Michael Rhodes
Michael Rhodes is a former reporter for Streetsblog San Francisco. He lives in the Mission Dolores neighborhood and is a graduate of UC Berkeley's Department of City and Regional Planning.
Recent Posts
A Letter to the New York Times: Safe Streets Are Family-Friendly Streets
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In light of Scott James’ egregious hit piece on the Bike Plan that ran in the New York Times today, I’ve decided to write the editors of that paper a letter, from a genuine resident of 17th Street. What does family-friendly mean? What’s more important: safety or parking? Do most San Franciscans ever ride a […]
San Francisco’s Own Oil Spill: The Wasteful Hunt for Free Parking
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Clement Street: scene of over-parked Sunday afternoons. Flickr photo: Rubin 110 Editor’s note: This will be Michael Rhodes’ last regular post as a reporter for Streetsblog. He’s leaving us for an urban planning career, but hopes to occasionally contribute columns like this in the future. Clement Street. Sunday. Noon. Drivers are circling around the block […]
Bike Rack Bonanza: How the City Places Them, And How to Get One
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Flickr photo: Neal Patel Brand new bike racks have been popping up all across the city in the half-year since the city got partial-relief from the long-standing Bike Plan injunction. Along with countless sharrows, they’re one of the most visible and widespread improvements to the city’s bike infrastructure during that time. But with so many […]
Blame, Calls for Revote and Contract Details in Wake of Muni Drivers Vote
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Everyone seems to get some say over the SFMTA — except, perhaps, Muni riders. Photo: Myleen Hollero/Orange Photography The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the Mayor, and the Board of Superviors have greatly upped the pressure on Muni operators for a revote — as well as on each other over the SFMTA’s budget — following […]
Report: SFPD’s New Approach to Crime on Muni “Promising”
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The Ingleside station district saw the greatest spike in Muni crime of any police station district in the city during the last several years. Image: City Controller’s office. Until a year ago, there was no written agreement between Muni and the city’s police department specifying what services Muni was paying for and how much, despite […]
This Week in Livable Streets Events
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This week, let the city know how you’d like to transform Masonic Avenue. Then, see the streets of the Mission transformed overnight as Sunday Streets returns. Plus, more highlights from the livable streets calendar: Tuesday: Masonic Avenue Street Design Community Workshop. SFMTA Staff will give a presentation on existing conditions and community members will share […]
Muni Operators Reject Concessions Proposal
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Muni drivers rejected a concessions proposal today that would have saved the SFMTA $18.7 million over the next two years and allowed the agency to fully restore service by next July. Echoing a vote earlier this year, members of the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A voted down the proposal negotiated between TWU leadership, San Francisco […]
Pedestrian Struck By Cab Driver at Market and 5th
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Onlookers on Market after a crash between a cab and a pedestrian. Photo: Ted Goldberg A pedestrian was struck and seriously injured by the driver of a cab near the intersection of Market and 5th Street this afternoon. Large numbers of onlookers gathered on Market Street following the crash, just after noon today. According to […]
San Francisco Will Explore Bringing Car-Share to the Curbside
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Car-sharing vehicles could eventually "live" in on-street parking spaces. Flickr photo: Jeff Hester San Francisco could eventually see car-sharing come to the curbside after the Planning Commission voted yesterday to urge the city to explore the idea of allowing on-street car-share pods. The commission also voted to start a process of updating the city’s guidelines […]
Parking Tax Revenue Measure for Muni Makes Its Way to Supervisors
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Photo: Myleen Hollero/Orange Photography A parking tax increase that could send $19.2 million to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency moved a step closer to the ballot Tuesday, as Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi introduced the measure before his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. Mirkarimi made the move at the behest of the SFMTA Board, which […]
Eyes on the Street: New Door-Zone Safety Space on Lake Street Bike Lane
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Extra breathing room in the door zone on Lake Street. Photos: Michael Rhodes Improvements to San Francisco’s bike network have been popping up all over town in the half-year since the city got partial relief from the bike injunction. Some of them are splashy — like the bright green, fully-separated bike lanes on Market Street, […]
SFMTA: Market Street Traffic Pilot is Meeting Its Objectives
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The Market Street traffic diversion pilot only got better for people on bikes when the SFMTA striped bright green bike lanes. Not all drivers are complying with the required turns, though. Photo: Michael Rhodes It appears the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has come to similar conclusions to Streetsblog’s in its review of the pilot […]