Just over the transom, Mayor Gavin Newsom last month sent letters to the Planning Commission, MTA Chief Nat Ford, and the MTA Board of Directors showing strong support for the bike plan, which he urges them to move forward post-haste [respectively, PDF, PDF, PDF].
In all three letters he reiterates the role of bicycles in the transit system, saying:
Adoption and implementation of the Bicycle Plan and its near-term bicycle route network improvement projects is essential for the City to realize its many commitments to sustainability and equity in transportation, public safety, and public health. With automobile traffic accounting for approximately half of the city's greenhouse gas emissions, bicycling is a key element in helping San Francisco reduce greenhouse gas pollution, as well as helping us fulfill the promise of Transit First as enshrined in out City Charter.
To the MTA Board of Directors, he says that "San Francisco is poised to move to the next level of urban bicycling in a dramatic way. According to research by your agency, one third of San Franciscans say they would ride a bike for transportation more often if there were more dedicated bike space and secure bike parking."
Given the mayor's noted absence from Bike to Work Day this year, advocates would clearly appreciate a public showing from Newsom around the certification of the EIR on Thursday and the adoption of the Bike Plan and the priority routes by the MTA Board on Friday.
