August 22, 2013

BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Regular Meeting

Minutes

1. Roll Call – Determination of Quorum
Present: Kevin Dole - District 1, Richard Tilles - District 2, Marc Brandt - District 3, Morgan Fitzgibbons - District 5, Richard May - District 6, Bert Hill - District 7, Casey dos Santos-Allen - District 11

Absent: Edward Nicolson - District 4, Timothy Doherty - District 8

The meeting was called to order at 6:33 PM.

2. Announcements & Acknowledgments
There were no announcements.

3. Approve Minutes - July 25 BAC Meeting
Motion: Tilles
Second: Fitzgibbons

The minutes were approved without modification.

4. Public Comment:
● Patrick Traughber read a list of names of San Francisco cyclists who were killed in automobile accidents since 2006. In the case of each there was no protected bike lane. He called for 6 points of action to prevent further deaths.
1. Demand SFMTA invest in bicycle infrastructure
2. Push for protected bike lanes
3. Investigate solutions to problems intersections
4. Implement an “Idaho Stop” law
5. Reduce double parking in bike lanes and created more dedicated unloading zones. Federal Express and UPS have been cited over 20,000 times indicating that citation is not a deterrent.
6. Focus intensely on design of streets to find new solutions to old problems

● Mr. May asked for the dollar figure on the 20,000+ citations. Mr. Traughber replied that the average ticket is $70, putting the total cost in several million dollars.
● Zach Mars, Chair of the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, stated that pedestrian and bicycle safety are very important issues but PSAC has chosen not to seat non-voting members as the committee already 23 seated members. PSAC welcomes collaboration with BAC.
● Jared Cohen offered comments on Fell and Oak bike lanes. While the improvements are generally good, Fell remains dangerous due to the tow trucks and delivery trucksl parking in the bike lane. On Oak St the “No Turn on Red” sign is too high for cars to see and people park in the bike box. Along N-bound Folsom at 18th near the PG&E customer service building cars are often parked in the bike lane.

5. Chairman's Report (Information)
● There are continued openings in Districts 9 & 10. The chair has not heard from the Supervisors’ offices in either district as the Board is on recess until after labor day.

6. Committee Member Reports (Information)
● Dole: On 7/28 the SFBC held a “new riders ride” in Golden Gate park. The ride, designed to bridge the gap between learn how to ride classes and advanced traffic skills, was well attended.
● Fitzgibbons: Noted that there was no representative from the SFPD at the nights meeting.
● Brandt: Pictures of the intersection at 6th and Folsom where Amelie Le Moullac was killed were posted to the Committee Drop Box. Noted that this was the third cyclist death of the year with no SFPD representative to answer questions.

7. Governmental Reports
● MTA Bicycle Program Report – See MTA Bicycle Program Report to the BAC (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cbike/3170.html).
● BART Task Force – Dr. Shirley Johnson
○ The trial lifting of the rush hour bike ban is ongoing with no negative comments.
○ The new BART rail cars will have three bike racks with two bikes per rack. The cars will be rolled out in 2017. In the meantime all cyclists are asked to contact BART with feedback.
○ The Task Force has had no bylaws since its inception and is in the process of drafting some. The new by-laws allow two representatives per county. One of the San Francisco seats would be nominated by the BAC, the other by the SFBC. Representatives will serve two year terms.
● Report on PSAC Joint Initiatives – Tim Doherty
○ Mr. Doherty was absent.

8. Green Infrastructure on Holloway – The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Sewer system Improvement Program (SSIP) will be constructing an innovative green infrastructure project on Holloway Avenue between Harold Avenue and Ashton Avenue. The project will include technologies which may consist of permeable paving, rain gardens, and streetscape features to naturally capture stormwater runoff before it enters the sewer system. Green infrastructure uses the natural process of plants and soil to filter, clean, and infiltrate stormwater, reducing the burden on the sewer system. It also provides opportunities to improve streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, create public open spaces, and harvest rainwater for non-potable uses. The SFPUC is coordinating with other city agencies to build green infrastructure around the City.

● Saed Toloui, SFPUC SSIP Project Manager. There are multiple options under consideration with different configurations of parking, bulbouts, and permeable pavement.
● Mr. Dole asked if the amount of water diverted varied with design.
● Toloui: The chief variation is cost, with no difference in water diversion.
● Mr. Dos Santos-Allen asked if the Holloway infrastructure was part of the Green Connections route.
● Toloui: SSIP is fully funded whereas Green Connections is not yet. The Holloway project is along the proposed Green Connections route. SSIP is in contact with Green Connections.
● Chair Hill: BAC has made multiple traffic calming suggestions for Holloway. Is the project being coordinated with SFMTA to meet meet traffic calming goals?
● Toloui: SSIP has met with MTA but this was not on their radar.
● Chair Hill: Holloway is a direct connection to a BART station, SF State, and would be a good candidate for San Francisco’s first Bicycle Boulevard.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
● Madeleine Savit asked about parking in different options and asked if permeable pavement was possible for bike lanes.
● Toloui: Different options have been drafted in case there is a push back over parking loss. saed: heard before mta. Bulb outs take about one parking spot per block. Permeable pavement has been used for bike lanes in Portland.
● Anthony Ryan, SF State professor: Drivers use Holloway as a bypass for Ocean Avenue and drive at very high speeds. Suggest closing Holloway to vehicle traffic completely.
● Toloui: Those matters are for MTA
● Mr. Fitzgibbons commented that in The Wiggle the PUC and MTA working cooperating for a bike boulevard.

