Year: 2009

More headlines over at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Though it won't help with the problem of cameras on buses failing to record fights and stabbings, the MTA could authorize cameras meant to thwart terror threats on the Muni Metro at its board meeting Tuesday.

Last week, State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that his commission adopted new rules allowing and encouraging auto insurance companies to create "pay as you drive" (PAYD) insurance policies.  PAYD policies, which charge drivers per mile driven for their insurance, provide another financial incentive for drivers to reduce their vehicle miles traveled.  The new rules can be read here.

Transportation's effects on public health are rarely discussed by policy-makers, but they remain very real -- and the National Research Council (NRC) put a number on them today, reporting that cars and trucks have about $56 billion in "hidden" health costs that are not reflected in the price of oil or electricity.

Editor’s note: Today we have a guest post from Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who has represented Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District since 1996. He is the lead sponsor of the House’s “CLEAN TEA” climate legislation and founded the Congressional Bicycle Caucus. Rep. Earl Blumenauer. Photo: Airdye.com With much excitement, today we are launching the Livable Communities … Continued

This week, stand up for parking reform on Tuesday, sit down for a talk about Time Square’s lawn chairs on Thursday, and stand up again for the Walk SF Peak2Peak Walk on Saturday! Here are the week’s highlights. Monday: SFBC Treehouse Talk: Driven to Excess. Josh Hart, former Program Director of the SFBC, is back … Continued

Today on the Streetsblog Network, Portlandize is talking about freedom — the freedom to move about your community without fear, the liberty to make use of public spaces as a human being, not as the operator of a motor vehicle. It’s a post that gets to the heart of the issues we talk about on … Continued

AC Transit GM Rick Fernandez Retiring After 10 Years at Job (SF Examiner) Study Finds Fare Evaders Cost Muni $19 Million Annually (SF Examiner, SFGate) Second “Operation Safe Muni” Catches More Muni Fare Evaders (SF Examiner) Body Found on Muni Bus Hours After Driver’s Shift Ended (SF Examiner) Pedestrianist Blasts Chronicle Editorial Board for Opposing … Continued

The MTA had some good news to announce today about Muni amidst a deepening budget shortfall, service cuts, and fare increases: the agency is launching a pilot program to allow senior and disabled customers unlimited access to BART within San Francisco and all Muni transit services with a single pass. At least during the pilot phase, the pass will cost $15, the same price as the regular Senior/Disabled Pass.