Comments on: San Francisco: Reclaiming Streets With Innovative Solutions http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/ Documenting Livable Streets Worldwide Mon, 20 May 2013 17:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: city0880 http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-265593 city0880 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:24:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-265593 thanks for share<a href="http://www.justdetective.com/" title="???" rel="nofollow">.</a> thanks for share.

]]> By: Eric Nordman http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264886 Eric Nordman Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264886 Nice film. SF has a grid system of streets with lots of 4 way stops. Having biked across it a few time I found it slow and confusing for outsiders. They could really benefit from a grid of bicycle boulevards where the stop signs are set to allow unimpeded travel. To prevent cars from using these streets as expressway periodic car barriers are set up. This fairly cheaply provides fast and low stress riding across town. Nice film. SF has a grid system of streets with lots of 4 way stops. Having biked across it a few time I found it slow and confusing for outsiders. They could really benefit from a grid of bicycle boulevards where the stop signs are set to allow unimpeded travel. To prevent cars from using these streets as expressway periodic car barriers are set up. This fairly cheaply provides fast and low stress riding across town.

]]> By: Kevin Walsh http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264734 Kevin Walsh Mon, 21 May 2012 20:17:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264734 http://www.voicepark.org/ VoicePark is a good addition to the SFpark system. It uses the public info from the parking sensors to navigate people to parking spots by voice. The SFpark app requires someone to look at a map, which is illegal for drivers. http://www.voicepark.org/ VoicePark is a good addition to the SFpark system. It uses the public info from the parking sensors to navigate people to parking spots by voice. The SFpark app requires someone to look at a map, which is illegal for drivers.

]]> By: Rob Anderson http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264683 Rob Anderson Wed, 02 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264683 Okay. I guess I don't understand how this system works. Often there is no "reply" link to those replying to me, only a "like" link. How do I reply without that reply link? Okay. I guess I don't understand how this system works. Often there is no "reply" link to those replying to me, only a "like" link. How do I reply without that reply link?

]]> By: Green_Idea_Factory http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264679 Green_Idea_Factory Tue, 01 May 2012 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264679 If I mention "gentrification", "high housing prices" and "exodus to the East Bay" do I get banned from Streetfilms? I love Leah Shahum saying everything is "always changing... re-inventing". Sigh. Streetfilms shows great stuff, not by way of journalism of course, but corporate video. I think it is at least a bit of a deception. If I mention "gentrification", "high housing prices" and "exodus to the East Bay" do I get banned from Streetfilms? I love Leah Shahum saying everything is "always changing... re-inventing". Sigh. Streetfilms shows great stuff, not by way of journalism of course, but corporate video. I think it is at least a bit of a deception.

]]> By: Archie Leach http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264678 Archie Leach Tue, 01 May 2012 19:52:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264678 Peak oil or not the days of North America and Western Europe and Japan having the oil pie to themselves is over as the end of the Soviet Union has seen car ownership in Russia explode and then we include the economic development of India and especially in China - where internal engine utilization there will dwarf anything in North America - means that the oil pie is going to be divided up into smaller pieces; which bodes NOT well for just how much oil gets to North America. You seem to like math.  You should also include rational reasoning thought into your character too. Peak oil or not the days of North America and Western Europe and Japan having the oil pie to themselves is over as the end of the Soviet Union has seen car ownership in Russia explode and then we include the economic development of India and especially in China - where internal engine utilization there will dwarf anything in North America - means that the oil pie is going to be divided up into smaller pieces; which bodes NOT well for just how much oil gets to North America.

You seem to like math.  You should also include rational reasoning thought into your character too.

