Michael Rhodes

Tomorrow is the early-registration deadline for Walk San Francisco's fifth annual Peak to Peak Walk, a 12-mile challenge designed give even avid walkers a workout. The fully guided walking tour features some of the city's finest vistas, covering 15 peaks in total, and will help the organization raise money for its pedestrian safety and advocacy work. The walk will begin at West Portal station, starting first with Mt. Davidson and wending its way across the city towards Coit Tower.

It's a familiar scene for many Muni riders: standing in a huge crowd on a Muni Metro station platform, scrutinizing the archaic-looking map on the mounted LCD, hoping for a two-car LL or a one-car J. Since those displays first went up at Embarcadero station in the late 1990s, and the other eight stations in 2007, they've given waiting customers something to ponder while waiting for a particularly tardy train, but have been far too cryptic to reach their full potential in keeping riders informed. Within the next few months, however, displays in all nine Muni Metro stations will switch over to a much more legible map.

At an early morning rally before school started today, students from San Francisco's Longfellow Elementary School in the Excelsior district gathered to celebrate Walk to School Day and the launch of the Safe Routes to School program.

The Board of Supervisors today approved a five-year, $30 million umbrella purchasing agreement between the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Thales Transport & Security, Inc. for Advanced Train Control System (ATCS) "improvement services and upgrades." The ATCS system controls the speed, location, and routing of Muni's light rail vehicles when they're underground between Embarcadero and West Portal stations. The MTA says the upgrades are necessary to keep the ATCS in working order for the coming decades.

Walking to school may seem like an unfortunate casualty of the San Francisco Unified School District's school assignment system, which aims to desegregate schools by prioritizing diversity over proximity when placing students. But as the school district launches its Safe Routes to School program tomorrow in conjunction with Walk to School Day, there is hope that schools could significantly increase walking and bicycling to and from school even with the dispersed student bodies most schools have.

In light of news that the Mayor opposes extended parking meter hours and that taxi medallions may bring in $12 million less than anticipated, the MTA's mid-year budget could be in trouble, threatening to bring deeper Muni service cuts than the ones on the way later this fall.

Heads up, walkers: this week holds two of the year’s most important events for pedestrian advocates: Walk SF’s annual meeting and Walk to School Day. Fans of bicycles and music have plenty to look forward to later this week as well. Here’s a taste of what’s in store. Tuesday: SPUR Lunchtime Forum: Planning Portland. Prior … Continued

"In October 2008 the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the recommendations of the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP). Faced with a $129 million budget deficit, SFMTA plans to make numerous transit service changes in November.  Come hear from TEP Program Manager Julie Kirschbaum, who will provide an update on the planned service changes and how the TEP planning process has helped SFMTA make informed decisions about providing the best possible transit service with limited resources."

"Childcare is vital to creating a family-friendly city. Families in San Francisco face unique challenges finding affordable, safe and quality care. The dilemma is even more intense for low-income families and those with children with special needs, adding yet one more factor to San Francisco’s “family flight” problems. Michael Williams, Deputy Director of Programs, and other professionals from Children’s Council of San Francisco, will describe some of the realities facing families, as well as some solutions and potential policy directions."

"Don't miss this treat to explore the Golden Gate Park windmills! The windmills were built in 1902 and 1905 to pump water for the irrigation of the Park. But electric pumps were eventually installed for efficiency, the windmills stopped their twirling and the salty sea wind got the better of these beauties. A recent campaign to save the windmills raised money for their resurrection. Our tour guide, Mark de Jong of Bloemendal Construction is the San Franciscan-Dutchman charged with this prodigious restoration project."