve funding strategies with regard to the need or lack of a need for an operating subsidy**

VV met with BikeStation Alliance leaders. They believe an operating subsidy is necessary. He still believes he can run it without a subsidy.

Current status: Caltrain plans to put out an RFP for operators at the same time as building a 1500 to 2000 square foot structure to hold the bikestation. Some potential uses include bike rental, parking, repairs, and parts sales. Free rent is likely Caltrain's biggest subsidy contribution. Likely bidders include VV and larger rental outfits.

JM spoke with Katz' office and Caltrain, and found that Caltrain seems committed to bikestation. Katz' office is considering some sort of small city subsidy to help get the station going.

JD suggests Pi Ra (BAC member) analyze the RFP to ensure it meets the BAC's needs.

9. Working Committee Report

I. Report on contacts with the office of the District Atttorney, following up last month’s discussion with Sgt. Ray Shine of SFPD. Possible recommendation.**

JM spoke with the SF Bicycle Coalition to coordinate message in dealing with the DA's office. Leah Shahum (SFBC) suggests BAC, SFBC, and pedestrian representatives join to meet with the DA.

II. Discussion of Bike Plan and possible updates: Chapter Two.**

BAC is marking up a single copy of the Plan with suggested changes. Changes will be incorporated into the next draft, if that's what is produced, and will at least give the new consultants some direction.

The big Chapter 3 to be discussed at the next working committee meeting.

III. Discussion of BAC involvement with BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS 2000: Market/Octavia Plan (possible Market bikeway); Central Waterfront Plan; Balboa Park Plan.**

BAC supports reduction of car use on Market Street. We will encourage the Upper Market livability study to incorporate the potential car-free Market Street proposal into their plans.

Market Street: MARKET STREET SAFETY

WHEREAS Market Street is used by large numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists every day; and

WHEREAS Market Street is one of the City’s growing tourist destinations; and

WHEREAS citizens of San Francisco are currently more likely to be killed or injured by motor vehicles than by violent crime; and

WHEREAS Market Street is the site of the highest number of pedestrian and bicyclist accidents in the Bity, and does not provide a safe and continuous path for bicyclists;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to direct appropriate city agencies to solicit community input and then devise a plan to make Market Street safe for all. Three key items to be addressed in this plan are safer pedestrian access, a continuous and safe bikeway, and more efficient MUNI service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, given the public health crisis that the unsafe conditions on Market Street currently pose, the SFBAC further urges the Board of Supervisors to ensure that this plan is completed in a timely manner.

Approved by unanimous consensus.

IV. Third St./Burke St.--bike route/lane and conflict with left-turn lane. Possible recommendation.**

No information, no discussion.

V. Discussion of both the archival and Year 2000 posting of BAC records on the city’s website. Report on progress

LL will do old stuff, SB will learn how to get his files up on line.

VI. Pedestrian safety alliances and the BAC. Discussion of ways to strengthen our ties to the pedestrain safety movement by means that will also improve bicyclists’ safety. Report on contacts with WALKSF and/or Mike Smith.**

BAC is inviting a WalkSF rep to the next working committee meeting.

VII. Preliminary discussion of extending BAC’s limited recommendation (Feb. ’00) for use of DKS/TETAP Study ("Proposed Citywide Policy on Acceptable Tradeoffs for Improved Safey and Access"). Our original resolution called for re-voting on the study’s use in August ’00. What use, if any, has been made of the study? Should the Bike Plan Update include, ignore, overrule the DKS/TETAP conclusions?**

Department of Parking and Traffic has not yet used the study. BAC has no particular advice to give on it.

VIII. Date and time of next meeting**

August 18, 6:30 pm, City Hall.

10. Current Saturday Auto Closure on JFK Blvd. campaign. Possible BAC resolution or position statement.**

ED moved, passed unanimously:

GOLDEN GATE PARK- JFK DRIVE CLOSURE TO AUTOMOBILES ON SATURDAYS

WHEREAS Golden Gate Park provides citizens of San Francisco with a refuge from the challenges of urban living; and

WHEREAS Sunday closure of JFK Drive to automobile traffic is consistently ranked as one of the Parks Department’s most popular offerings; and

WHEREAS Sunday closure of JFK Drive provides a one-of-a-kind setting for families, youth, and adults to learn and enjoy bicycling, skateboarding, in-line skating, and other recreational sports; and

WHEREAS Golden Gate Park is an integral part of a green belt system essential to wildlife throughout the Bay Area; and

WHEREAS closure of JFK Drive enhances air quality by reducing auto emissions; and

WHEREAS closure of JFK Drive fits within San Francisco’s transit-first policy by encouraging tranporation by sustainable means;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bicycle Advisory Committee of the City of San Francisco strongly supports Saturday closure of JFK Drive to automobiles in Golden Gate Park.

11. Discuss means of establishing contact with the Planning Dept.--focus on strengthening compliance with bicycle parking regulations in garages, both public and private.**

Nick Carr (Department of Parking and Traffic) reports that the city has a grant to study private provision of bike parking in garages. SB suggests using a notice mailed with parking tax bills, followed by inspections and potential legal notices.

10. New business

CA: Wants to know status of Rockwell plan for getting bikes off roadways in Golden Gate Park.

SB: wants a discussion of bike lane intersection treatments

SB: Wants an endorsement of multi-use street furniture (parking meters, benches, and trash cans that overtly serve as bike racks).

ED: Wants a report on current pedestrian improvements on Van Ness.

11. Adjournment and next general BAC meeting, August 16, 2000**

8:30 pm