Comments on: Eyes On The Street: Potrero Median Fence Is Partially Built http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4739 John Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:24:15 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4739 From the responses here, I think understand where the anger is coming from, but I think I understand the fence too. There is the poor urban planning for sure and the two parks were not built at the same time. Rolph Park has been there for as long as I can remember and Potrero Del Sol formerly known as La Raza Park was built in the early 80s. It wasn't a skate park and had no playground that I can remember and it rather quickly devolved into a filthy camp for the homeless and drug addicts and peddlers. So back then, making cross walks and such wasn't on anyone's mind. Now though, you've got kids on skateboards, many freshly baked on weed -neither of those factors being a good combination with an existing freeway exit and onramp. @Pat $300,000 is not nearly enough to do all things that you suggest. Plannings, hearings, materials, labor, environmental. It all adds up rather quickly. And it takes what is most vital in this situation- time. Planning and building the perfect solution takes a lot time and money. Maybe I'm naive but I think the fence there now, in the meantime, will prevent kids from getting killed. As a parent myself, that's what important to me. What really frightens me is seeing many immigrant families crossing the street with their baby strollers and small children. So yeah, the fence is ugly and won't stop everyone but I think it is the best solution for now. From the responses here, I think understand where the anger is coming from, but I think I understand the fence too. There is the poor urban planning for sure and the two parks were not built at the same time. Rolph Park has been there for as long as I can remember and Potrero Del Sol formerly known as La Raza Park was built in the early 80s. It wasn’t a skate park and had no playground that I can remember and it rather quickly devolved into a filthy camp for the homeless and drug addicts and peddlers. So back then, making cross walks and such wasn’t on anyone’s mind. Now though, you’ve got kids on skateboards, many freshly baked on weed -neither of those factors being a good combination with an existing freeway exit and onramp. @Pat $300,000 is not nearly enough to do all things that you suggest. Plannings, hearings, materials, labor, environmental. It all adds up rather quickly. And it takes what is most vital in this situation- time. Planning and building the perfect solution takes a lot time and money. Maybe I’m naive but I think the fence there now, in the meantime, will prevent kids from getting killed. As a parent myself, that’s what important to me. What really frightens me is seeing many immigrant families crossing the street with their baby strollers and small children. So yeah, the fence is ugly and won’t stop everyone but I think it is the best solution for now.

]]> By: Pat http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4730 Pat Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:41:23 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4730 $300,000? I bet I could set up a better crossing then they are planning with a couple dudes at around midnight costing probably $100. Widen the curbs just before the crossing to slow traffic, raise the crossing area by around 5 inches and put blinking lights on the ground... Done! $300,000? I bet I could set up a better crossing then they are planning with a couple dudes at around midnight costing probably $100. Widen the curbs just before the crossing to slow traffic, raise the crossing area by around 5 inches and put blinking lights on the ground… Done!

]]> By: Gillian Gillett http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4727 Gillian Gillett Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:25:42 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4727 But a crosswalk where? I take my kids to Rolph Playground and alternate between watching the jaywalkers and watching my kids. People jaywalk to avoid the Chavez/Potrero (non) crosswalk as they are trying to reach Bayshore and points east, to get from park to park, and to avoid the (non) southern crosswalk at 25th & Potrero where drivers are looking north at oncoming traffic (not at crossing pedestrians). I think Jeffrey is right in calling out that this is less than optimal urban planning. To design two youth-oriented recreational open spaces across freeway ramps from one another and only then "treating" the pedestrian environment is a wake-up call. But a crosswalk where? I take my kids to Rolph Playground and alternate between watching the jaywalkers and watching my kids. People jaywalk to avoid the Chavez/Potrero (non) crosswalk as they are trying to reach Bayshore and points east, to get from park to park, and to avoid the (non) southern crosswalk at 25th & Potrero where drivers are looking north at oncoming traffic (not at crossing pedestrians).

I think Jeffrey is right in calling out that this is less than optimal urban planning. To design two youth-oriented recreational open spaces across freeway ramps from one another and only then “treating” the pedestrian environment is a wake-up call.

]]> By: Jeffrey W. Baker http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4726 Jeffrey W. Baker Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:33:05 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4726 The problem, John Nuno, is it's a ridiculous instance of urban design. They build two parks across the street from each other, but you can't walk between them because of the freeway ramp that runs down the middle. When faced with the induced demand for pedestrian crossing, they should accommodate it with a crosswalk, not block it with a fence. The problem, John Nuno, is it’s a ridiculous instance of urban design. They build two parks across the street from each other, but you can’t walk between them because of the freeway ramp that runs down the middle. When faced with the induced demand for pedestrian crossing, they should accommodate it with a crosswalk, not block it with a fence.

]]> By: SimonSays http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4725 SimonSays Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:16:22 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4725 @John Nuno don't you know that pedestrians (and cyclists) do nothing in this city? Cars are to blame for everything, mmmkay? @John Nuno don’t you know that pedestrians (and cyclists) do nothing in this city? Cars are to blame for everything, mmmkay?

]]> By: John Nuno http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4723 John Nuno Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:32:06 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4723 Wait. So what's wrong this fence? I'm confused. I think this will stop 95% of the young kids and teenagers here from crossing into speeding traffic. I take my son here a lot and I've seen a few close ones already. Wait. So what’s wrong this fence? I’m confused. I think this will stop 95% of the young kids and teenagers here from crossing into speeding traffic. I take my son here a lot and I’ve seen a few close ones already.

]]> By: Fran Taylor http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4719 Fran Taylor Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:23:32 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4719 The nasty Cesar Chavez crossing came up at the March 25 meeting. Neighbors asked what discussion had taken place with the mayor's office about this dangerous crossing. We were greeted with a blank look and told that no such discussion at all had taken place. This lack of concern for genuine pedestrian safety and access shows that what the mayor really cares about is not inconveniencing drivers getting on and off the freeway with pesky jaywalkers crossing at a natural spot. The nasty Cesar Chavez crossing came up at the March 25 meeting. Neighbors asked what discussion had taken place with the mayor’s office about this dangerous crossing. We were greeted with a blank look and told that no such discussion at all had taken place. This lack of concern for genuine pedestrian safety and access shows that what the mayor really cares about is not inconveniencing drivers getting on and off the freeway with pesky jaywalkers crossing at a natural spot.

]]> By: Josh http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4718 Josh Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:12:33 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4718 And let's not pretend the existing crosswalk at Potrero and C Chav is even remotely safe: http://tinyurl.com/c2ayj9 The East leg of the three-leg crossing is a barely marked crosswalk across a blind corner of the off-ramp, where cars are still going 50 MPH or so. How is it even remotely acceptable to have children cross there? And let’s not pretend the existing crosswalk at Potrero and C Chav is even remotely safe:

http://tinyurl.com/c2ayj9

The East leg of the three-leg crossing is a barely marked crosswalk across a blind corner of the off-ramp, where cars are still going 50 MPH or so. How is it even remotely acceptable to have children cross there?

]]> By: mikesonn http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/14/eyes-on-the-street-potrero-median-fence-is-partially-built/comment-page-1/#comment-4717 mikesonn Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:04:12 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1933#comment-4717 Why not some traffic calming measures? Speed bumps, flashing light, a mid-block crosswalk? Why not some traffic calming measures? Speed bumps, flashing light, a mid-block crosswalk?

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