About 50 on-street car-share parking spaces could be approved at an SFMTA engineering hearing tomorrow. That's your chance to write in, or show up at City Hall, to support a smart move by the SFMTA: placing car-share vehicles in convenient locations citywide, and putting everyone within easy reach of this alternative to car ownership.
The 50 locations are the first set of 900 on-street car-share spots planned by the SFMTA, following a successful pilot program of 12 spaces around the city. The on-street expansion was originally set to start rolling out last September, but was delayed for unknown reasons. The spaces will be used by City CarShare, Zipcar, and Getaround, and the SFMTA plans to have 450 available by the summer.
Reserving curbside parking spaces for exclusive use by car-share puts shared vehicles closer to more residents, making the service more convenient. Until now, car-share organizations have generally only been able to procure reserved spaces in off-street parking lots or garages, or at paved-over sites like gas stations that are often prime sites for redevelopment.
The SFMTA's car-sharing policy document [PDF] cites a 2010 nationwide study which found that every car-share vehicle replaces as many as 13 private automobiles. Some auto owners who don't drive often give up the hassle of car ownership (or second car ownership) after joining car-share, while other residents may choose to not buy a car in the first place because car-sharing grants them access to a car.
Nonetheless, there are reports that some neighbors of proposed car-share spots don't buy the stats, and oppose the reserved spots because they see "their" parking being removed. One merchant at my street corner has a sign posted in her window telling people to oppose two proposed spots nearby, and didn't seem swayed by my arguments that it would make more parking available. (As a car-share user myself, I know that it stops me from considering buying a car, and thus occupying a parking space.)
Below is the list of proposed locations for on-street car-share, taken from the hearing agenda [PDF]. Comments can be emailed to sustainable.streets@sfmta.com, or you can speak at the hearing on Friday at 10 a.m. in City Hall, Room 416.
14. ESTABLISH – TOW-AWAY NO STOPPING EXCEPT PERMITTED CAR SHARE VEHICLES
A. 9th Avenue, west side, from 11 feet to 33 feet north of Geary Boulevard (22-foot zone removes Post ID #109-03970, for 1 car share parking permit space–C078)
B. Clement Street, north side, from 73 feet to 85 feet west of 24th Avenue (12-foot zone removes Post ID #360-23140 along angled parking space, for 1 car share parking permit space–C097)
C. Gough Street, west side, from 63 feet to 143 feet north of Geary Boulevard (80-foot zone removes Post ID #443-13090, #443-13070, #443-13050, #443-13030, for 4 car share parking permit spaces–C153, C154, G151, G152)
D. Union Street, south side, from 96 feet to 116 feet west of Gough Street (20-foot zone removes Post ID #691-17110, for 1 car share parking permit space–G022)
E. Chestnut Street, north side, from 25 feet to 47 feet west of Avilia Street (22-foot zone removes Post ID #354-22320, for 1 car share parking permit–G130)
F. Euclid Avenue, north side, from 18 feet to 58 feet east Laurel Street (40-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z048 & Z100)
G. Greenwich Street, north side, from Powell Street to 17 feet westerly (2 perpendicular parking spaces, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–C012 & C116)
H. Jones Street, east side, from 15 feet to 37 feet north of Clay Street (22-foot zone, first parking space north of red zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G013)
I. Jones St, west side, from Washington Street to 37 feet northerly (37-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z064 & Z083)
J. 21st Avenue, east side, from Judah Street to 38 feet southerly (for 2 car share parking permit spaces–C075 & C145)
K. 25th Avenue, west side, from 17 feet to 58 feet north of Noriega Street (41-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z007 & Z112)
L. 20th Ave, west side, from 22 feet to 66 feet south of Irving St (44-foot zone removes Post IDs #120-13030, #120-13050, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z029 & Z116)
M. Fillmore Street, east side, from 9 feet to 29 feet north of Page Street (20-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G017)
N. Fillmore Street, west side, from Waller Street to 18 feet northerly (18-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G029)
O. Oak Street, north side, from Central Avenue to 20 feet easterly (20-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G138)
P. Belvedere Street, west side, from 22 feet to 42 feet south of Haight Street (20-foot zone removes Post ID #329-00030, for 1 car share parking permit space–G148)
Q. Mint Street, south side, 37.5 feet to 53 feet west of Mission Street (15.5-foot zone removes Post ID #567-00865 and #567-00866 along 2 perpendicular parking spaces, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–C025 & C126)
R. Pearl Street, east side, from Market Street to18 feet southerly (for 1 car share parking permit space–C034)
S. South Park Street, north side, from 11 feet to 29 feet west of 2nd Street (18-foot zone removes Post ID #671-00040 and #671-00060, second and third perpendicular metered spaces from 2nd, for 2 car share parking spaces–G062 & G063)
T. Monterey Boulevard, south side, from Detroit Street to 33 feet to 55 feet easterly (22-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–C087)
U. Henry Street, south side, from Sanchez Street to 3 feet to 40 feet westerly (37-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permits–C003 & C109)
V. Elizabeth Street, south side, from Noe Street to 38 feet westerly (for 2 car share parking permit spaces–C056 & C139)
W. Belcher Street, west side, from 14th Street to 20 feet northerly (20-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G030)
X. Dolores Street, west side, from 30 feet to 52 feet south of 18th Street (22-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–G079)
Y. Sanchez Street, east side, from 3 feet to 16 feet south of 16th Street (13-foot zone, first perpendicular parking space, for 1 car share parking permit space–G144)
Z. Andover Street, east side, from 22 feet to 62 feet south of Cortland Avenue (40-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z071 & Z135)
AA. Palou Avenue, south side, 15 feet to 33 feet west of 3rd Street (18-foot zone, for 1 car share parking permit space–C094)
BB. Newhall Street, west side, from 22 feet to 62 feet north of Egbert Avenue (40-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z018 & Z125)
CC. 20th Street, south side, from 72 feet to 113 feet west of 3rd Street (41-foot zone, for 2 car share parking permit spaces–Z069 & Z145)
DD. 20th Street, south side, from Minnesota Street to 18.5 feet westerly (18.5-foot zone, perpendicular parking space, for two car share parking permits–Z151 & Z152)