]]> By: Archie Leach http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264677 Archie Leach Tue, 01 May 2012 19:44:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264677 Like USbike wrote, if you look at old videos/film and pictures of New York City or San Francisco in the pre-mass-auto period the thing that jumps out are the pedestrians are not only on the sidewalk but are clearly "spilled" out onto the streets and are congregating or conducting business or other activities in what we presently deem "the gutter".  There would be stalls and carts set up along "the gutter" and business would be conducted.  With the advent of mass ownership of cars the use of the gutter for people activities ended as they became a place for auto storage.  In other words: people activity in "the gutter" preceded "the gutter" for auto storage. Parklets are simply bringing a return of the "natural" people activity of "the gutter" that had existed before the mass automobile. Like USbike wrote, if you look at old videos/film and pictures of New York City or San Francisco in the pre-mass-auto period the thing that jumps out are the pedestrians are not only on the sidewalk but are clearly "spilled" out onto the streets and are congregating or conducting business or other activities in what we presently deem "the gutter".  There would be stalls and carts set up along "the gutter" and business would be conducted.  With the advent of mass ownership of cars the use of the gutter for people activities ended as they became a place for auto storage.  In other words: people activity in "the gutter" preceded "the gutter" for auto storage.

Parklets are simply bringing a return of the "natural" people activity of "the gutter" that had existed before the mass automobile.

]]> By: USbike http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264676 USbike Tue, 01 May 2012 12:15:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264676 If you take a look at the history of transportation, you would see that streets were for everyone, particularly pedestrians for about as long as human civilization has existed.  This only started to take a drastic change 90 or so years ago.  This is also when the term "jaywalking" was invented.  This all gradually happened as more and more cars began showing up and dominating the streets and policy began to favor cars over everything else.  Many streets were widened in the last 100 years or less to make room for more car lanes, or for parking.  Just think for a minute about how narrow and crappy so many of our sidewalks are.  Do you really think that's how cities looked like before the advent of cars, that for instance NYC in the late 1800's had 6/7 lane roads that were exclusively reserved for horse carriages or something of the like, and not pedestrians at a time when most people walked everywhere)?   What we all get to see in much of the US today is the consequence of decades of development and policy that almost completely neglected the needs of all other users (pedestrian, cyclist and transit riders).  "Reclaiming the Streets" is an initiative to bring back some balance into our transportation and public space infrastructure so that it's not all about cars and allowing drivers to get anywhere as fast as possible, at the expense of the safety, comfort and quality of life of everyone else.   If you take a look at the history of transportation, you would see that streets were for everyone, particularly pedestrians for about as long as human civilization has existed.  This only started to take a drastic change 90 or so years ago.  This is also when the term "jaywalking" was invented.  This all gradually happened as more and more cars began showing up and dominating the streets and policy began to favor cars over everything else.  Many streets were widened in the last 100 years or less to make room for more car lanes, or for parking.  Just think for a minute about how narrow and crappy so many of our sidewalks are.  Do you really think that's how cities looked like before the advent of cars, that for instance NYC in the late 1800's had 6/7 lane roads that were exclusively reserved for horse carriages or something of the like, and not pedestrians at a time when most people walked everywhere)?  

What we all get to see in much of the US today is the consequence of decades of development and policy that almost completely neglected the needs of all other users (pedestrian, cyclist and transit riders).  "Reclaiming the Streets" is an initiative to bring back some balance into our transportation and public space infrastructure so that it's not all about cars and allowing drivers to get anywhere as fast as possible, at the expense of the safety, comfort and quality of life of everyone else.  

