Re: Supe. Avalos’ bike-yield law proposal faces key votes

[About Fucking Time Too]

In article <sta402$s3oe$2...@news.freedyn.de>
governo...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> All you biking assholes who put cars on road diets thought you'd get away with it.
> Fuck you. Laws apply to everyone including you bastards.
>

A plan to allow San Francisco’s bicyclists to roll through stop
signs is expected to roll out of a Board of Supervisors
committee today — although the more important issue is how many
supervisors will vote for it next week.

Supervisor John Avalos said Friday he expects his proposed bike
yield legislation to come out of the board’s Land Use and
Economic Committee today, after a public hearing on the
proposal. That would place it in the hands of the full board for
a vote on Dec. 15.

While Avalos has six votes, he knows he needs eight for it to
become law since Mayor Ed Lee has previously stated he would
veto the legislation. The mayor has not changed his position as
of Friday.

To get to eight votes Avalos would need the support of
Supervisor Malia Cohen, who also chairs the committee. “Malia’s
position may give an indication of the Board of Supervisors
vote, whether we can get to a veto-proof eight,” Avalos said.

It takes eight of the possible 11 votes to override a mayoral
veto. Cohen said Friday via text message she was “undecided on
bike yield.”

The genesis for the proposal happened when bicyclists became
incensed this summer over Park Station Capt. John Sanford’s
proactive ticketing of cyclists rolling through stop signs along
the Panhandle.

That prompted a reexamination of the rationale of existing bike
laws. Avalos proposed his legislation modeled after a similar
existing law in Idaho.

The proposal would make citing bicyclists for not coming to
complete stops at stop signs the lowest enforcement priority.
Supporters say it will improve traffic flow, encourage more
bicycling and free up law enforcement resources for better use.
Bicyclists would have to slow to a safe speed and yield the
right-of-way to any other vehicle or pedestrian in the
intersection.

The Mayor’s Disability Council voted to oppose the legislation.
In a Nov. 24 letter to the board, council co-chairs Chip
Supanich and Denise Senhaux said the goals of the legislation
“come at a high cost for seniors, people with disabilities and
other pedestrians.”

“As it is today, some bicyclists consistently run red lights and
fail to stop while pedestrians are in the intersection with the
right of way,” the letter said. “Giving bicyclists’ permission
to use their best judgment rather than following clear traffic
laws would only make matters worse.”

But Avalos argues his proposal “spells out what is expected of
cyclists — that they must consciously give the right of way.” He
added the proposal “focuses traffic enforcement on those who use
our streets dangerously, including cyclists who put pedestrians
in harm’s way by not yielding.”

Super Bowl 50

The committee will also hold a hearing Monday about the planning
for Super Bowl 50. The planning has been a bit of a public
relations mess for The City, as many people have said they are
unclear about what those plans are.

In August, the mayor made remarks about kicking the homeless out
for the event. There were reports about having to take down Muni
overhead wires to accommodate the event, but that has since been
scrapped amid a backlash over the idea. There are also concerns
about whether taxpayers will have to foot the bill for impacts
to Muni service.

On Tuesday, one of the Board of Supervisors most important votes
is scheduled: Whether to reject an appeal for the environmental
impact report for the Warrior’s arena.

The board may look a little different Tuesday, as District 3
Supervisor-elect Aaron Peskin could begin his term. Mayor Ed Lee
has 10 days from Dec. 1 to sign the certified election results.
Peskin, who is vacationing in Nepal, is expected to arrive at
the San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday morning.

If Lee moves forward on certifying the election results by
Tuesday, Peskin will be sworn into the post that day. As of
Friday, the mayor had not signed them.

https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/supe-avalos-bike-yield-law-
proposal-faces-key-votes/article_d9fb7616-8a5f-57db-a129-
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