[Carfreeliving] Complete streets in SF?

[Emily Drennen]

Hi all-

I am wondering how folks feel about working together to pass a "Complete the Streets" policy here in SF (see www.thunderheadalliance.org for more info). The complete street concept is that *all* streets should serve bikes and walkers (and transit, where applicable)- not just certain streets. 

Politically, the bike network concept has succeeded in shifting public and political support towards accommodating bikes. And, while the network idea has been so far successful for bikes, I think we need to look beyond the network model to expecting bike accommodations on all city streets as part of a "complete street" model. (Peds, esp., need to be accommodated on every street because networks just aren't appropriate for peds.) 

I know the SFBC has a lot of work and policy already invested in the bike network concept. Any thoughts about adding in a new layer through a "complete streets" push, while retaining a focus on the core route network? 

An example of the many places where the bike network model bites us in the butt: the redesigns on Geary and Van Ness Avenues to include BRT don't include bike facilities b/c "they aren't on the bike network". These great streets could (and should!) include bike lanes, even if Polk St bike lanes are right near Van Ness, and there are other bike lanes on streets near Geary. 

Ross' resolution to require bike and ped accommodations whenever roads are built/rebuilt (the local "good roads" bill) is a great start. Is anybody involved with his office on this resolution? This could be the vehicle (so to speak) for making complete streets a city policy. Anybody interested in helping on this?

Thanks,

Emily





Emily Drennen 

415/863-2248 
bicyclesf at yahoo.com
www.emilydrennen.org

Acting Executive Director, Walk San Francisco
Advisory Council Member, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Citizen's Advisory Committee Member, Metropolitian Transportation Agency
Past Chair, SF Bicycle Advisory Committee 




		
---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
 Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new Resources site!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/carfreeliving_livablecity.org/attachments/20050525/fa2d38b2/attachment.htm