Anonymous Has A Case of the Mondays; Crossbows As Self-Defense in SoCal; Parklets? No, Pooplets.

Protesters, deciding that it would be alright to come out of their mom's basements two days a week, have moved their pointless disruption routine to Thursday. They also muttered something about using the funeral of that Apple engineer who was struck and killed over the weekend as an excuse to leave work early on Thursday.  Like the mask inside your desk didn't give you away, already.

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photo courtesy of goddesssophiawalker.com

Crossbows are something you don't see everyday. This changed for a 16 year old San Diego boy yesterday, when he was struck in the side by an arrow from the passenger window of an SUV at which he was throwing rocks. The boy was taken to a hospital, treated and released to his guardian.

His name wasn't released.

Nobody has been arrested.

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Outdoor toilets in India (left) and Amsterdam (right)

Urinating in public has always been seen as a last resort in America. However, in many other countries this proces has been embraced as a natural part of humans living in close proximity to each other. In an ever progressive stance, the city of San Francisco is thinking of constructing Pooplets (similar to a parklet in size and location) where specifically homeless people can relieve themselves in a sheltered, but still open space. These shelters would be similar in size to a bus stop, with multiple entrances, and enough clearance at ground level for police to easily enforce scofflaws and drug addicts from using these facilities nefariously. Scott James from The Bay Citizen researched how the new toilets differ from the existing ones, and where the biggest amount of crap is found in San Francisco.  Surprise, it's in the Tenderloin!

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

Double Deuce: SFBike.org Caught Flexing Again

  Last time I checked, there is no 3-foot passing law between bicyclists and vehicles currently on the books in either San Francisco or The State of California. But the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has made it there duty to foresee the future and provide us with a seemingly inane safety video on their website entitled Riding Predictably where they show us the law:

                   

                                              video courtesy of SFBike.org

  Even Celeste LeCompte from today's SFGate.com has been getting her ledes from SFBike.org  "Ride safely. Even though you're riding slowly, don't forgo the helmet, stop at traffic signals and ride predictably." Her great article about the Slow Bike Movement is where it IS.

  So anyway, after being pleasantly surprised at finding a quirky and informative safety video on their website (I always ask them for safety literature when I see them on the street, but they never seem to have any), I was shocked to hear @ 2:56 the declaration that the 3-foot law is "The law." (People without brakes on their bicycles:  Please watch 2:11) SB910 passed the senate this spring, but as of the date of this posting it has not become law.

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.

Slinky Sister City Streetcar Reappears

The Castro - Usually, being bumped off the historic "F" streetcar line at Market/Noe can be a bummer, especially in bad weather.  But today, as i was directed to disembark by the operator, I turned to look East down Market Street, and spotted a slender, blue streetcar.  One that I had never seen before.  Apparently, i was witnessing an initial test run of the return of one of the most unique streetcars in the historic fleet, a carriage from San Francisco's Sister City of Zurich, Switzerland.  
          "In June, 2004, Market Street Railway facilitated the delivery of Brussels No. 7037 to the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) following its retirement. Muni modified the tram for service in San Francisco, and renumbered it to 737.
In June, 2005, the car made its first appearance on the street, but at the request of Mayor Gavin Newsom, it wears the blue and white livery of San Francisco's sister city Zürich, Switzerland, which operated similar looking cars (but narrow gauge and non-PCC). In the future, No. 737 may be restored to its original 1952 cream Brussels livery" (via Market Street Railway).

          The streetcar was running in 'training' mode, so it stopped without passengers.  The exterior was this almost periwinkle blue that reminded me of the sky if you look straight up.  The driver threw open it's doors, revealing a classic interior with abundant wood and brass adornments.  The gleaming paint, authentic emblems, touches of gold and the window trim were among the notable details.

          I hope to see this streetcar more frequently, and soon i hope to ride this historic piece of our living, moving past.

View of train approaching Market/Noe from the east.

    

Insignia located along the side, close to the rear.

Place and date

View of train leaving station

San Jose and Guerrero Parklet City's Latest Gem

San Francisco - Here's the latest in San Francisco's reclaimed vehicular real estate, San Jose and Guerrero in The Mission.  Previously a one-way northbound street north of Guerrero, San Jose is now a two-way “cue street,” providing local access to residents.

        Reclaimed logs from Golden Gate Park serve as perimeters to the new plant beds, featuring native and drought tolerant plants.  These planters separate the plaza from busy Guerrero Street traffic.  These, along with reclaimed wood from trees in Golden Gate Park, create a relaxing space for recreation and contemplation.
    This plaza is quite large at 9,000 square feet.  The closure of the 28th Street crossing at Guerrero is a welcome sight for neighborhood residents who knew this as a dangerous intersection.  It also abates traffic speeding onto northbound San Jose from northbound Guerrero heading to St. Luke's Hospital, allowing for the plaza to accommodate a basketball court and generous seating.  A childrens play structure is in future plans for the popular spot.