2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
Thursday, March 17, 2005
6:15 p.m.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street), Room 408
AGENDA
1.
Roll Call
2. Announcements
3. Approve Minutes - February 17, 2005 Meeting
4. Public Comment: (Discussion Item)
The public may address the Committee on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee. This should not relate to any item on this agenda since the Committee will take public comment after it discusses and/or before voting on each agenda item. The Committee requests that each person limit him/herself to three minutes.
5. Chairman's Report (Information)
6. Member Reports (Information)
7. DPT Report - See DPT Bicycle Program Report to the BAC for March 2005 (http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=3170). `Items Recommended for BAC Action' may be included below. `Information Items' beginning on Page 2 will be open for public comment. (Information/Action)
8. SFBC Report (Information/Requested Action in Future Meeting)
9. Task Force Reports
a. Bike Theft & Security - Josh Hart, SFBC
b. Colored Bike Lanes - Andy Thornley, BAC
c. BART/MUNI Ventilation Grate Replacement - Andy Thornley, BAC
10. New Business
a. World Environment Day - Bicycle related activities during the week
of May 30-June 3.
i. Bicycle Tours on June 1 - Plans for VIP attendees (City Mayors,
NGOs, delegations, etc.) to tour various aspects of environmental facilities
and actions in the Bay Area; by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
Action: Discussion
ii. Legacy Greenway Projects - Planned bicycle facilities for presentation
to attendees during the week, by Transportation for a Livable City.
Action: Discussion
b. Golden Gate Bridge Bicycle Toll Proposal - The Golden Gate Bridge
District has proposed charging a $1 toll for Bicycles, San Francisco Bicycle
Coalition (https://www.sfbike.org/?ggb)
Action: Resolution
Whereas a bike/pedestrian toll is at direct odds with San Francisco's transit-first
policy, which encourages sustainable, non-congesting modes of transportation,
such as biking, walking and public transit, over individual automobile trips.
This proposed toll would send the exact wrong message about the priorities
that San Francisco voters have approved.
Whereas a bike/pedestrian toll is environmentally shortsighted. We know
that auto trips are a major generator of air and water pollution, and a major
problem for the Bay Area. To discourage people from choosing sustainable modes
of transportation, such as biking and walking, will result in increased pollution.
This is unacceptable.
Whereas a bike/pedestrian toll will increase traffic congestion on the
Bridge and on the overly crowded streets of San Francisco. More people will
load their bikes on cars and choose to drive instead of walk across the Bridge
if this toll is enacted. The Golden Gate Bridge corridor does not need more
fast-moving auto traffic making our local streets less safe.
Whereas toll collection will cost an unacceptable amount of Bridge District
resources for the expected low return in revenue. Because maintenance and
emergency vehicles need to access the Bridge pathways, it is unlikely that
an automated toll collection system could be set up. Will this mean that the
Bridge District hires costly staff to manually implement the toll? What about
the costs of additional enforcement and auditing?
Whereas a bike/pedestrian toll is an inequitable "user fee."
As an SFBC member pointed out recently in a "Letter to the Editor"
in the SF Chronicle, bicyclists could, at most, be charged pennies, based
on their weight and related wear-and-tear on the Bridge. For instance, if
the average vehicle weighs 4,500 pounds and is charged a $6 toll, then the
average bicycle at 20 pounds should be charged 2.5¢. Flipping this equation
around, if a $1 toll is levied on bicyclists, this would equate to a $240
toll on auto drivers. (Even the SFBC thinks that's a bit much!)
Whereas a bike/pedestrian toll will set a poor example across the nation
and will draw negative media attention to the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay
Area is considered one of the most bike-friendly regions in the country, and
is an example for communities nationwide. A high-profile slap-in-the-face
to bicyclists and pedestrians will not only draw intensely negative attention
to the Bridge and the Bay Area (the already-hurting S.F. tourist industry
will be impacted), but could also create a slippery slope as other communities
try to back away from supporting forms of transportation that are more sustainable
and healthy.
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 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.
Action: Resolution
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 (http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=29438).
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition submitted a letter asking for changes
to the planning and prioritization of the projects (http://sfbike.org/network/PropK.DPT.feedback.3.05.doc),
and a suggested alternative schedule (http://sfbike.org/network/SFBCfeedback.Network.05.xls)
Action: Resolution
Whereas the Project List does not appear to give special priority to the 20
top Bike Plan Update projects, in spite of two years of public hearings and
planning reviews
Whereas the Project List schedules most conceptual planning at the end of
the five year period for Proposition K funds, even though this planning is
low cost and provides an early idea of the costs and complications of bicycle
projects.
Whereas there is no obvious coordination with Livable Streets traffic calming
projects, such a Seventh Avenue between Kirkham and Lincoln Avenues.
Whereas the combining of planning, design, and construction costs tend to
obfuscate the timing and use of Proposition K and other funding sources
The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee believes that the complexity of expanding
bicycle facilities and services will require frequent periodic update of project
schedules, and urges DPT and the Transportation Authority to incorporate the
suggested changes and alternative schedule submitted by the San Francisco
Bicycle Coalition in the Bike Plan Network Project Plan.
11. Adjournment
DISABILITY ACCESS:
Room 408 of City Hall is wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART Station is Civic Center, three blocks from City Hall. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #47 Van Ness, and the #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call 923-6142. There is accessible parking in the vicinity of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza and adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.
Large print copies of the agenda, sign language interpreters, or assistive listening systems can be made available by contacting the DPT staff liaison, Lorraine R. Fuqua, at 415-554-9808.. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity, or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.
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