2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAC)
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 17, 2005
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street), Room 408
sfgov.org/bac
The meeting was called to order at 6:25 PM
1. Roll Call
Present - Andrew Thornley (Dist. 1), Lionel Shaw (Dist. 2) , Bert Hill (Dist. 7) , Jerry Ervin (Dist. 8), Francisco Hernández (Dist. 9), Rufus Davis, Jr. (Dist. 10), Casey Allen (Dist. 11)
2. Announcements
· Rufus Davis: Planning to attend Caltrain meeting on Bullet Train configurations, 4th & King bike station, decommissioning of Paul Ave. station.
· Andy Thornley: Has joined SF Bicycle Coalition staff as of 3/14/05, will be sensitive to conflicts and intersections of BAC / SFBC interests; likely to step down from BAC before long
3. Approval of minutes of February 17, 2005 meeting
4. Public Comment:
5. Chairman's Report
· writing letters to the Supervisors about BAC vacancies, seeking candidates from Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6; seeking administrative support for BAC
· attended meeting with SFPD Chief Fong, discussed Bike Plan Policy Framework, how SFPD should formulate a plan to comply with their parts of the Bike Plan (enforcement etc.); BAC will follow up
· Keith Saggers' proposal: pedicabs are regulated as "devices", and not vehicles, fall outside of regulations for bikes and other street users
6. Member Reports
· Lionel Shaw (D2) - Golden Gate Bridge proposal to levy toll on bikes & pedestrians - he opposes and doesn't see plausible support
· Rufus Davis, Jr. (Dist. 10) - Caltrain meeting 3/23 at City Hall on service cuts, fare hikes, Paul Ave. station removal; BAC has resolved to support 3rd St. LRV access for bikes, must move to action
· Jerry Ervin (Dist. 8) - Sup. Dufty held community meeting about 14th St. bike lanes in late February, seems to be headed for a trial treatment of bike lanes
· Francisco Hernández (Dist. 9) - David Herlihy (author of book on the history of bikes) event 3/3/05 at Modern Times bookstore was a success - "Bikes have long been pariahs of society"
· Andy Thornley (Dist. 1) - Now on SFBC staff; preparing for 4/6 special meeting on Bike Planning and Environmental Review
· Bert Hill (Dist. 7) - Bike to Work Day is 5/19, working to get that going, looking into a possible "race" between commuters of different types (motorist, cyclist, Muni rider); Caltrain bike station work is of interest, he's been involved for years, has communicated with Michael Burns (MTA) of the importance of the bike station; though electronic communication technology provides many opportunities for sharing information, Sunshine ordinance precludes the BAC from doing very much via email or web - a "blog" would be great, but there are legal obstacles
7. Department of Parking and Traffic Report
Pete Tannen, DPT Bike Program
Questions / comments from BAC:
· Andy Thornley - Pleased to see several bike lane projects (Oakdale, Fulton, Market St.) approved for striping; Potrero Avenue project approved, trying to have that ready by Bike To Work Day; pleased to see Union Sq. garage bike parking plans moving forward; Bike Plan Policy Framework env. review being contested, appeal going to full Board of Supervisors 4/19
· Bert Hill - DPT Bike Program needs to get their monthly report on their website sooner, hard to make reference to it in time for BAC meeting
· Francisco Hernández - BAC needs to stay in the loop on the developing Valencia Street plan; also want progress report on Bay Trail project
· Lionel Shaw - bike rack aesthetics, opportunities for better looking bike racks in SF? Hawaii has some nice-looking bike racks
· Pete Tannen - safety/security comes first with rack designs, must foil thieves
· Bert Hill - two-point rack systems are best for securing frame and wheels
· Eric Steinberg - saw racks in Germany incorporating titanium tape
· Pete Tannen - An extinguishable sign for the Broadway Tunnel is in the works, distributed drawings to the BAC
· Pete Tannen - Caltrain meeting next week, participants will include reps from MTC/Caltrain/DPT/Mayor's office
· Jerry Ervin - for Broadway Tunnel sign, consider changing "Beacon" phrasing
8. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Report
Andy Thornley, on behalf of SFBC
· SFBC offices have moved, from 1095 Market Street to 995 Market Street; move was carried out entirely by human power, via bicycles and feet.
· Josh Hart is leaving the SFBC as of 4/15, will continue to be involved in SF and Bay Area bicycle and transit issues
· SFBC has hired new staff:
· Jodie Medeiros, Membership & Outreach Director
· Lisa Ruth Elliott, Development Director
· Denise Esteves, Operations Assistant
· Andy Thornley, Community Organizer
· Bay Bridge - working to include bike/ped/maintenance lane on West Span of Bay Bridge
· GG Bridge - working to discourage bike/ped tolls
· both bridge issues have been given support by resolutions by Board of Supervisors
· Bike To Work Day is 5/19/05 - plans are starting to heat up
9. Task Force Reports
a. Bike Theft and Security - No significant updates; Bert Hill spoke with someone from SFPD and looks forward to further conversations, perhaps with Chief Fong
· Rufus Davis - What's the rule on events providing secure bike parking? Golden Gate Park events often lack secure bike parking. GG Park Concourse area should provide secure bike parking.
· Pete Tannen - Bike parking is obligatory for events bigger than a certain size (attendance), will look into rule
b. Colored Bike Lanes - Pete Tannen - For the sake of cyclist safety crossing mouth of new Central Freeway onramp, Market St. at Octavia, colored-pavement bike lanes were mandated by the Board of Supervisors, but DPT needs to submit concept and application principles to CTCDC (California Traffic Control Device Committee) for approval
· Jerry Ervin - The Board of Supervisors specified that the situation at the Central Freeway onramp would be evaluated after six months - what's going to happen to these safety treatments after six months has passed?
c. BART/MUNI Ventilation Grate Replacement - no specific progress though various background conversations have taken place among DPT & BAC & SFBC.
