Meeting Information

BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Regular Meeting

Thursday, June 16, 2005
6:15 p.m.

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street), Room 408

AGENDA

1. Roll Call

2. New Committee Member Recognition and Election of Secretary (Nomination/Election)

3. Announcements & Acknowledgments

4. Approve Minutes - April 21 BAC Meeting

5. 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.

6. Chairman's Report (Information)

7. Member Reports (Information)

8. DPT Report - See DPT Bicycle Program Report to the BAC for June 2005 (http://www.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=3170 - bottom of page). Items will be open for public comment. (Information)

9. SFBC Report (Information/Requested Action in Future Meeting)

10. Task Force Reports

a. Bike Theft & Security - Bert Hill, BAC


b. Colored Bike Lanes - Andy Thornley, SF Bicycle Coalition


c. BART/MUNI Ventilation Grate Replacement - Andy Thornley, SF Bicycle Coalition

11. New Business (Items will be open individually for public comment)

i. TFCA Grants for Bike Plan Network Projects - The SF Bicycle Program is planning to apply for Bay Area Air Quality Management District grants for Alemany Boulevard and Townsend Street, with matching funds from Proposition K; by DPT.
Action: Resolution

The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee endorses the plan by the City and County of San Francisco Bicycle Program to apply for the following Bay Area AirQuality District Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) FY05-06 grants for striping and signing bike lanes, with Prop. K Sales Tax matches of  $78,000 and $85,000 respectively:

1) $129,500 for Alemany Blvd (Lyell St-Bayshore Blvd)

2) $120,000 for Townsend St  (4th - 8th Streets)


a. Safe Routes to Transit Grants for Bicycle Facilities - The Bicycle Program group has been reviewing projects and costs that qualify for Safe Routes to Transit, by DPT.
Action: Resolution

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the City and County of San Francisco Bicycle Program to apply for the following Safe Routes to Transit FY05-06 grants:

· Striping and signing a contra-flow bike lane on Polk Street (Market-Grove Streets)

· Striping and signing sharrows and bike lanes on 17th Street

· Bicycle facility improvements on Market Street east of 8th Street

· Holloway Avenue between Harrold and 19^th Avenue (San Francisco State University to Balboa Park BART Station)


b. BAC elevation to Commission - Findings on investigation of the problems and opportunities offered through a change of status to that of a commission; by Keith Saggers
Action: Discussion


c. Shared Lane Markings on Seventh Avenue - Presently, Shared Lane Markings (formerly named `Sharrows') are stenciled on Seventh Avenue between Kirkham and Lawton Streets. The remaining length of the Avenue, to Lincoln Blvd., is devoid of these markings, by Bert Hill
Action: Resolution

Whereas the Shared Lane Markings are proving to be a desirable way to notify vehicles and bicyclists of the proper safe location in the traffic lane;

Whereas these markings are new to traffic facility design in the United States, and vehicle operators may misunderstand that their purpose indicates the safest location for cyclists, not an approval to occupy the entire lane;

Whereas only the easternmost block of Seventh Avenue, between Kirkham and Lawton Streets is stenciled with these markings;

Whereas the remaining three blocks of Seventh Avenue south of Kirkham to Lincoln Way are devoid of these markings, vehicle operators may confuse the absence of such Shared Lane Markings as an indication that bicyclists are not legally justified for failure to yield the lane by moving to an unsafe place within the `door zone' of parked vehicles;

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the Department of Parking and Traffic (MTA) to complete stenciling Shared Lane Markings on Seventh Avenue between Kirkham Street and Lincoln Way.


d. Pedicabs at the Black and White Ball - Pedicabs have provided complementary service both with the Ball area and to patrons wishing the security and protection of a ride to parking for many years. On June 8, Keith's Pedicabs was notified by the San Francisco Symphony that Pedicabs would no longer be allowed within the proximity of the Ball, by Keith Saggers.

Action: Resolution

Whereas pedicabs have serviced patrons for many years at the Black and White Ball;


Whereas pedicabs provide a positive and friendly atmosphere to patrons at the Ball;

Whereas pedicabs provide a level of safety and security to patrons on dark streets in the proximal area of the Ball;

Whereas pedicabs provide this service as a complementary benefit (tips accepted, but not demanded);

Whereas pedicabs produce no harmful emissions or pollution, and set a positive example of San Francisco public transportation;

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to take actions to ensure that the Black and White Ball will no longer prohibit pedicabs from providing patrons complementary services at the Ball.

e. Caltrans Safety Improvements to State Highway 35 - The Skyline Highway around Lake Merced and Sloat Boulevard are overdue for a bicycle safety evaluation on this heavily-traveled route, by Bert Hill
Action: Resolution

Whereas State Highway 35 is a primary bicycle route for commuters and recreational cyclists traveling to Ocean Beach, the San Francisco Zoo, Stern Grove, Lake Merced, Daly City, and the Coast;

Whereas State Highway 35 in San Francisco has no bicycle facilities, nor apparent consideration for bicycles in road design;

Whereas the portion of State Highway 35, named Skyline Boulevard, is adjacent to the Lake Merced recreation area, a highly popular pedestrian and bicycle route, with automobiles often reaching speeds in excess of 50 mph;

Whereas shoulder lines dangerous left turn lane design, and insufficient street signage impede the safety of bicyclists;

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee urges the Department of Parking and Traffic and Board of Supervisors to advise District 4, California Department of Transportation of these unsafe conditions, and request actions to evaluate and implement safety improvements to Skyline Boulevard and Sloat Boulevard, including bike lane stenciling, road signage, vegetation removal, and traffic calming measures.


f. Notice of Projects -Marc Zilversmit, representing vehicle operators, has requested that planned street facility changes include a large notification sign at the project site to alert vehicle occupants during the public review phase, so that interested citizens can attend public meetings addressing the changes; by Bert Hill
Action: Resolution

Whereas it is the stated desire of the City of San Francisco to encourage public participation in all city planning and processes;

Whereas occupants of vehicles may not have access to information and notification sources available to neighborhood denizens;

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee requests that planned traffic facilities requiring public review include the posting of signage announcing the project, and public meetings at least 72 hours in advance. Such signage should be of a size that vehicle occupants can read the notice while stopped in a traffic lane..


12. 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.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE

Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. The Sunshine Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. For information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Donna Hall; by mail to Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco CA 94102 by phone at (415) 554-7724, by fax at (415) 554-7854 or by email at Donna.Hall@sfgov.org Citizens may obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance by contacting Ms. Hall or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the Internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine.htm Persons from the public may inspect documents referred to on the agenda by contacting our staff liaison, Frank Markowitz at 252-4696.

LOBBYIST ORDINANCE

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code, Section 2.100, to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone 415-581-2300, fax 415-581-2317, or visit their Web site at www.sfgov.org/ethics/.