[Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)

[Mike Sallaberry]

I don't park it anywhere now except at Charlie's Motorcycle Shop where it 
is in intensive care.

Something else I've realized about calling people in...I've noticed my 
neighbors pointing fingers at each other, speculating who called in who 
and for what reason.  Basically, the anonymous calling in of cars and 
motorcycles on my block has created a negative atmosphere of suspicion and 
false accusations.  So, I can't help but wonder if my little part of the 
city is a better place for all these call ins.  Yes, all 15' of sidewalk 
is clear more often, but there's a tension in the air that wasn't there 
before.  After experiencing this, I now do not call in cars unless they 
are totally blocking the sidewalk.  I used to push my dad around when he 
was in a wheelchair, so I give the situation the wheelchair test.  If one 
can pass without problem, it's not worth it to me to screw someone out of 
$100 and add to the tension.

Most of us cyclists ride on the sidwalk at some point, hopefully at a very 
safe and respectable speed and for very short distances.  How would 
cyclists here feel if they got a ticket or had their bicycle U-locked 
everytime they did that?  By law (unless posted otherwise), adults should 
never ride on the sidewalk in SF, correct?

"Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone!"  :)




"David Baker" <db at dbarchitect.com> 
Sent by: Carfreeliving-bounces at livablecity.org
04/13/2005 01:54 PM

To
<Carfreeliving at livablecity.org>
cc
janemartin at SHIFTdesignstudio.com
Subject
RE: [Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)






And it only has taken a year plus a public hearing to get the car space in 
front of our house restriped as official motorcycle parking (ACTUALLY IT'S 
APPROVED NOW, BUT STILL NOT STRIPED), with no opposition from anyone. this 
is after expedited treatment was promised by the supervisors to get more 
in the street spaces for motorcycles so they wouldn't have to park 
illegally on the sidewalk so much.
 
Mike, I agree it's petty to call in with all the bigger problems out 
there, but do you still park on the sidewalk after the $100 ticket?
 
db

From: Mike Sallaberry [mailto:Mike.Sallaberry at sfgov.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 1:43 PM
To: Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
Subject: [Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)


Well, you have only so much peanut butter to spread, and a lot of bread to 
cover.  If we make a big campaign to focus on bus stop parking violations, 
we lose resources in other areas, like enforcing sidewalk parking, 
preventing double parking on bus routes or in bike lanes, etc etc. 

For instance, the person who lives on Hayes St near Divisadero who has 
made it their personal quest to call in and have every motorcycle parked 
on the 15' wide sidewalk ticketed is taking resources away from what I 
think are bigger problems.  And yes, I was one of those people to get a 
$100 ticket...thanks so much.  Prior to that, someone (the same person?) 
was kind enough to put a U-lock around my front wheel, undoubtedly seen as 
an appropriate punishment befitting such a heinous crime, at least from 
their righteous point of view. 

Yes, I know that motorcycles can leak oil and are hot right after 
operation, but what if they don't and are covered and are not in the 
actual sidewalk space people walk?  Is it really worth calling in? 

Thanks.  I don't care if you agree with what I said...I needed that.  :) 
Mike

ps  Does anyone else think it's fair that 3' wide, 400lb motorcycles are 
ticketed the same amount as 3000 lb cars that block the entire sidewalk 
and damage the concrete?  I don't mind parking on the street, but I do 
mind my bike getting knocked over by one of the many inept motor vehicle 
operators, most probably recently transplanted from a suburb where 
parallel parking means pulling your weekday car in next to your weekend 
car in the double wide home garage. 

pps Don't worry Suzahna...I know it wasn't you that called in! 

> ...
> Why doesn't DPT (aka MTA)  start enforcing bus stop parking 
> violations? Who would the lobby be that would fight that? 
> Politically, I don't get it.
> 
> suzahna_______________________________________________
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