February 28, 2013

BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Regular Meeting

Minutes

Roll Call – Quorum
Ed Nicolson D4, Richard Tilles D2, Marc Brandt D3, Morgan Fitzgibbons D5, Casey Allen D11, Chair Bert Hill D7

Announcements & Acknowledgments
Morgan Fitzgibbons D5 was greeted as the newest member of the BAC

Public Comment
Mark Elliot, San Francisco resident presented a proposal for cycling improvements when the Warriors sports team moves to Piers 30-32. Envisioning of bike parking for 1,000 cyclists, with valet parking for 650, on street 350, and bicycle maintenance, as well as encouragement for employees.

John Alex Lowell, San Francisco resident and PSAC (Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee) member noted several unsafe detours around construction projects in the City.

Casey Allen D11, recommended dialing 311 to report. Andy Thornley, San Francisco resident also noted that the is is an enforcement issue via the SFPD Safe Path of Travel Unit

Chairman's Report & Committee Member Business
Bert Hill noted open seats in D1 Mar, D9 Campos, D10 Cohen
Mayor’s Bike Working Group meeting canceled
Caltrans D4 BAC Caltrans Bicycle Advisory Committee last meeting discussed asphalt surfacing on secondary roads popular with cyclists, cyclist preference is for a surface better than chip seal
A new Muni Safe Practices video is nearing completion to train Muni drivers on best practices for Muni operators around cyclists.
Citation-Diversion Program update (Grand jury report driven) no obstacles other than resolving Superior Court system processes, adherence to law, sworn officers required. To set up a system that would be economical for the City and Cyclists would require change in current law. SF Bike Coalition is working on that aspect of legislative change. California Bike Coalition is aware of this as well. David Chiu has sat in all meetings and is fully supportive of this.

2013 Meeting Schedule. Reminder of schedule, see website for upcoming dates.

Committee Member Reports
Casey Allen D11, noted that he has been reappointed to the BAC.
Marc Brandt D3, commented on a walking tour of Polk Street merchants to reach out to hear their concerns about car parking from the perspective of the planned re-pavement of Polk Street and implementation of improved pedestrian and cycling facilities. He also described a visit to a Ghost Bike at Third and King commemorating the site of Diana Sullivan's recent death while cycling.
Ed Nicolson D4, noted a slump on Lincoln Blvd and areas of the Great Highway that are in need of repair.
Morgan Fitzgibbons D5, invited members and the public to attend a Wigg Party event commemorating forty years of San Francisco as a Transit First City.
Andy Thornley San Francisco Resident, noted Bike Coalition district rides referred Tube Times schedule. Commented on the location of Diana Sullivan's death, that we need to get the police report, and that it occurred on a designated bike route.

BART Task Force – Dr. Shirley Johnson, Resolution for the Accommodation of Bicycles Onboard BART at All Times.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LVgKebhEnDTRmxYDbAkaoe_Mr0WVQ8-akdKJ...
Bart will conduct March 18-22 a pilot elimination of the bike blackout times. If all goes well the Board Bart will vote to eliminate the black out times. During pilot bikes not allowed in first 3 cars. Overall response of the public has been favorable.
Ms. Johnson asked for an endorsement of their resolution that will be presented to the Bart Board.
Resolution Passed: Unanimous

Green Connections Project – Green Connections will increase access to parks, open space and the waterfront, by re-envisioning City streets and paths as ‘green connectors’. This project builds on current efforts to create sustainable corridors that enhance mobility, green neighborhood streets, and improve pedestrian and bicycle access to community amenities and recreational opportunities.
Action: Presentation and status update by Lily Langlois, Lead Planner, SF Planning Dept.
Sponsor: Bert Hill
Ms. Langois: This is a two year project, now in its second year, the project goal now is to bring green connections to six neighborhoods. Funding is from the Strategic Growth Council http://sgc.ca.gov/
Overall it is a public health project integrating outreach to City departments, committees, and groups around the city.
Goals: Encourage active transportation, urban ecology, stewardship and place making.
Deliverables: Draft network, design tool kit, street scape design, implementation over next 20 years.
Next Steps: Feedback from public and implementation.
Bert Hill noted the excellence of the designs and the presentation. The presentation was very well received by the Committee and Public in attendance. The San Francisco Planning Department Green Connections Project web page is: http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=3002
http://handbook.neighborland.com/greenconnections/
https://www.facebook.com/greenconnections.sf?fref=ts
Andy Thornley San Francisco Resident, commented that benefits of the Green Connections project leads to not only cyclists and pedestrians being able to move about in calm and safety but also “critters' thus benefiting the urban ecology.

