San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting on August 23, 2007

Members Present:

• Andy Bindman, District 1
• Richard Tilles, District 2
• Marc Brandt, District 3
• Susan King, District 5
• Bert  Hill, Chair, District 7
• Jerry Ervin, District 8
• Rufus Davis, District 10
• Casey Allen, District 11

Introduction

• Meeting was called to order at 6:40 pm.
• Minutes from meetings on May 24^th and June 28^th were accepted by unanimous vote

Public Comment

• Andy Thornley of the SF Bicycle Coalition said that the SFBC and the San Francisco Police Department recently completed a training video for police concerning the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists.  The SFBC website has a link to the video on You Tube.  He also reminded that Saturday, September 8^th was family day in Golden Gate Park.
• Ron Haney discussed his desire to start a bike storage business in the financial district.

MTA Bike Program Report

• The report was handed out by Oliver Gajda, Bicycle Program Manager, who elaborated on some of the listed items.
• They have received complaints that Sharrows have often not been repainted after road construction.  Staff will educate city agencies on the need to replace these and provide appropriate drawings to them.
• He also noted that some bike racks were removed when the new-improved news racks were installed and they will work on having the racks relocated in their former vicinity.
• Gajda showed new ad campaign material for safer bicycling.
• He also noted that recent counts showed a citywide increase of 30%, though numbers varied widely.  The counts will be made available to the BAC next month.
• Gajda said that the BAC will be updated on the progress of the EIR next month.  The Initial Study is a month behind schedule and will come out by October with a projected publication of the Draft EIR by the summer of 2008.
• Ervin asked if we need to produce a new plan.  Gajda said that we need to implement over 60 projects that are already in various stages of approval.
• Bindman asked what criteria are being used to determine whether bike lanes make any adverse impacts.  Gajda said that the consultants will be looking at 13 transit and 12 parking corridors (a total of 60 intersections) in determining impacts.  Bindman then asked if there was a public document describing the methodology so that the BAC could determine if the impacts are being evaluated fairly.  Gajda said the initial study would have this information.
• Davis said that there was an accident near the Islas Creek Bridge and asked when the bridge would be opened.  Gajda said that he will get that information to the BAC.  Davis wanted to know if a bike lane could be striped to provide access to the Bridge since it was not safe without one.  Gajda said he would need to consult with the City Attorney because of the injunction. Brandt asked if we could make an exception because this is a safety measure.
• King said that we should be doing PR work to alert the media that safety improvements are not being made because of the injunction.
• Tilles asked if we could have a written schedule for the EIR that would be updated monthly so that the Committee could see whether it is on schedule and to provide an incentive to keep it on schedule.  He is concerned that it is falling behind.  Gajda said that he would provide it.
• Hill reminded the Committee that education and outreach parts of the Bike Plan have not been enjoined and need to be moving ahead.
• Gajda said that he is working with Caltrans to change their policy of not painting Sharrows unless they are adjacent to street parking.

Committee Comments

• Chairman Hill said that John Ciccarelli will be giving a class of bike safety on September 15^th at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio.
• He also asked whether the oft-quoted figure of 2% for bike trips in San Francisco could be updated, given the recent increase in counts cited earlier by Gajda.  Tilles said that might be difficult since the figure comes from the 2000 census which asked a wide spectrum of residents how they commuted to work.  Gajda said that the upcoming Bike “Report Card” study would include a telephone survey that might be comprehensive enough to update the figure.

• Hill said that a new anti-theft device called “pinhead” is available which locks the individual bike components as well as the bike itself.  He said that San Francisco has moved from number 2 to number 6 for bike thefts – so things are improving.
  
• King identified problems in Golden Gate Park with sprinkler systems coming on at the wrong time and drenching paths used for biking.

Other

·        The MTA’s Collision Report needs to be looked into more deeply.  Next month please try to provide figures on gender, age, helmet & lights if possible.  Also, causes of fatalities since 2000, along with dates and locations

·        Transportation Trip Data from Transportation Authority – Need resolution to TA on tracking better transportation figures in general for a more accurate picture of bicycle participation

Adjournment

• The meeting adjourned at 8:30.