standards, i wanted to respond to the chair. there are a couple of recommendations we have made that touch on what you're talking about. one of the recommendations we made is we focus on when lines run every 10 minutes or less, that we focus on headway in herons -- adherence. if your bus comes every half- hour on the 12 in the 42, it is after the hour, you care a lot about schedule adherence. i don't look at the timetables, i look at the next bus to see how soon it is coming. and -- >> have you drawn the line at 10 minutes? >> that is a recommendation the cac made a number of years ago

and we will be looking at that again. as part of this. >> i am sorry, but could you refresh us, have been specific recommendations regarding service standards and how we might want to change calculating them? >> we have made a number of recommendations on that front. i do not want to try to recall them from memory. i am likely to get stuff wrong and people will get mad at me and there will not be an 11th term. >> fair enough. >> we can for that to you. >> we have what we need. given that you are discussing it, i am happy. >> we have a committee meeting coming up on that as well. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> you have a member of the

public that wishes to address the board on members that were addressed. -- items that were addressed. not on today's calendar. >> could afternoon. -- good afternoon. mark gruber with united taxicab workers. i wanted to comment on the cac's recommendation to allow cameras into access into bike lanes to drop off patrons who maybe disabled. if you try to make a distinction between disabled passengers and ones who need access to the bike lanes and other passengers, you are getting into an ambiguous

area. it is going to be difficult for drivers to know when they can or cannot use that lane. it will be difficult for enforcement. i would only suggest that perhaps a study be done to determine how many drops there are by taxis on a given street. let's take market street between eighth street and ninth street. on a given day. is it 10, is a 100, visit 1000? i know isit is not 1000. these numbers do not indicate there will not be a significant problem. the best and simplest thing would to be to allow taxis to drop off their passengers which would also be a safety factor for those passengers. thank you. >> thank you.

>> if i could have a moment, i would like to take it. mark gruber has talked at length about that. there is no discrimination. whether it is black, white, handicap, not handicapped. we brought people off and if they want to be safely dropped off, the cab driver will parpull over to the curb and recommend they go to the bright side of the camp facing forward. safety paramounts black, white, crippled, non-kabul. there should be no distinction. they should do it in a safe manner and that would be by the curb. unfortunately, the customer thinks we can stop where they want. the cabdriver has control over the vehicle and should put it not necessarily where the customer wants it.

that may be a conflict of the role. in order to pull over safely, and as close to that person's destination, sometimes they say, "i want out here right now." that could be the interest of customer service. we're talking about standards, the reason i started my survey, there was no baseline to judge from. that was before an unprecedented number of cabs work at it in 1988, 1999, and 2000. during that time my study started in 1998. that was before the calves were added, by the way. before 9/11, before the last recession. you can see the standards. you can see the baseline and you can see what someone from london thinks of san francisco campus and what someone from the sun set for -- thinks of san

francisco cabs. there was no standard. there was no baseline. another reason was dispatched. >> next speaker, please. >> there is no more for a citizens' advisory council report. we will move on to public. >> i missed the topic but i wanted to reinforce what was being said. what is the definition of a taxi? we take people from a specific destination to another destination. i have had some discussions with joyce coolahahoulihan. i thought they could drop someone off. to drop them off in front of their definition, that is the definition of taxi.

we were not going to drop in front of the destination. so the thing is in supporting web taxis do, it would be important that you give the drivers leeway. not to sit there. i hope we can get this issue resolved as soon as possible. thank you. >> moving on to public comment. these are matters that are considered to me within the jurisdiction of the board of directors but not on today's agenda. >> good afternoon. congratulations on your new position. i took time for my shift today to stop here and i simply want to voice my support for the idea of the taxi industry.

i think it would be better served if we had our own division within the mta. i would also like to support chris hiashi being the director of the division. i personally saw last week town cars that were illegally trying to pursue taxi fares being ticketed by two officers, which was pleasing to see. i would like to see more of that on a friday and saturday night. i think chris spearheaded that idea. the idea of the taxi industry having its own di i think would streamline the process, would make it easier for all of you to get information, especially you, director.

you could get it directly from and she would -- she has to go through channels and speak to someone before she speaks to you. maybe that would make it easier. it would be a better process for all. thank you. >> thank you. >> our next speakers. >> good afternoon again. i want to welcome you as director of muni. i have confidence you will take the action on these items. we have to get them out of the city. portland has done a, europe has done a, there's no reason why we cannot. traffic cops, we need them. the drivers need them.

