New Phelan Avenue Left-Turn Lane Endangers Pedestrians, Bicyclists

Students crossing the loop entrance of are constantly in fear of being struck by NB and SB motorists entering the college

  Upon arriving on the City College campus this week for the fall semester, I noticed a new left-turn lane has been installed on southbound Phelan Avenue into the City College campus loop.  This left turn is critical for drivers arriving from the north side of campus in order to access the loop, however, this new turn lane has created a dangerous conflict for pedestrians walking along the east side of Phelan Avenue. The newly installed bicycle lane on Phelan was also not taken into consideration during the redesign process.

  As the photo suggests, pedestrians must dodge cars entering the loop, or run to avoid being harassed by impatient drivers for blocking the entrance. This is the most widely used entrance to the campus by drivers picking up students, disabled-access vehicles, campus police, and faculty accessing the parking lot in front of Conlan Hall.  This was already a dangerous place for pedestrians crossing the entrance to the loop, now it is a death trap.

The existing conditions at the CCSF loop entrance looking Northbound

Suggested lowest-cost option for the CCSF loop entrance

  Options include installing a wide, brightly painted crosswalk, adding curb bulbouts to reduce the distance needed for pedestrians to cross, or adding a dotted line to link the bike lane on either side of the intersection. Pavement markings in the actual turn-lane could instruct drivers to yield to pedestrians for left turns into the loop.  Besides the curb bulb-outs, these other options are low-cost, simple solutions to a situation that can only get worse.

  All the intersections along Phelan Avenue were poorly designed to begin with (due to the bureaucracies involved in the initial design of the avenue) since the SFMTA, the fire department on Ocean, City College, and the City all had a say in the final design. Since no consensus was ever reached on the safest designs for these intersections due to bickering, we now have to redesign this street for everyone who uses it; without regard for red tape and the opinions of those who probably rarely walk or bike through the Phelan corridor.

  A copy of this blog post has been forwarded to the maintenance department of City College, the City College Police, and the CCSF Student Association to make them all aware of the importance of safety for pedestrians and bicyclists who attend or visit City College.

SFPD Enforcement Highlights Need For 'Dismount Zones'

     

                                                    Bicyclists in Boulder, CO talk about dismount zones and riding responsibly

  Does Streetsblog hate the SFPD? It seems they do by their latest reaction to a traffic enforcement sting along Market Street recently, and the subsequent investigation by Streetsblog showing how many operators where cited. Streetsblog doesn't like to acknowledge the reality that exists at most intersections within San Francisco; bicyclists break the law most often (with pedestrians being a close second). Finally, factual evidence has emerged to support what we already know, there are just as many douchebag bicyclists as there are douchebag drivers (this includes motorcycles that use the bike lane/shoulder), as there are douchebag pedestrians.  Basically, we all suck at paying attention when it really matters.

Ignorant Drivers 2 for 2 In This Week's "Target Practice"

Via the Press Democrat came news that the boy who was struck by a car in a Santa Rosa crosswalk has died.  The mother says the first driver to approach the crosswalk waited for her and her 3 children to begin crossing, but the suspect in the adjoining lane hit the gas and struck the child; catapulting him into the air in front of his siblings and mother. The ignorant driver was cleverly caught by police just an hour later, through a tip he had hitched a ride with a woman in a Volvo with a recorded license plate number.  The suspect is in his 20's, Latino, and has been cited multiple times in the past for operating a motor vehicle without a license.  The driver is now charged with felony hit-and-run; and will hopefully finally face justice. The child is survived by a twin sister and a 6 year old sister. R.I.P.

and via Marin Independent Journal comes word a 52 year old bicyclist was struck as a car veered into it's path along the shoulder of Tiburon Boulevard around 4 p.m. yesterday.  The bicyclist was jettisoned off the bike, but sustained only moderate injury and is reported in good condition at Marin General Hospital.  The right lane was reopened to traffic within the hour. No word on if the 70-year-old driver pissed himself.

Powell Street Promenade An Innie Or Audi?

Deformed railings on the parklets

   Mere weeks after the completion of the Powell Street Promenade, the poor selection of materials used in the construction of the perimeter railings is becoming apparent.  Aluminum is an obvious choice in areas where aesthetics trump structural integrity.  But attempting to use 1/4 aluminum as a railing protecting pedestrians from the Cable Cars and vehicular traffic along Powell street is simply egregious. 

  I noticed this on each of the 4 parklets that have an exterior railing system of this type. I walked up and down Powell Street on a busy Saturday to get the feeling of the street from both approaches, yet I observed many tourists

Autism Sheds Reality On The Danger of Pedestrians

Suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder myself, I find great comfort in the digital manifestation of a dream I've always had.  Even as an adult, my mind is still 12.  Passivity was my birthright, drugs were my escape, freedom was my leash, facts were my carabiner.  Funny thing though; you think that you're the only one that's NOT nuts.  Autism is hilarious!


Autistic Reporter: Train Thankfully Unharmed In Crash That Killed One Man

Market Street Bicycle Boxes Disappear, Get Ignored

Magically disappearing bicycle boxes

    The green bicycle boxes and bike lanes along Market Street have been touted as a great first step to a Better Market Street.  I've used them myself once (since I generally crosstown commute from Ocean Ave to The Bayview) and found them to provide a level of assurance and safety I'd never felt riding in San Francisco before, but as I came out of Van Ness Station and waited to cross to Bank of America I noticed something peculiar.

    In many different locations approaching the intersection, and especially at dusk, these green safety boxes appear to disappear from sight. Just thought I'd throw that along. The real reason I came to Van Ness and Market was to see for myself how these traffic control devices were implemented, why they should be there in the first place, and how the public was responding to these new devices.