· Pete Tannen - This issue has a long history, he's got a thick folder of background info that the BAC is welcome to look through
· Tom Radulovich (Transportation for a Livable City) - BART has been studying this, has an on-call contractor standing by for action
· Rufus Davis - Are these grates anywhere else on the BART network in SF?
10. New Business
a. World Environment Day - Tom Radulovich (Transportation for a Livable City) - June 1 through June 5, an attempt to raise U.S. awareness of, and engagement in, the environment and environmental issues. Mayors from 100 cities are attending, UNESCO is co-sponsoring.
The event's organizers are attempting to produce a set of accords for the world's cities to follow, published on the web: http://wed2005.org
What legacy of WED do we want in San Francisco? The official city response has been underwhelming. Individuals are putting programs together, tours, symposia, etc. A secretariat will be formed to continue ideas and best practices.
Legacy Greenway Projects - Flower Power Day June 5
What is going to be our legacy project?
· Greenways: Recreational/Educational/Historical/Cultural
· Existing/proposed cities with greenways: NYC, Boston, Chicago
· Los Angeles has a proposed greenway system
· Ridge Trail/Bay Trail in Bay Area
· Purposes:
· Objectives - link major parks, link neighborhoods to parks, link to other trail systems; connect to transit nodes, connect to bike network
· Chain of greenways from Golden Gate Park to Glen Park
· Funding - most of the targeted property is in public hands, PUC easements - PUC upgrade work could incorporate greenway projects
· Next steps: Survey and plan, integrate with existing parks and bike/ped networks
· Meeting with Mayor's office next week
Also, on the topic of BART and bikes (Mr. Radulovich is a BART Director): BART will be renovating approx. 100 cars for enhanced bike storage, carpet removal, other improvements.
b. Golden Gate Bridge Toll Proposal - The Golden Gate Bridge District has proposed charging a $1 toll for Bicycles
· Casey Allen: We've seen this happen two or three times already, never gets anywhere
· Jerry Ervin: Given that this has already gone to the Board of Supervisors and they've passed their own resolution, it's moot.
· Rufus Davis: There are socioeconomic issues here, whether those cyclists crossing the bridge can afford a dollar.
· Jerry Ervin: Motion to adopt the resolution with simpler text than set out in agenda
Motion on resolution of support for continued no-toll bike access to Golden Gate Bridge (Ervin, Allen), passed unanimously.
The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District to maintain "no-fee" access to the bridge by bicyclists and pedestrians
c. TDA Funds for Bicycle Facilities - The City and County of San Francisco's has applied for $450,000 in matching grants for FY 2005-06 TDA Article 3 funds for striping and signing bike lanes on Conservatory Drive East, San Jose Avenue ramps, and Townsend Street, purchasing and installing bicycle racks, and bicycle safety programs; by DPT.
Motion on resolution of support for DPT Bike Program TDA fund application (Ervin, Thornley), passed unanimously.
The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee has reviewed and concurs with the City and County of San Francisco's application for $450,000 in FY 2005-06 TDA Article 3 funds for striping and signing bike lanes on Conservatory Drive East, San Jose Avenue ramps, and Townsend Street - as matching funds; striping and signing bike lanes on other Bicycle Route Network streets; purchasing and installing bicycle racks; and bicycle safety programs such as safety brochures, maps, telephone hotline, and advertising; and for $450,000 in FY 2005-06 TDA Article 3 funds for various pedestrian projects.
d. Network Improvement Document - The second part of the Bike Plan Update will continue the implementation of the network across the city. DPT has submitted a Bicycle Program Project List with a tentative schedule for implementation. BAC, SFBC, and TLC representatives met a few times since the last BAC meeting and developed a common set of comments on the Network Improvement Document and Prop. K 5-year plan.
· Andy Thornley: There are two purposes of the Network Document, first as a comprehensive master scheme for the complete Citywide Bicycle Network, to be implemented over the next many years, and secondly as a budgeting tool for application for Prop. K funds (from the SF County Transportation Authority) for the next five years.
· Rufus Davis: Neighborhood planning goes forward, regardless of the Prop. K purpose of this document
· Peter Tannen: This isn't necessarily a frozen plan - for San Jose / Guerrero bike lanes, both TDA and Air District funds have been applied for. There's a precedent for the SFCAT reallocating funds on San Jose Ave.
· Bert Hill: SFBC has asked to accelerate the Top 20 projects, do the planning up front and "telescope" the project timelines to get more projects ready sooner.
· Jerry Ervin: I trust the DPT's judgment on this planning process.
· Andy Thornley: It's hard to know from our limited perspective how to judge the balance between DPT's resources, what's possible, and the desire by advocates to do more (by DPT and other agencies and staff).
· Pete Tannen: Complications arise, different jurisdictions have different issues
· Rufus Davis: We've always got to weigh demands and realities between advocates and city staff.
Motion on resolution of support for DPT Bike Program TDA fund application (Ervin, Thornley), passed unanimously.
The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee has reviewed and concurs with the City and County of San Francisco's application for $450,000 in FY 2005-06 TDA Article 3 funds for striping and signing bike lanes on Conservatory Drive East, San Jose Avenue ramps, and Townsend Street - as matching funds; striping and signing bike lanes on other Bicycle Route Network streets; purchasing and installing bicycle racks; and bicycle safety programs such as safety brochures, maps, telephone hotline, and advertising; and for $450,000 in FY 2005-06 TDA Article 3 funds for various pedestrian projects.
11. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM
Documents received/distributed at this meeting:
DPT Bike Program: DPT Bike Program report to BAC, Mar 2005; Broadway Tunnel extinguishable sign diagram