we don't have move back signs and i keep shoultinshutting it o the rear. europe this kyrgyz karzai and cities. get rid of friday night critical mass. speak to the drivers and the activists. it will help you. market street should have no cars on van ness to the embarcadero. merchants cannot complain because there's no parking there. get that done, that is so important. it is frustrating every day i ride. every -- meters are out of order. we have to take care of this. there is no discipline and no supervision. that is what is needed to get this many back on track, so to speak. again, best of luck and i hope i can help you on many more things. please call me. >> thank you.

next speaker. >> good afternoon. i came with both the problem maybe you can address and also a suggestion you definitely can address. it seems a lot of the municipal lobbyists scrap -- screwed up. there is a bill that would make it more restrictive to use red light cameras. it is too late to get it on the policy and government's agenda. i am always suggesting of any of you think you know anybody who has the governor's ear to veto it. it will require more signage. it will be more costly. the only arguments are red light cameras are used to raise revenue. nobody accepts -- except san francisco has done a study of

collisions for severity. this may be whatever any of you can do, please do so. the suggestion, this is something i can walk with -- came up with. trying to put a simple cardboard signs inside city garages and where there is employee parking lot reminding them, do not drive using a hand-held cell phone. i saw in many operator in uniform in his vehicle leaving one of the barnes talking on his cell phone. this is something you can do but also for the city rush -- brajagarages. you can talk to the province that have parking lot. rec and park for their garages. they have so many tourists, they may not know about it.

you can help everybody's safety. >> good afternoon. welcome. i have been driving a taxi for 27 years. i have my medallion. i have no axe to grind. all i care about is the health of the industry. this cannot necessarily be said for many of the people from whom you will hear. the cabinetry is rife with forces that have many hidden agendas with greed being the primary unifying factor. the industry is labyrinthian. it requires enormous resources and dedication. cab driving is one of the riskiest of all occupations. this deserves far more

recognition than it receives. why are we not our own division? why is not the director in the most effective position possible? why is her decision making hampered by increasingly bureaucratic motions? she is the most efficient and knowledgeable director we have had an anyone who says otherwise has motives they should be questioned. i have begged this issue many times and i am hoping that someone will hear. thank you. >> thank you. >> our next speakers. >> that afternoon. thanks to the medallion sales pilot program, a retired cabbie. the weather tends tog e get warm in september and october. taxi drivers are your friends. i'm here to support the return

of taxi services back to a full division. the way i see it, her mojo has been making taxi changes work. the results have been remarkably positive. i am worried about undermining a fair and democratic approach. it has been beyond her tenure. and hilly -- ed healy had a blog busting limos and investigating limos. i feel taxi services needs to be a division to counter the power

plays in our industry. i thank you for what you are doing for the city will love. >> thank you. >> our next speakers. >> good afternoon. thank you for the cost of living increase. let me express the next hope is recommended in tears, not in a and there will be no more politicization. many problems, balance and functionality would be resolved if the taxi division would be restored to the blanket enjoyed. finance and kept driving are organizations of two different functions. it is thought of as explicative and unfair. right now would be an opportune moment to make the change. there have to be some immediate

effects and many of the most thoughtful people in the industry feel this structural change would be most beneficial. please promote the director and her division back to tk. please invest in open taxi access and make san francisco the first city in the world was transparent have ability. it is accept -- no increase has made the geographic extremes in more appealing. your predecessor removed open access from the table. if the council has recommended it to be reconsidered. please make this google maps of the cab industry and reality. >> thank you.

>> good afternoon. firstly, i wish to welcome mr. rieskin as manager. this is an agency -- he said he would fix muni by 2012. the mta board fixed him. that record shows -- joins the record under the heels -- wheels. now is the time to repair the damage that has been done. these thoughts come to mind. mta strike a balance between the needs of passengers, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. there is no legal reason to

preclude pedestrian -- the pedestrian sasafety advisor in committee. in light of the recent tragic deaths, pedestrians must be able to cross the intersection without being run over by many coaches and bicyclists. there is also a strong and irrational prejudice against unnecessary use of automobiles that lawyers realistic thinking. parking has increased and not decreased as a problem. this problem must be addressed. more parking meters will not solve it. taxi drivers should not be punished for the services they provide. the transit effectiveness project, the product of twisted thinking omust be drastically revised if not undone. for the inconvenience in potential harm to the most fiscally fragile writer -- rider.

