[Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)

Jason Henderson jhenders at sbcglobal.net
Wed Apr 13 18:45:24 MDT 2005


In both my "geography of urban transportation" and "land use planning 
and policy" classes I discuss the inherently anti-urban, anti-civic, and 
anti-social behavior of sidewalk parking. I think I will add it to my 
introduction class as well.  Josh is spot on about why this is such a 
problem - especially from the perspective of further appropriation of 
public space by automobilists who are too lazy or selfish to store their 
car properly and in a civil manner. 

I have to say that when I moved here about 1 1/2 years ago, in the Lower 
Haight, I was shocked, just shocked, at the degree of sidewalk parking, 
especially on Page Street. It really dissappointed me.  I am glad I am 
not alone in my observations.

Thanks Walk SF for keeping on top of this, and alerting us to Jackie 
Speers crazy notion a few weeks back.

-jh

David Baker wrote:

> *I think the "park so you can squeeze by" argument is such crap!  we 
> had the genXers on our block packed in so tight in front of their 
> overcrowded apartments that 90 year old Mrs. Gomez had to go out in 
> the street with her walker to get around them.  we tried talking to 
> them and they just went "FU".  the $50 tickets did the trick and now 
> nobody gets them because they don't park on the sidewalk any more.  
> and 99% of sidewalk parking is pure laziness.  you have a car, you 
> live in SF, it's a hassle, get used to it. no sympathy here.*
> ** 
> *"Mr. Mellow"  *
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* Mike Sallaberry [mailto:Mike.Sallaberry at sfgov.org]
>     *Sent:* Wednesday, April 13, 2005 3:18 PM
>     *To:* Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
>     *Subject:* RE: [Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)
>
>
>     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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>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
Jason Henderson 
San Francisco CA 
(415)-255-8136
jhenders at sbcglobal.net 

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