9. Polk Street Complete Street Project – SFMTA staff will provide an overview of the conceptual design for roadway changes on Polk Street between Union and McAllister and collect input. http://tinyurl.com/kr9kdym

● Luis Montoya, SFMTA Liveable Streets. The Polk corridor currently averages one bike or pedestrian auto collision a month, most are determined to be the fault of drivers. Collisions mostly occur in the southern part of polk in the southbound lane. Polk St project has been in the planning stages almost a year. A preferred conceptual design has been selected. Funding for the projet was set aside in the 2011 streets bond. Changes will be implemented when the road is repaved in 2015. A new street bond seal specifically made for bike lanes will be used.
● Mr. Brandt has experienced the new paint on the Embarcadero and says it is an improvement. He prefers an uphill cycle track as opposed to downhill. Asked how many blocks will see improved traffic signaling.
● Montoya: Cycle tracks are still being drafted due to figuring out the truck loading zone. Turk, Eddy, and Ellis will see signal improvements.
● Mr. Dole asked if MTA studied any other floating bike lane when planning the Polk lane.
● Montoya: Embarcadero has had a floating bike lane for 10 years. It is considered a success
● Mr. Tilles said that he bike Polk regularly and feels that the MTa plan misses an opportunity. That in 10 years we will regret don't have bike lanes all the way.
● Mr. Fitzgibbons expressed concern that MTA preferred alternative compromises safety for the sake of political expediency and about the transportation decision making process. MTA shows greater concern for community-democratic than making the best decision.
● Mr. May: Polk extends into D6, has heard vociferous objections to the plan from area merchants. Has the rhetoric calmed down with the compromise plan?
● Montoya: The debate has turned a corner with all parties agreeing on sidewalk improvements and street greening.
● Mr. dos Santos-Allen asked about speed limit for Polk and possible green waves.
● Montoya: The existing speed limit is 25 mph. Proposed changes haven’t gotten into that level of detail yet.
● Chair Hill commented that loading/unloading by delivery trucks and taxis is normally done in the parking lane.
● Montoya: Managing short term parking is key to managing this project. This can be done with different turnover zones marked by different color curbs.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
● Madeleine Savik expressed frustration with the prolonged debate about Polk St. and its viciousness.
● Henry Pan urged the Committee to endorse the safest possible alternative. The MTA preferred alternative “doesn’t cut it.”
● Winston Parsons lives in D2 and agrees that the process and its results are frustrating. Cycling infrastructure should be inviting in addition to being safe. Sharrows are insufficient.
● Shirley Johnson asked if raised bikes lane might extend through the intersection to appear as speed bumps to drivers.
● Montoya: Driver’s are less likely to merge lanes on speed bumps, increasing the likelihood of right hooks.
● Patty Esposito: The SFTMA compromise might make more people happy but “sufficient” is an inappropriate word for safety.
● Reed Martin expressed concern about transit paths in the new Polk St.
● David Corrillo expressed gratitude for meeting - not every city would have a forum like this. He has been hit on Polk St twice and reminds Committee that safety is the most important thing.

10. 2012-2013 Civil Grand Jury Report, “Are the Wheels Moving Forward? A Follow-Up to the 2009-2010 Civil Grand Jury Report: Sharing the Roadway – From Confrontation to Conversation” – The BAC is tasked with participation in reporting on progress in meeting the Findings and Recommendations from the 2009-10 Civil Grand Jury, by addressing the Recommendations of the 2012-13 Civil Grand Jury. The BAC requests a hearing with representatives from the MTA and SFPD on the development and implementation of an Enforcement Safety Campaign congruent with the still unfulfilled recommendations approved by the Office of the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and Superior Court in 2011.
● Action: Approval of Letter of Response to Superior Court and Board of Supervisors
● Sponsor: Bert Hill, District 7

Chair Hill: The 2009 - 2010 report focused on law enforcement and the 2012-2013 report was followup. The process is stalled by the Superioir Court which is holding up the citation diversion program. Political action at the state level may be more effective.

11. Procedural Revision in Quorum – The Committee has a recurring problem in reaching Quorum due to vacant appointments by members of the Board of Supervisors. Currently a Quorum is constituted by six members of the Committee in attendance. A motion will be introduced to require a majority of APPOINTED seats for quorum.
● Action: Motion for Change of Quorum Requirement
● Sponsor: Bert Hill, District 7

Action on this item is moved to next month.

12. Continuing Status Review on Spot Project Requests – The lifting of the Bike Plan injunction has already resulted in a large expansion of bicycle treatments throughout the City. While overall they are working as expected, we have been notified of some necessary spot projects that would clarify and improve use of the routes at little cost.

The meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM.

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.

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