Year: 2009

When transit-only lanes were first striped in San Francisco in the 1970s, they were meant to be a bold enactment of the city's brand new Transit First policy. But like the policy, the lanes have only been partially implemented and are all too often flouted. Stricter enforcement is part of the equation, but many of the lanes are marked so half-heartedly that it's hard to place the blame on drivers alone.

An exciting week of livable streets discussions lies ahead, with a well-earned cookout to round things out. Here are the week’s highlights. Tuesday: SPUR Evening Symposium: The Post-Carbon City: Planning for abundance in an era of dwindling resources. A panel will discuss Eco-Urbanism, “a movement that emphasizes sustainability, as planners promote green buildings, ‘closed-loop’ architecture … Continued

Today on the Streetsblog Network, Austin Contrarian counts the ways that too much parking can damage a downtown:

Great Fun at Sunday Streets on Great Highway and GG Park (Richmond SF Blog) Supervisors Hearing on Muni Safety This Morning (BCN via CBS5) Historic Streetcar Restoration to be Considered by Supes (Market Street Railway Blog) Several “Big” Transpo Projects in the Works for San Mateo County (San Mateo Daily Journal) VTA to Purchase 70 … Continued

The next two Sunday Streets are moving from the heart of the busy Mission to two of San Francisco's more picturesque natural locales as it winds through Golden Gate Park to the Great Highway along Ocean Beach.

At a press conference today immediately after Mayor Gavin Newsom swore in SFPD's new police Chief George Gascón, the city's top cop, responding to a question from Streetsblog, addressed a number of issues central to his command, including, notably, how driver behavior can endanger certain neighborhoods as much or more than violent crime.

After reports of fare inspectors and drivers telling Muni passengers they can't take photos on Muni's buses and trains, the MTA is being forced to craft a photo policy and make it public. The San Francisco Appeal and WHAT IM SEEING both have stories today about Muni's elusive policy, which MTA spokesperson Judson True told the Appeal will be posted online soon, and "will say that non-commercial video and photography will be OK as long as it doesn't disturb transit."

From Supervisor Elsbernd:

In 1978 I was a field manager for an environmental group's canvassing operation and was driving "my crew" in an old beat-up Volkswagon from one suburb to the next. From about 3 p.m. we'd visit every house in a given area, knocking on doors seeking donations and support, ending around 8:30 or 9. One time I was in Walnut Creek or Pleasant Hill or one of those Contra Costa bedroom communities, and I did a typical San Francisco rolling stop at a stop sign in a quiet residential neighborhood. Sure enough I was stopped by a squad car and given quite a lecture on how San Francisco behavior was unacceptable out there in the 'burbs.