]]> By: Scott E. http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264674 Scott E. Tue, 01 May 2012 05:48:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264674 Rob, I'm afraid you need to review your math concepts and read the report more carefully. Assuming the total number of commuters using all modes did not change (the report doesn't provide total numbers), the increase is calculated as ((3.5-2.1)/2.1 = 1.4/2.1 = 67% increase. That's from 2002 (not 2000) to 2010, or 8 years, averaging 8.3% increase per year. That's significant, but at that rate we wouldn't reach 20% until 2032. However, we also know from the report that the increase in commuting and general bike use for all trips is non-linear, i.e., the rate of increase is also increasing -- so most of the increase has occurred. For example, bike commutes increased 14.2% from 2009 to 2010 -- (3.5-0.5)/3.5=14.2%. Even if we stayed at an average 14.2% increase, we get to 20% by 2022. But if the rate is increasing, as the data indeed show, it will happen much faster. Rob, I'm afraid you need to review your math concepts and read the report more carefully. Assuming the total number of commuters using all modes did not change (the report doesn't provide total numbers), the increase is calculated as ((3.5-2.1)/2.1 = 1.4/2.1 = 67% increase. That's from 2002 (not 2000) to 2010, or 8 years, averaging 8.3% increase per year. That's significant, but at that rate we wouldn't reach 20% until 2032. However, we also know from the report that the increase in commuting and general bike use for all trips is non-linear, i.e., the rate of increase is also increasing -- so most of the increase has occurred. For example, bike commutes increased 14.2% from 2009 to 2010 -- (3.5-0.5)/3.5=14.2%. Even if we stayed at an average 14.2% increase, we get to 20% by 2022. But if the rate is increasing, as the data indeed show, it will happen much faster.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264670 Anonymous Tue, 01 May 2012 00:34:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264670 First of all, "reclaiming streets" is a bit backwards since San Francisco city streets were designed for vehicular transit in the first place and not pedestrians. Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Not street. So I don't get why you say we are "reclaiming" streets. From what exactly? Cars? if you really were reclaiming streets, you would be working to have all of the parklets removed so that cars can once again use those spots for parking, which is what they were designed for in the first place. And while we're on the subject of Parklets, this is our big weapon in our war against cars? How many cars have actually been taken off the streets because of these so called mini parks (a wooden platform with some potted plants hardly counts as a park BTW)? Seems to me they haven't done anything to curb car use and that they've only contributed to the already annoying problem of there not being enough parking in this city. But hey, Cafe's have been able to increase their dining space for pennies so that their patrons can sit out on the street next to zooming cars and inhale exhaust with their frisee and goat cheese salads. Sounds like a great plan! Go ahead. Keep patting yourselves on the back for this genius idea. Here's an even better idea. How bout we fix our public transit system so it doesn't suck so much and would be actually worth using! I bet nobody's thought of that yet. We seem to be so preoccupied with making car drivers the villains instead of actually finding a plan that works. First of all, "reclaiming streets" is a bit backwards since San Francisco city streets were designed for vehicular transit in the first place and not pedestrians. Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Not street. So I don't get why you say we are "reclaiming" streets. From what exactly? Cars? if you really were reclaiming streets, you would be working to have all of the parklets removed so that cars can once again use those spots for parking, which is what they were designed for in the first place.
And while we're on the subject of Parklets, this is our big weapon in our war against cars? How many cars have actually been taken off the streets because of these so called mini parks (a wooden platform with some potted plants hardly counts as a park BTW)? Seems to me they haven't done anything to curb car use and that they've only contributed to the already annoying problem of there not being enough parking in this city. But hey, Cafe's have been able to increase their dining space for pennies so that their patrons can sit out on the street next to zooming cars and inhale exhaust with their frisee and goat cheese salads. Sounds like a great plan! Go ahead. Keep patting yourselves on the back for this genius idea.
Here's an even better idea. How bout we fix our public transit system so it doesn't suck so much and would be actually worth using! I bet nobody's thought of that yet. We seem to be so preoccupied with making car drivers the villains instead of actually finding a plan that works.

]]> By: Ben Fried http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264655 Ben Fried Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:55:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264655 @ea1809617b00430091318d0e92a6ef00:disqus The point of the "reply" function is to give you space to reply within threads, instead of hogging the comments section by creating new threads every time you respond to someone else. Other commenters have been so kind as to use this feature. If you don't use the tools we provide to help manage the discussion here, you'll be banned. @ea1809617b00430091318d0e92a6ef00:disqus The point of the "reply" function is to give you space to reply within threads, instead of hogging the comments section by creating new threads every time you respond to someone else. Other commenters have been so kind as to use this feature. If you don't use the tools we provide to help manage the discussion here, you'll be banned.

]]> By: Rob Anderson http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264653 Rob Anderson Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:48:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264653 Trillbet: As a party to the litigation that required the city to do environmental review of the Bicycle Plan, I know about these issues. I've provided a link to the city's latest bicycle count to support my argument. Your definition of a troll: someone who contradicts your argument. Trillbet:
As a party to the litigation that required the city to do environmental review of the Bicycle Plan, I know about these issues. I've provided a link to the city's latest bicycle count to support my argument. Your definition of a troll: someone who contradicts your argument.