MTA Bicycle Program Report to the BAC (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cbike/3170.html)
SFMTA, Ms. Cristina Olea described plans to re-stripe after re-pavement of the Marina Green path. The Committee inquired about the striping. Currently there is no designation of where cyclists and pedestrians should be. The proposal is for pedestrians to walk near the roadway as that is nearest the street crossings via curb ramps.
Mr. Tilles D2 commented that the Marina Green plans are inverted compared to the Crissy Field cyclist/pedestrian designation. Ms. Olea responded that the curb ramps, sixteen crosswalks, are considered an overriding factor and that there will be a mixing zone between Marina Green and Crissy Field to manage the transition.
After Committee and Public questions, comments, and discussion. Chair Hill approved committee members Tilles D2 and Brandt D3 plans to visit the area and report back to Chair Hill and MTA.
Antonio Piccaglia SFMTA:
McCopin Street is in progress.
Sharrows are being implemented.
Bike Racks are being installed at a fast pace.
San Bruno Avenue Sharrows: Casey Allen D11, asked about a schedule of implementation with respect to San Bruno Avenue Sharrows. Mr. Piccaglia noted that bike improvements are now slated to move to Bayshore away from San Bruno ave. Chair Hill commented on the value of sharrows where cyclists ride. Additionally Chair Hill noted Sharrows on Broadway on one side of the Broadway Tunnel from Columbus to the tunnel. There will be sharrows on both sides of the Tunnel after improvements.
Oak and Fell bike lane improvements: Morgan Fitzgibbons D5, asked about the status on the Oak and Fell bike lane improvements. Mr. Piccaglia MTA, advised that there were funding issues and there is an appeal the Board of Supervisors, refinements of the Oak street design. Mr. Fitzgibbons stated that his District is ready and waiting for the cycling improvements which was duly noted by Mr. Piccaglia of MTA. Mr. Fitzgibbons made note of the upcoming March 19th 40th anniversary of San Francisco's charter declaration of San Francisco as a Transit First City and the visible lack of improvements considering the years in the context of our Transit First policies.
Casey Allen D11, inquired about Route 25. Bayshore and San Bruno are part of Route 25. Mr. Piccaglia advised that designs are going forward to add bike lanes to Bayshore.
Polk Street: Antonio Piccaglia SFMTA was asked by Richard Tilles D2 about Polk Street who noted that he worked on the project and would like to see it completed. Marc Brandt D3, commented that he sat in a local polk Street coffee shop recently and noticed car traffic that appeared to be through traffic filtering using Polk as an alternate route to Van Ness 101.
Van Ness BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) as currently envisioned would eliminate left turns on Van Ness and that would force Northbound cars to make three right turns to effect the left and thus cars would use Polk Street more. Also the planned CPMC (California Pacific Medical Center) will impact the area and place demands for levels of service.
Embarcadero: Plans are in process but funding has not been identified for more permanent improvements.
Market and 17th. Casey Allen D11 noted the 17th Street striping improvements near the F line. Mr. Allen D11, complimented the improvements and asked for signage to work in concert with the striping so that cyclists and motorists have the best experience.
Chair Hill asked about Street Marking Experiments on 17th within the bike lanes to migrate cyclists away from the door zone. There the experimental markings there were not as effective, a few inches on average 3-6 inches, compared to the 6 inches experienced with extended parking T's (Dustin White) tried on Polk Street.
Madeleine Savit, San Francisco Resident inquired about Polk Street and the next public meeting which will be on March 18th. Mr. Piccaglia commented about outreach. Marc Brandt D3 noted that merchants started a Save Polk Street group to advocate for no changes in parking. He further noted that there is a customer traffic transition phase for business when car parking is removed. Mr. Piccaglia commented on parking spaces and where parking losses can be offset with redesigns.
Long-term Bicycle Parking. Hoff Street off street bicycle parking in a garage. Shirley Johnson, San Francisco Resident asked who is in charge as the lockers that have no keys and the lockers are empty, BART says they do not control them. Mr. Piccaglia noted that that is a City garage and SFMTA Livable Streets is in the process of working with the off-street parking group to take bike parking and make it part of their mandate.
Bike Outreach. Mr. Piccaglia displayed a planned revised bike map, with a version to carry and a version for detailed viewing via a computer.

Chair Bert Hill, D7 described the dangers of bicyclists passing on the right side of MUNI buses in the curb lane and how they put themselves in danger of collisions, as well as slowing headway. Signage on the right rear corner of buses and trolleys could discourage bicyclists from attempting pass unsafely. A considered Resolution was deferred to a later meeting.

Meeting Adjourned

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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