2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(BAC)
Regular Meeting
Minutes (approved 5/19/04)
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street), Room 408
The meeting was called to order at 6:20 PM
1. Roll Call/Attendance:
Present - Andrew Thornley(District 1), Dianna Waggoner(District 3), Janice
Buike Voorsluys(District 4), Bridget May(District 5), Dale Butler(District
6), Will Henning(District 7), Jerry Ervin(District 8), Casey Allen(District
11)
Excused - Rufus Davis, Jr.(District 10)
· Approval of minutes of February 18, 2004 as amended (6:25)
3. Public Comment: (6:27)
4. Chairman's Report:
· Met with Supervisor Jake McGoldrick on the 20th to and
inform the Supervisor and discuss the Bike Plan. "We need to communicate
with our Supervisors."
· The meeting with Paul Maltzer at the Planning Department was very
informative. The intent of this meeting was to discuss bike planning and environmental
review. It was informative that an EIR can actually slow down environmental
improvements much broader than clean air or water. It was informative that
environmental review takes into account factors broader than simply clean
air or water, such as blocked views and traffic congestion as an "unpleasant
experience" which degrades the general environment.
· The web site is mostly up and running and will continue to receive
improvements.
· The web site is mostly up and running but not completely finished.
5. Member Reports:
· Dianna Waggoner(District 3) Announced that meeting will be held regarding the Jefferson Street redesign which would be discussed later in the agenda. Diana requested she be excused as she is participating in the annual Go Greenbelt bicycle tour.
· Will Henning(District 7) suggested the public and Committee members check the Department of Parking and Traffic web site to monitor bike related projects. Two projects of interest to District 7 are at Portola and 17th and Laguna Honda.
· Bridget May(District 5) informed the Committee that Bay Bridge Access had a meeting and she will report at a subsequent meeting. There is a feasibility study of bicycles on the bridge costing $2,000,000 that is three volumes in length.
· Janice Buike Voorsluys(District 4) announced she met with District 4 Supervisor Fiona Ma and discussed the work of the Committee. She also announced she attended a Walk San Francisco meeting.
· Dale Butler(District 6) requested he be excused for the April meeting as he is participating in the annual Go Greenbelt bicycle tour. He also announced the 16th Annual "Ride The Redwoods", a fund raising event for a woman's health center in Mukuluku, Nicaragua, would occur the weekend of September 17th.
6. Department of Parking and Traffic Report (6:35)
· The extension of the Howard Street bike lane between 5th and 11th is moving forward.
· Commissioner Casey Allen asked if DPT sidewalk racks could be placed in front of residential hotels. The response was that they are usually before commercial property
· Commissioner Dianna Waggoner asked about the turn around time on the bike racks. The response was a few weeks and that delay will probably be shortened when DPT begins in-house installation as opposed to contracting for the service.
7. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Report (6:47)
· Josh Hart from the SFBC reported that there is no Committee member
from either District 2 or district 9. SFBC is making recommendations to the
respective member of the Board of Supervisors.
· Thursday, May 20th is Bike To Work Day. Committee members
are requested to communicate with their Supervisors to encourage participation.
· Leah Shahum met with Supervisor Matt Gonzalez and MTA Director Michael
Burns to discuss bike access on LRVs Ms. Shahum was unable to secure commitment.
A resolution was passed out for the Committee to consider later in the meeting.
· The new Octavia on-ramp to the Central Freeway will provide a hazard
to cyclists as cars will block the bike lane when they turn onto the ramp.
The Bike Coalition met with DPT to solve the problem with bike/auto traffic
flow.
· The MTC had a lengthy meeting during which a number of participants
attempted to change the manner in which funds are allocated. There will be
another session in April during which bike/pedestrian funds may be reallocated
to the needs of the automobile.
· The concourse garage does not meet the Proposition J standards and
therefore the injunction. The question of a continued block on the construction
may be decided before the full court.
· There has been an increase in the number of bike thefts. Seventh and
Market has become a open air bike parts market.
· A number of safety considerations are being installed including Stanyan
and Page signal, MLK and Great Highway signal, and Potrero Hill stripping.