please stop paying -- playing mta baseball. advocates are not public enemies. >> good afternoon. i am charles rathbone on behalf of luxor cab. you approve new permits. we focused on the number and type of permits. on closer examination, we believe there was a significant problem which nobody addressed at the meeting. nobody commented on it. the resolution requires that the new taxis must be low emissions vehicles. that is perfectly consistent with the greenhouse gas reduction program that is arguably the greatest

achievement of the former taxi commission. that has been spectacularly successful. even as other cities struggle with lawsuits and injunctions to block their own programs. we were very surprised to realize that at your last meeting, you approved and exception to our greenhouse gas emissions program for vehicles over $25,000 in cost. we believe there is no good reason to open up a loophole in our cities excellent greenhouse gas emissions program. remember that if you allow one company to go through a loophole, you will need to allow all 1500 + camps to go through the same loophole. by way of example, a quick check of the website shows a new ford escape cost over $30,000 while a

gasoline powered one is several thousand less but over $25,000. there is significant incentive to go back to non-green vehicles. i please ask you to revisit the resolution and remove the exception that is in the second resolved clause. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> howard strassner. >> i want to welcome the director and new board member. welcome. i have been writing essays trying to do with some problems as i see them. i see mostly small problems and small fixes. it comes to mind this is going to be more important. one minute -- saving one minute

average is $15 million a year. that is real money. you can do a lot and provide a lot of extra services. when these things start to get close to happening, you guys will have to have the courage. they fixed the 5 and took that looked out and made it go through. that is life in a small city. everything you do will have a problem. you eliminate a stop to speed up. to speed up certain lands. i cannot walk that far. i tried to show that the walks are not very far. you cut service a little bit to get it to where you want to get it. they do not have to think about that. everyone else is getting a fast ride. that is your job to balance everything out. when does it help the most and heard drivers? there's not enough room. when muni gets a share, maybe

they get almost a whole street. you have to do with the cards. you have a lot to do. in joye thinking about this and trying to use the data that is available to help. i hope i can help more. thank you. >> our next speakers. >> thank you. welcome and thank you for taking on this enormous assignment. this week i sent forward a taxi industry analysis paper to you and i hope the various directors can read it. maybe it will give you understanding of the background history and recurring issues. during the two years you have been in charge i do not think -- am not sure this board has realize the difference with taxis of me -- and simply put

those other entities. we are in private enterprise. there are individuals in the industry including the regulator and other activists. mta would basically take over as owners in a taxi companies and rent out medallions. i do not think this will work. it will be a firestorm of resistance and litigation. it is your position or roll to regulate the industry, not to own it. you have another commissioner who came from the taxi commission. i think he has a practical approach. he understands the taxi advisory council that was established to oversee the pilot program has been successful. i hope you will listen to some of his advice. there is a need to reopen the process to sell them from the

elderly and disabled. people have no exit strategy and the safety valve is not there. they advisory council did approve a report supporting the program. i do not think it has been sent to you. there is a minority report which she will send you. maybe the director can have the director report and see which one is better. >> there are costs -- this is a time to destortroy the medallion vetting list. you are selling medallions. you are gibvinving medallions on

the seniority list. they come and claim a medallion. the dirverrivers not on the lisd their opportunity to put their name on the list. i waited ten years to put my name on the list. i urge you to revisit this matter and make a change to issue on the waiting list. it is unfair to drivers like me who have been drivingt continuoosly. i will never receive a note

medallion under this system. -- a both medallion under this system. i would like to ask you one more time. where is my medallion? the medallion ironed and deserve. don't let me cry, please. thank you. what happened in the last meeting, it was on purpose to encourage the cab drivers with no english or little english to come up here and speak for their rights. yes on bill of rights for the come drivers. that will do. >> thank you. our neck speakers. -- next speakers.

cresskill afternoon. i have been a san francisco cab driver for more than 25 years. i was a lease driver and ramp cab permit holder and driver. six years ago i got my medallion. i have loved this industry. i am 68 now. grown old with all the people who keep traipsing appear to speak to you. in this spirit of a new beginning, i have faith to pound box of -- two pound box of chocolate covered, and i would like to present to you. i would like to add my endorsement and the idea that we 7000 cabdve