[Carfreeliving] sidewalk parking again

[Joshua Switzky]

Jason - I would just forward your story and these comments to your supe, to
Mattier and Ross, as letters to the editor, etc. And always try to get
names and badge numbers when you have run-ins.  DPT officers won't change
their practices without word from the top and without public outcry.
-j



                                                                           
             David Baker                                                   
             <davidbakerfaia at g                                             
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             org                                                   Subject 
                                       Re: [Carfreeliving] sidewalk        
                                       parking again                       
             01/25/2006 02:45                                              
             PM                                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




there is this "grace" period for street cleaning where they don't ticket
sidewalk parkers for about an hour either side of the scheduled cleaning.
certainly in my neighborhood, with wide sidewalks and not too much traffic,
it's an accommodation i can live with.

db

On 1/25/06, Jason Henderson <jhenders at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
  So the other day (Monday) I was riding on Page St and all kinds of cars
  were pulling up on the sidewalk to wait for the street cleaner (which
  was far away). Meanwhile there was a lot of pedestrian traffic forced
  into the street with a lot of idiotic speeding motorists rushing to get
  to the freeway ramp. This was also within two blocks of John Muir School
  and kids were walking to school(safe routes to what?) As I walked on, I
  came across a DPT officer ticketing a car parked in a regular parking
  space, and I asked if they would ticket cars on the sidewalk, especially
  the ones egregiously unattended. At first she would not respond to me
  because she was busy writing the ticket (took about 3 minutes and I was
  timing my commute to be on time). I waited a litle longer and she told
  me that they have an unofficial policy to not ticket cars on sidewalks
  when street sweeping. Ever heard of that? So basically you can move your
  car on the sidewalk and not get ticketed, but if you leave it on the
  street, you get a ticket.

  Then today I called in two large dooley-type double cab pickups
  completely blocking Haight sidewalk. I mean completely blocking the
  entire sidewalk, not half way. About an hour later, a DPT officer came
  and seemed to be buddy-buddy with the guys blocking the sidewalk. There
  were available parking spaces just about 20 feet away. Basically, one
  truck moved to block in the driveway and the other scooted in just
  enough for a single ped to squeeze by (no baby strollers will fit, etc).
  No ticket issued. The DPT guy even helped these guys move heavy
  materials and while they did this I counted about 6 people forced into
  the street to go around.

  Now, I called this back in just now, and dispatch said they would send
  somebody back out, but really, come on. Why do I have to call twice?

  Over the years I have taken a lot of time to make these calls and a lot
  of time stopping and trying to be diplomatic and follow the rules. I do
  not have enough time to follow up on this and every time this happens -
  which is every day.  Calling DPT seems futile. But I want the sidewalks
  clear because it is vital to a livable city and is about social justice
  for the elderly, children, and disabled. Yet look what happens when you
  do call.

  What exactly is the policy about sidewalk parking? Is it just a joke?
  Does this mean I can stand in the street and block traffic when there is
  a car blocking the sidewalk.

  By the way, I can't wait for the SFSU semester to start next week,
  becasue the Holloway bike lane becomes such a convenient standing area
  for cars. What a joke that is. I have wasted a lot of time calling about
  that too.

  -jh



  --
  "Make wetlands not war"

  Jason Henderson
  Native New Orleanian
  living in San Francisco
  Cell: (415)-425-5844
  Home: (415)-255-8136


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