San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting on March 27th

Members Present:

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

Introduction/Announcements

• Chairman Hill announced that the appointee for District 9 seat to start in April.
• Thanks to Oliver Gajda for his Bike plan presentation
• There will be a April 12, Street Skills workshop

Public Comment on items not on the agenda

• Marc Salomon: SOMCAN (South of Market Citizen Action Network) requested bike path/facilities be included in bike plan: Would like to see these included in the bike network, they have been recommended by duly convened City Committees:

    a. 10th to South Van Ness

    b. Market St from 8th Ave to foot of Market

    c. Divisadero/13th/Duboce

• Level of service issues that were discussed 6 years ago at the BAC are being overlooked.  

Chairman’s Report

• April 12 Bike Ed training at Taraval station- "Learn to ride a bike"- helps to work with Police Dept and improve cyclist/cop relations;
•  March 30, ride with Sean Elsbernd, Supervisor in D 7 to show bike proposed bike network. 

Committee Reports

• D 10: Rufus Davis said that there is a need for better signage on the Illinois St. bridge;
• D 11: Casey Allen is leading a Native Plant tour in District 11;
• D 5: Susan King presented an update on activities at the Fell and Masonic intersection.

Task Force Reports

• Golden Gate Park: Susan King reported on Golden Gate Park- A lane has been restriped on JFK (no bike lanes yet because of the injunction); Healthy Saturdays start April 5
• Bike Security:
• Committee Business- two open seats- 4 and 6
• Bike Plan:

Comments on Task Force Reports: Mark Salomon said that biking on sidewalks encourages police harassment of cyclists and is a waste of police resources. Issues divide cyclist, ped community. Instead we should work on legal enforcement of auto infractions that make it dangerous to cycle in the streets. This is not a one-size-fits-all issue, there are mitigating factors, such as sidewalk width, speed, number of peds on the sidewalk, etc. 

MTA Bike Program Report

Oliver Gajda of MTA presented the report.

• JFK re-striped in thermo plastic to last longer. Bike lanes will be striped when injunction lifted;
• Bike Diversion program for cyclists cited for infractions;
• Bike facilities maintenance: repainting lines, sharrows for existing bike facilities in need of repair. Prop K funds used for re striping
• Bike Plan meetings:

Central May 21

Southeast May 22

Western June 3

Northern June 4

Comments on MTA report:

• Organize community to get police to enforce real dangers, not bike infractions
• Meetings happen after scoping comments due;- Oliver response: Initial study covers plans, project scope can change, Draft EIR is where the window for comments start closing. Comments on Scoping till April 14;
• Andy Thornly of the SFBC said that the project and network were being reviewed; the list of projects OKed by legislative bodies. 

Slideshow. Intro, cover current city policies: Climate Action Plan, Safe Streets;

Responsible agencies and next steps in Bike Plan implementation:

• Bike Plan update: MTA
• EIR: Planning Department
• Approval: City of SF, Board of Supervisors
• Injunction: Judge

• Currently, the Bike Plan is in the EIR stage, other projects outside the EIR will require additional environmental review, but the cumulative impact of the bike plan will be covered. 
• Presentation: Next step after initial study. Draft EIR released with negative impacts;
• Response period in Fall of 2008, there will be lots of public comment.
• Goal to certify EIR by Spring 2009, review and approval by: Planning Commission, MTA, Board of Supervisors.
• Outreach underway includes community meetings, hearings, legislative actions (if deemed necessary by MTA).
• Joel Siddens asked for clarification of technical issues
• Scope of review covers tech issues, initial study is next. SFBC, BAC making comments on plans, including requests for other projects, and slight changes in plans;