8. Old Business (7:07)
a. Special BAC Meeting with Paul Maltzer concerning Environmental Impact
Reports. We need to have a public forum to build a body of public comment
to mitigate impacts. Comments regarding the meeting from participants included:
· As cyclists we tend to act in a vacuum. We look at bike lanes as
the solution to many problems. But we see that cars trump a forward thinking
approach. Also, the reality of having our dreams realized, i.e. that courts
will approve anything other than what has been done before is something
we must consider.(Dianna Waggoner)
· This plan is moving very quickly down the tract. We must be selective
at what we champion because so many people are involved. (Jerry Ervin)
· It was good to know that removing street parking does not require
an Environmental Impact Report. (Casey Allen)
· The Department of Parking and Traffic watches how neighbors and
the immediate community respond to the talk of a change in traffic patterns
or use. (Andrew Thornley)
b. LRV Resolution: At 8:20 Chairman Thornley read a resolution in support
of bicycles being able to ride on LRVs at certain times and routes. The a
motion was made by Casey Allen and seconded by Janice Buike Voorsluys. The
vote was unanimous to adopt the resolution.
c. Broadway Tunnel: Phase one will be signage for the east-bound traffic
which will be a flashing light activated by the cyclist. The light will be
an "extinguishable" message sign. Pedestrians will be able to use
the south sidewalk and bicycles will use the north sidewalk when traveling
west and the roadway when traveling east. Comments included Dianna Waggoner
stating she regularly uses the sidewalk and she practices good manners with
pedestrians and is strongly opposed to any signals. Bridget May gained reassurance
that cyclists would be allowed on the sidewalk heading west. Casey Allen made
a motion to support the DPT signage which was seconded by Dale Butler. The
vote was seven yes and one (Waggoner) no.
9. New Business
a. Bike Plan Update: A brief update was presented on the present status of
the Plan. Committee members were requested to attend community meetings and
advise their respective Supervisors.
b. Pier 27-31 Project: Bill Callaway and Jerred Eigeaman reported on the
development planned for Pier 27-31. This project, in the works since 1999,
will provide a passenger drop off and access to automobile parking across
Bicycle Route 5. There will be lots of open space and the developers have
stated that they will put in bike racks in places to maximize surveillance.
It was suggested the bikes could be parked in the garage where there is staff
on duty. Comments from the Committee included: Bike racks should be well signed
and visible. Easy to find and some should be protected from the rain. (Allen)
Route 5 is very heavily used on weekends and this project makes riding more
dangerous. (Waggoner). Public Comment included: Because of the size of the
project ($200,000,000) there should be attendant parking at a bike station.
Cars crossing the Bay Trail will cause a serious problem. (Josh Hart) There
is no need to have automobile parking at this location as there are spaces
in the immediate area that are underutilized on weekends and evenings. When
the project is completed cyclists will likely lose the use of the sidewalk
forcing more traffic into the street directly in conflict with cars turning
into the parking lot.(Dave Snyder) No action was taken members Dianna Waggoner
and Jerry Ervin agreed to monitor the project.
c. BART Bike Signage project: Carter Mao, Customer Servicing Manager reported
via a power point presentation the status of bicycle signage at BART stations.
The money has been allocated and the budget approved to begin at Embarcadero,
Civic Center, Walnut Creek, 16th and 24th Street stations.
Committee members had questions about the use of a stair channel.
d. Central Subway Project: John Thomas, MUNI Project Manager, presented the
latest thinking regarding the light rail project on Third Street and across
Market. Engineering studies, the conceptual engineering phase, began in June,
2003. Money appears limited for actual construction at this time.
e. Fisherman's Wharf Project / Jefferson Street: Josh Hart reported that
there should be some resolution to a change in Jefferson Street's traffic
pattern in June. He suggested looking at
www.sfport.com Planning
Development. It was moved by Committee person Casey Allen and seconded by
Will Henning that the Bicycle Advisory Committee support the plan of the San
Francisco Bicycle Committee to have one directional auto traffic and bi-directional
bicycle travel on Jefferson. The motion was adopted with two abstentions (Waggoner,
Ervin).
f. Octavia Freeway Onramp: This will be the most heavily used on-ramp for
the redesigned central freeway. Although it appears we are in need of legislation
to prohibit traffic turning onto the freeway on-ramp across the bike lane
more information is needed before a vote can be taken.
g. TDA Fund Application: It was moved (Ervin) seconded (Butler) to authorize
DPT to apply for $368,000 for bike lanes, bike parking, and bike racks. The
vote was unanimous to authorize.
10. The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 PM