]]> By: Trillbet http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264652 Trillbet Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:44:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264652 This guy is a troll.  Don't inflate his ego by responding. This guy is a troll.  Don't inflate his ego by responding.

]]> By: Rob Anderson http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264651 Rob Anderson Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:12:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264651 Murph: Oil prices flucuate mostly because of events in the Middle East and speculation in the oil market, not because of a shortage of oil. Peak Oil is bunk if you think we're going to run out soon. Murph:
Oil prices flucuate mostly because of events in the Middle East and speculation in the oil market, not because of a shortage of oil. Peak Oil is bunk if you think we're going to run out soon.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264650 Anonymous Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:31:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264650 The greatest increased happened when gas went to $4 per gallon due to rampant speculation. Fortunately prices went down, because peak oil is bunk. The greatest increased happened when gas went to $4 per gallon due to rampant speculation.

Fortunately prices went down, because peak oil is bunk.

]]> By: Rob Anderson http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264649 Rob Anderson Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264649 Jarrett and guest: "Mode-share adoption is not linear"? You mean we shouldn't pay attention to the actual numbers provided by the city? Common sense says that, compared to other "modes," those riding bikes in the city is still a small minority, but I guess I'm just being too "linear." When you look at the city's annual bicycle counts, the greatest increases happened while the injunction was in place, beginning in 2006. The moral of the story: riding a bike in SF is essentially a political fad that has nothing to do with bike lanes and bike "infrastructure" in general. http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rbikes/documents/2011BicycleCountReportsml.pdf  Jarrett and guest:

"Mode-share adoption is not linear"? You mean we shouldn't pay attention to the actual numbers provided by the city? Common sense says that, compared to other "modes," those riding bikes in the city is still a small minority, but I guess I'm just being too "linear."

When you look at the city's annual bicycle counts, the greatest increases happened while the injunction was in place, beginning in 2006. The moral of the story: riding a bike in SF is essentially a political fad that has nothing to do with bike lanes and bike "infrastructure" in general.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rbikes/documents/2011BicycleCountReportsml.pdf 

]]> By: Jarrett M http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264648 Jarrett M Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:34:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264648 Wasn't bike infrastructure construction frozen for a lot of that time period due to the ridiculous bike injunction? It's hard to grow mode share when you can't build new bikeways.  Wasn't bike infrastructure construction frozen for a lot of that time period due to the ridiculous bike injunction? It's hard to grow mode share when you can't build new bikeways. 

]]> By: guest http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264647 guest Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:47:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264647 When are you going to understand that mode-share adoption is not linear, Rob? You really should spend some time studying behavioral economics (or maybe just basic math, for starters) instead of parroting the same old tiresome non-point every chance you get. When are you going to understand that mode-share adoption is not linear, Rob? You really should spend some time studying behavioral economics (or maybe just basic math, for starters) instead of parroting the same old tiresome non-point every chance you get.

]]> By: Rob Anderson http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264646 Rob Anderson Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264646 The Bicycle Coalition's "20% by 2020" slogan just makes you folks sound dumb, since only 3.5% of commuters in the city now ride bikes. In 2000 it was 2.1%, an increase of only 1.4% in ten years. http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rbikes/documents/2011BicycleCountReportsml.pdf The Bicycle Coalition's "20% by 2020" slogan just makes you folks sound dumb, since only 3.5% of commuters in the city now ride bikes. In 2000 it was 2.1%, an increase of only 1.4% in ten years.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rbikes/documents/2011BicycleCountReportsml.pdf

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.streetfilms.org/san-francisco-reclaiming-streets-with-innovative-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-264644 Anonymous Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:51:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=52457#comment-264644 Very inspiring and so exciting to see so many great programs all pointing to the same conclusion:  People have a right to as much, if not more, space than cars. Very inspiring and so exciting to see so many great programs all pointing to the same conclusion:  People have a right to as much, if not more, space than cars.

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