a. Bike Theft and Security - Josh Hart, SF Bike Coalition: SFBC is working with the SFPD on a Bike Theft Task Force, as well as larger bike security concerns including secure parking. BAC has representation to the Task Force via Bert Hill (Dist 7), as well as Dianna Waggonner, former Dist. 3 BAC rep. [more news on this at the March meeting?]
Public Comment:
Kash: The parking racks at BART's Civic Center stop are attractive nuisances and should be removed - they draw thieves and engender situations prone to theft.
Note: at the consent of the BAC, the remaining New Business items were heard in different sequence than originally agendized:
i. Broadway Tunnel Extinguishable Sign - Mike Sallaberry, DPT Bike Program: Both a push button and a loop sensor actuating mechanism will be installed near the western mouth of the eastbound (south) Broadway tunnel this summer or fall; bicyclists will trigger the sign's "On" state with these mechanisms; the practicality and performance of the two triggering systems will be observed and evaluated.
Public Comment:
Keith Saggers: How does the actuation mechanism work? Mike Sallaberry: By push button located in advance of the actual tunnel, as well as a loop sensor in the pavement.
Josh Hart: The Bike Plan Top 20 Network Improvement projects include better Broadway tunnel access; recommends that the BAC oblige / attach sidewalk bike-access legalization and widening measures to any approval of DPT's sign system plans. Andy Thornley (Dist. 1): The BAC has previously expressed its endorsement of DPT's recommendation to legalize biking on the north tunnel's sidewalk, but that was less than the full-access suggested by Mr. Hart
Motion on resolution of BAC support for DPT sign system plan (Allen, Thornley), passed unanimously.
Motion to amend resolution to include "Utilize standard 'Bikes Allowed Full Use of Lane' signage at tunnel entrances in each direction" (Allen, Thornley), passed unanimously.
The BAC supports and endorses plans presented on February 17 by DPT for extinguishable signage in the Broadway Tunnel, providing a level of visibility, safety, and security for cyclists. The BAC further requests the the implementation utilize standard 'Bikes Allowed Full Use of Lane' signage at tunnel entrances in each direction.
j. Shared Lane Marking (`Sharrows') - Mike Sallaberry, DPT Bike Program: Comments received from the BAC and other public input have been incorporated into the Sharrow placement standards developed by the DPT Bike Program. Copies of the updated pavement stencil and example striping diagrams were distributed.
Rufus Davis, Jr. (Dist. 10): Could the sharrow and supporting concept be promoted through DMV driver informational material? Mike Sallaberry, DPT: An education campaign is in the Sharrow project budget, including MUNI tail cards (item 9g to follow).
Casey Allen (Dist. 11): Happy to see sharrow placement standard call for placement "immediately" after intersection
Bert Hill (Dist 7): Glad to see location variability, adjust standard to suit circumstances. Be sure to avoid manholes and other obstacles
Josh Hart (SFBC): Why place markings 11 feet from curb in lanes with parked cars. On streets with substandard-width lane, recommend placing sharrow in center of lane, regardless of curb location.
l. Eastbound Fourteenth Street Bike Lane (Market to Dolores Streets) - Thornley: A community meeting about the 14th St. bike plane project will take place on 2/23 at 6:PM
Motion on resolution of support, 14th Street Bike Lane project (Thornley, Hernández), passed unanimously.
The BAC supports and endorses the DPT recommendation to change the partial-block of Fourteenth Street between Market and Delores Streets to a one-way street, allowing the addition of a bike lane, increasing safety and security for cyclists.
e. HES (Hazard Elimination Safety) Federal Grants - Oliver Gajda, DPT Bike Program: Federal funds are available for projects that address hazardous street conditions, capped at $360,000l such grants might be appropriate for Stanyan/Page remedies and similar small safety-oriented projects. DPT is reluctant, however, to pursue these opportunities because of the extra work/time/resources involved in the application process - DPT has limited grant-writing resources, feels it's better to seek funds from other sources - but wants the BAC to be aware of these HES grants as options for some projects.
Andy Thornley (Dist. 1): BAC should consider asking Supervisors to get DPT Bike Program a grant writer full time.
f. TFCA (Transportation Fund for Clean Air) GRANTS - Oliver Gajda, DPT Bike Program: Funding opportunities for various projects - BAC to give input and guidance.
k. MUNI Tail Cards for Sharrow Campaign - Oliver Gajda, DPT Bike Program: MUNI tailcard campaign coming in spring; two designs prepared and presented to the BAC.
Casey Allen (Dist. 11): The "car" version of the card is not as obvious, doesn't communicate as much of the concept.
Francisco Hernández (Dist. 9): Both signs should communicate the "shared space" idea
Josh Hart (SFBC): Maybe more text is necessary to explain the idea
b. Bicycle Planning for Environmental Standards - Thornley (Dist 1): The BAC has heard repeatedly that environmental review considerations (CEQA etc.) impede and often stop bike improvement (and pedestrian and transit) projects and make planning and budgeting Bike Network improvements very difficult. A single-topic special meeting of the BAC is proposed for early April to review LOS and bike planning and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
Motion to set BAC special meeting date in early April 2005 (Allen, Davis), passed unanimously.
The BAC shall schedule and hold a special meeting at the end of March or early April of this year, to review bicycle planning and environmental review and develop recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
c. Colored Bike Lanes - Josh Hart, SFBC: A specific case is at hand to utilize a long-recommended design concept, and apply colored-pavement bike lane markings on Market Street at Octavia, across the mouth of the new Central Freeway onramp. Sup. McGoldrick specifically asked for this measure and all other safety-enhancement treatments when the no-right-hand turn was legislated by the Board of Supervisors.
Oliver Gajda, DPT: There are many open questions to colored pavement application and standards - what color? What process? Plain surface paint application isn't enough, a deeper post-pavement trenching and filling is usual. CTCDC (California Traffic Control Devices Committee) needs to frame the issues raised by Board of Supervisors.
Casey Allen and Andy Thornley will research and consult with DPT and SFBC and come back to the BAC at its March meeting with information.
d. BART/MUNI Ventilation Grate Replacement - Josh Hart, SFBC: Ventilation gratings in Market Street (are dangerous to bikes and have been known to be dangerous by DPT, DPW, and BART, each of which agencies has an interest in these grates. The BAC should insist that these grates be replaced with safer alternatives.
Oliver Gajda, DPT: As with colored-pavement bike lanes, there are many layers to the Market Street gratings. Since BART and MUNI both have an interest in the ventilation, they're in the conversation as much as DPT & DPW, and coordinating responsibility will be difficult.
Francisco Hernández and Casey Allen and Andy Thornley will research and come back to the BAC at its March meeting with information.
g. Bicycles on Third Street Rail - Thornley (Dist 1): MUNI will be starting test service on the new Third Street light rail soon, and given that the Third Street corridor plan failed to adequately accommodate bikes, and given that the BAC has already taken a position of support for a trial program to allow bikes on MUNI Metro LRVs, we should urge MUNI to allow bikes on Third Street LRVs during the test period.
Motion on resolution of support for bike access to Third Street LRVs (Davis, Thornley), passed unanimously.
The BAC urges MUNI to include bicycles during the test period for LRV service on 3rd Street, with plans for allowing bicycles with the commencement of service.
Motion to amend resolution to include "at all times" for bike access (Allen, Thornley) failed.
h. Folding Bicycles on MUNI - Thornley (Dist 1): Riders have been turned away from MUNI access while carrying a folding bike; MUNI policy doesn't allow bikes of any kind on MUNI.
Francisco Hernández (Dist. 9): Is this a case of driver discretion? Josh Hart, SFBC: No, MUNI policy actively speaks against folding bike access. Oliver Gajda, DPT: MUNI website was recently updated and where it had been vague in declaring "no bikes" on MUNI, it currently spells out "no folding bikes", so for better or worse, it's the published policy, which the DPT Bike Program feels goes against the Transit First policies of SF.
Motion on resolution of support for folding bike access to all MUNI services (Thornley, Allen), passed unanimously.
Whereas folding bicycles are accepted on transit vehicles, in conformance with transit system policies throughout the Bay Area and Nationally
Whereas folding bicycles provide a flexible means of intermodal transport that does not contribute to vehicle emissions or traffic congestion
Whereas folding bicycles provide a viable alternative to bicycles on transit during commuter hours
Whereas folding bicycles are highly portable, comparable to baby strollers and luggage, which are permitted on transit.
The BAC recommends that MUNI revise the policy to permit folding bicycles at all times, and change the statement on the SF Muni website (http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/rider/bikes.htm) to state that folding bikes are allowed inside transit vehicles..
m. Network Improvement Document - Thornley: Continuing the BAC's review of the Bike Plan Network Improvement and Prop K 5-year funding plan, begun at the 2/7/05 special meeting, and going throughout the month of February. Most immediate need is to satisfy Prop K. planning requirements; there's a mid-March deadline to finalize the plan for the SFCTA. DPT has refined and further consolidated the planning proposals as spreadsheets and maps and brought new editions of the material to this meeting.
Oliver Gajda, DPT Bike Program: Distributed Work Program for DPT (current); memo on Bike Network, Five-year plan as tables, three different sorts: alphabetical by street, by bike route number, by fiscal year of start of projects. Prop K planning asks for performance measures, which are associated with a specific fiscal year (fiscal year is July - July).
The TA is asking the DPT to plan on 905 of annual allocation, less than one million dollars per year, but many projects listed will qualify for matching funds of some sort, so the annual total on the planning grids totals to more than one million dollars.
Many of the projects are "TBD" for scheduling because of corridor study efforts, such as Market Street, which will combine several agency's efforts, and will be more sophisticated and ambitious projects. Depending on when and how other agencies' (e.g. MUNI and SFCTA) plans and budgets play out the timing of bike improvements will be sooner or later.
Information is overwhelming -- "Be parochial" -- consider the projects for your district first to get a handle. All materials presented at the meeting will be made public via the DPT website for further review and comments throughout February.
