SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(BAC)

Regular Meeting

 Minutes

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street)

The meeting was called to order at 6:20 PM

1.     Roll Call/Attendance:

       Present – Andrew Thornley(District 1), Janice Buike Voorsluys(District 4), Bridget  May(District 5), Dale Butler(District 6), Will Henning(District 7),  Jerry Ervin(District 8), Rufus Davis, Jr.(District 10),  Casey Allen/arrived 6:35(District 11) 

       Excused - Dianna Waggoner(District 3),

• Approval of minutes of March 17, 2004as amended (6:24) 

3.    Public Comment: (6:25)

       None

4.    Chairman’s Report:

• Lionel Shaw of District 2 has been officially appointed from that district.  In addition the appointment of Francisco Hernandez from District 9 is pending
• Peter Tannen of DPT has reported that the bike room in the Main Public Library is underused.  To access this safe bike parking a one-time fee of $20 is due along with a written application.  Library patrons are encouraged to apply for and use this space.
• Deirdre Weinberg of DPT is working with the main Library for expansion of on-street parking. Several automobile parking spaces will be eliminated with the plan.  The DPT report will include specifics on the plan.

• Member Reports:
  • Rufus Davis, Jr (District 10) reported CALTRAIN’s “Baby Bullets” began operation the previous week.  On checking out the service he discovered there was far less provision for bicycles and the cyclists wanting to ride the Bullets were being turned away.  Mr. Davis requested that a letter be written to the members of the Board of Supervisors requesting CALTRAIN expand provision for bicycles.
  • Dale Butler (District 6) reported that on June 19^th from 7:00AM to noon the Golden Gate “Bridge Walk for Healthcare” would result, during those hours, bikes being shuttled over the bridge.

6.    Department of Parking and Traffic Report (6:37) / Oliver Gajda

• CALTRAIN may be adding bike lockers to ameliorate the problem created by less bike space on the Baby Bullets.
• BART is modifying the Bike Station at the Embarcadero
• The “DPT Bicycle Program Report to the BAC 6/16/04” was read.  Casey Allen (District 11) asked if security lighting was part of the new bike rack installation at the Main Library.  Mr. Gajda responded that no additional lighting was being installed but night visitors to the library could use the bike room.
• It was recommended that a member of the BAC attend the PROBIKE/PROWALK 2004 Convention in September
• Jerry Ervin(District 8),  request the BAC record support for the Bike Plan by adopting a resolution.  Chairman Thornley advised that we could not vote without first having the possible action on the agenda.  A “straw poll” was held supporting the plans bike lane proposals.
• After presenting visuals and a discussion of the proposed Main Library bike parking improvements Mr Gajda requested and recommended that members of the BAC could attend the July 2^nd meeting dealing with this issue.  Other agenda items for this meeting would be found on the DPT web page.

7. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Report (7:15) - none

8.  New Business (7:15)

1. Prop K bike-project funding applications:  Oliver Gajda restated A(2) of his earlier report and recommends the community check on the Department of Parking and Traffic’s web page on a regular schedule.  Rufus Davis Jr. suggested that some of the proposals of DPT forget that there are various levels of cycling ability from kids, to cyclists with trailers, to professional cyclists and that the diversity of the community needs to be remembered.  Mr. Gajda responded that although some of the projects only speak to certain cyclists it does not mean others can’t be done also.  Maria Lombardo, Deputy Director of the SF Transportation Authority reported that last year the Transportation Authority had $150,000 to spend on bikes and this year, because of Prop K, has $800,000 to spend with the funds starting to flow in July.
   
2. MTC Regional Bike/Ped Program:  Ms. Lombardo reported a program guidelines meeting on June 21, 2004.  She also passed out a June 9, 2004 two page Memorandum from Rachel Hiatt on the subject of LOS SAR TWG Structure.  Comments could be made by emailing to till_change@sfcta.org.
   
3. SF Bike Map and Walking Guide update:  This private vendor map is being updated as happens when the inventory of maps drops too low.  Comments on the existing map, and how to improve the new one, need to be submitted by June 18, 2004.  The good news is that the map is reprinted every year.  DPT has made suggestions.  The BAC can request, to the publisher, that we be included in the updating process.
   
4. Waller Street – Police station access routing:  Lt. Crenshaw of Park Station presented maps show two alternative for the closing of Waller Street and the routing of Police vehicles through the area.  The Lieutenant stated that education is vital to the community as drivers do not understand bicycles and cyclists sometime ignore they have all the rights and responsibilities of any other vehicle.  The Lieutenant said a bike training layout was going to be included on the Waller Street service where training could be done to raise mutual awareness and understanding.
   
5. Bike Plan 2004 Draft Policy – Enforcement Chapter:  Chair Thornley introduced Chapter 6 Enforcement of the San Francisco Bicycle Plan and led a discussion of this document which is found on the DPT web page.  In addition Oliver Gajda pointed out that Chapters 5 and 6 are closely connected.  The former being Education and the latter Enforcement really go together.  When asked about information on citations Lt. Crenshaw stated that data on citations is not too available where data on collisions is.

A suggestion was made for two action items:

1. A traffic school for bicyclists should be established to deal with tickets as education is more effective that a fine.
2. A provision for “fix-it” tickets should be established

In response to a question about public and police lack of awareness of the rules relating to bicyclists rights and obligations Lt. Crenshaw responded that the police are generally pretty aware.  He added that no officers are required to be Bike Officers.  They either want to be on the bikes or they are not on them.  The SFPD has a problem that there are many retirements and the Police Academy is not holding classes.  More new officers will mean more Bike Officers.

To the question of bike thefts the Lieutenant said there had been a program but no more.  In response to another question he suggest that bike registration could take place with an educational program.  Stickers could be provided and files developed.  Oliver Gajda said that the BAC’s Los Angeles counterpart uses Prop K money to work on a safety program and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has started safety classes.  Jerry Ervin(District 8)

Suggested that Bike Shops might be enlisted to send in data for registration.

Rufus Davis, Jr. (District 10) shared his frustration that when cars have a problem there’s a correction.  But when bikes have a problem it takes too long.  Recently there was a death of a cyclist at So. Van Ness and 13^th at a point where an accident was waiting to happen.  Lt. Crenshaw stated that the bike community has to make noise to get attention.

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM

Materials distributed at this meeting: