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Meeting Information



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SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAC)

Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 15, 2004

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

The meeting was called to order at 6:25 PM

1.    Roll Call/Attendance:

    Present - Andrew Thornley(District 1), Lionel Shaw(District 2), Dianna Waggoner(District 3), Janice Buike(District 4), Dale Butler(District 6), Jerry Ervin(District 8), Casey Allen(District 11)/arrived 6:32

    Excused - Francisco Hernandez(District 9), Rufus Davis, Jr.(District 10)

    Vacant Positions - District 4, District 7

2. Announcements:

    Bridget May has resigned from her position as representative on the BAC for district 5

3. Approval of minutes of November 17, 2004 (6:28)

4. Public Comment: (6:30)

    Bert Hill announced that he has been nominated for the vacant BAC position for District 7. Also that Supervisor Alioto-Pier has asked for guidance on the new pier project

    It was also reported that the SFCTA web page reports on funding and the Transit Authority is going to hire a Bike Project Manager. Leah Shahum (SFBC) reported the job description is being posted this week.

5. Chairman's Report: (6:35)

    · The public comment on the new Bike Plan has ended. The plan may go to the Planning Commission as early as mid-January

    · The Network Bike Plan is in draft form. The top 20 projects previously discussed are in the draft. The Network Bike Plan will be sent out to the Oversight Committee mid-February

    · BAC has been asked to change meeting nights. It seems that City Hall is overbooked on Wednesday nights.

6. Member Reports: (6:40)

    · Lionel Shaw(District 2) reported regarding road work on Bay and Lombard of interest to cyclists

    · Casey Allen(District 11) reported that nominations and the vote for officers must be at different meetings.

7. Department of Parking and Traffic Report (6:51) / Peter Tannen

      · Report As Attached

      · Broadway Tunnel - The DPT is trying to put lights in the tunnel that automatically turn on to alert drivers that cyclists are in the tunnel. While there have not been incidents the DPT does want to make tunnel safer before accident(s) occur

      · Bert Hill asked if sensors were being designed for third street which was answered that video detection is unable to distinguish between cars and bikes. This was a point of contention between members of the public at the meeting

      · Leah Shahum reported, as to item 15 of the DPT report, that about fifty people attended the Potrero Avenue meeting. Consensus remains that the original plan is preferred

      · Mr. Tannen reported that earlier today a meeting was held regarding Rincon Hill which proposed greatly widening sidewalks and eliminating traffic lanes. There was not inclusion of bikes in the plan

8. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: (7:10)

      · Ms Shahum reported that the Bay Bridge pathway may be in trouble because of the controversy on design and financing.

      · Ms Shahum requested the BAC support, like the SFBC, the first proposal

      · The SFBC opposes the plan to widen Martin Luther King Drive in Golden Gate Park. There is significant court action in opposition to the plan but additional friends of the court briefs would help

      · As to action on important bike projects the SFBC continues to work closely with members of the Board of Supervisors

9. New Business (7:19)

a. Shared Lane markings(Sharrows)

· Caltrans has approved design and color

· Document (attached) was passed out detailing the first 100 markings

· People generally like the Sharrows but more outreach and education is needed

· The State of California requires Sharrows every 250 feet

· By the end of April MUNI bus tailcards will advertise Sharrows and educate how to use them.

· By April it is expected that the first 1000 Sharrows will have been painted

· David Snyder, from the public, suggested that the BAC weigh in on DPTs design. For example the first making, he suggested, should be at the edge of the intersection not fifty feet past the intersection. Also that stencils could be across the street from one another to alert motorists of bike traffic. Mr Snyder also argued "If it's a bike route it needs to be Sharrowed."

· Chairman Thornley requested DPT educate as much as possible because it may not be obvious how to effectively use the Sharrows.

· It was pointed out that a possible adverse impact of Sharrows is that some people may assume that if there is no Sharrow then no bikes are allowed.

· The Department of Parking and Traffic representatives at the meeting agreed that the first Sharrow for each block can be moved closer to the intersection.

b. Broadway Tunnel Resolution

The BAC supports and endorses the DPT Bicycle Program's reform of SF Traffic Code governing bicycle and pedestrian use of Broadway Tunnel walkways, namely to dedicate the southern walkway to pedestrian traffic and dedicate the northern walkway to bicycle traffic.

Moved Ervin, Second Butler. Adopted 5 yes, 1 no. Letter to be sent to Supervisor Peskin and the Director of the Department of Public Works

c. Union Square Parking Garage Resolution

The BAC request prompt resolution of delaying issues to implementation of the bicycle parking facility at the Union Square garage. Moved Butler, Second Ervin. Unanimous. Letter to be sent to the Director of the Department of Public Works

d. San Jose Avenue Bike Lane Resolution

The BAC requests that, in order for the DPT Bike Program and others to proceed with a project of adding bicycle lanes to San Jose Avenue, Caltrans make an official declaration on the disposition of ramp right-of-ways adjoining San Jose Avenue. Moved Butler, Second Waggoner. Unanimous. Letter to be sent to the Caltrans District 4 Director and the Deputy Director.

e. State Bike Transportation Account (BTA) Funding Resolution

The BAC supports and endorses the DPT Bicycle Program's request to reallocate unused State Bike Transportation Account (BTA) funds to four bicycle route improvement projects, those being: bike lanes on Guerrero Street (29th Street to Randall Street), bike lanes on all of John Muir Drive, a contra-flow bike lane on all of Conservatory Drive East (Golden Gate Park), and a westbound bike lane on Fulton Street (Webster to Baker Streets). Moved Ervin, Second Buike. Unanimous.

f. SFBAC Report to the Supervisors - Postponed

g. Election of Officers - Postponed

The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 PM

    Materials distributed at this meeting:

        · Minutes of Previous Meeting

        · DPT Bicycle Program Report to the BAC 12/9/04

        · DPT matrix of bicycle related projects