everyone still drive their cars. i feel like it is not as important when the purpose is to get people on the bike, like do not worry about the spot because it will work itself out one way or another. people will not be driving as much. one more thing, i was reading about the funding, and there is the -- [bell rings] commissioner buell: that is the 30-second warning. >> the transportation fund for clean air, i feel like that is completely within the realm to support this project. and do it. thank you. >> justin and ike. >> good morning, commissioners. my name is justin. my family and i live in the mission, and we do not own a car, and we get around by bicycle as much as possible.

my wife and i take our 3-year- old daughter on bikes, and we go through golden gate park. we're members of the california academy of sciences. we go do there. we go to birthday parties. we use jfk drive to get to ocean beach for beach days. so i am is strongly in support of this project. we need to do everything we can to make cycling safer, especially in the park. it anywhere in the city, and the park. i really think this will help encourage other families to also use their bicycles as well. so thank you for hearing this issue, and i strongly hope you supported. thank you. commissioner buell: thank you. >> bob. >> i am bob, and i oppose this design as it is now. it has not done adequate safety analysis. plus, it has not really done out reach appropriate for people

with energy and functional limitations. having an evening meeting works against people who are transit- dependent. you have to walk a long distance from a bus stop to get there. so to say you had public outreach is somewhat irrelevant to some limited constituencies. i want to remind you of an early slide you showed, the one about chicago, where is working. if you go back to that sly, you'll see that there is a bicyclist in the wide buffer zone. so right away, they're showing an example where the pedestrian safety zone is at risk. staff said it will be three to 6 feet wide. no commitment. a lift lateral deployment takes 8 feet. that is only for accessible spaces -- for van-accessible spaces. but we can part in any of these zones. it is a maximum of 6 feet,

meaning somebody is two feet into the bike zone. use of a bicyclist in that same buffer zone ford pedestrians. my point is, the thought has not been there. let me make it personal but right now, there are five of you. that means four yes votes. two big you could say this needs better design. [bell rings] if any of you folks had, let's say, a big amusement park like one in missouri and you're going to put in some bike lanes in europe told it would put seniors and people with disabilities at risk. when you risk your assets? would you put at risk if you're told there were safety problems? would you say let's build it or would you say let's redesign? you may be immune from liability, but if your money was at stake, would you do this? commissioner buell: thank you. >> ike and then tatiana, john,

and leah. >> good morning. i am the director of operations for the california academy of sciences. we do support this, to clarify a few things. first, i am an avid cyclist. i am getting used to san francisco hills. our parking garage filled up quickly on the weekends and during the holidays could usually fills up during lunchtime. i live in the neighborhood and sea traffic backing up on the streets. we try to do a good job with the public. we try to encourage the use of alternative transportation. 71% of our staff can use sustainably.

almost four million a year of our tenants drive. most of those folks are from outside of san francisco county. we ask that we keep in mind that parking is at a premium bid to a degree, it does feel like we are dividing up crumbs when it comes to five spaces vs seven, but it is important. also, the average length of stay for our guests is about four and half hours. putting parking limits on the weekends may not serve anyone's interests. we have those in our staff that do drive. oftentimes they are our front- line staff. they live in the city via the use lunch breaks to try to find another parking spot, which is counterproductive. also, we wanted to share that visitors have said parking is their biggest turn off. we want to make sure that we keep in mind the 70% of our visitors -- 70% of our operating income -- income, and the operating impact on people with jobs and parking in the neighborhoods will be felt.

with that, we thank you for listening, and we support this project. thank you. >> next. >> good morning, commissioners. thidequate width for deploying a side left door ramp. i and, as all wheelchair users will have to exit and enter the ramp from the bike lane. this plan fails to provide any tactile paths of travel information. those who are blind, low vision. members of that disabled constituency can easily walk into either the active bike lane or an active traffic lane.

this is dangerous for people with disabilities, seniors, and others. thank you. >> john, daniel, leah, and then bruce. lawrence lee and daniel tomasavich. >> good morning. john daniel. i heard comments about people that may be disabled and do not look disabled. i am in that category. i am on medicare, social security, for disability because i got aids about 20 years ago, full-blown aids. i asked my upstairs neighbor, a nurse, what i should do, and one, it was travel. i had 17 t-cells left, so it was

time to go to europe were used to live as a kid. she also suggested bicycling. right now, welcome in 1999, i got hit by a car in a the bike lanes when they went in on valencia's street. they gave me the illusion of being said, but a car hit me in the bike lane at the corner of valencia and cesar chavez. that to teach me to walk again. i have structural problems with my feet. i ended up in the hospital three months ago with a blood infection caused by an open sore on my toe because of this church or problems in my feet. i have already had won a reputation to my right foot and am looking forward to another one on the left. they're checking it every month with x-rays to see of it needs to be cut off because of the bone infection. these are important things. this has gone on since 1999, in my case. i am just say, i am tired of smelling secondhand smoke from cars. [bell rings]

i have a car. i realize that we are in denial of our complicity in wars for oil, because they're no weapons of mass destruction found in iraq. and what the hell are we there for? we're here to placate people in cars, and asian of car drivers, and they are in complete denial that we have blood on our hands being in iraq. if you're talking about compromising with people who drive cars, 50% of our balance of trade deficit is due to the import of oil. [bell rings] that is before you start to talk about the import of cars and car-related products. commissioner buell: thank you. >> next. >> good morning, commissioners. is it the executive director of the san francisco bicycle coalition. we represent 12,000 dues paying members. we work with hundreds of thousands of people across the city who are already biking or

are interested. i want to share an impressive number. the mta had counted that just in the last four years, biking in the city has increased 56%. we are seeing a boom. our goals with this project and with our work with the mta and park and rec and the office of disability is to make sure that there are more safe opportunities to ride. that is what this about, safe, welcoming, inviting biking opportunities. i want to thank the staff who has worked so hard on this. there are similar project you have heard about from portland, new york city, and chicago. they are ahead of us. they are doing and on the ground. we're seeing improving results. more people are biking. conditions are safer. that means for people biking and people walking. that is a great thing, a win- win. i have a big pack of support here, some great supporters, and a lot of people cannot make it. i have 200 e-mails of support. and a few we have with extra

special stories. i want to share one of the women who cannot be here. ashley and her husband live in the presidio, both teachers. they have two small children bike a route regularly. but she says, however, the park fills dangers and unfriendly. we have been shouted at to get off the road by people in cars. families on bikes should feel safe in the park. if not in the park, where can you feel safe? a buffer will make me and other bikers will say and make it obvious to drivers that we belong on the road. i will stop there. i want to share these with you. there are so many folks out there who are trying to make it safe and in fighting for the people who would like to ride, even if they are not riding yet in your park. thank you. commissioner buell: thank you. >> hello. i am bruce, a 30-year resident

of the richmond district. i am and member of the academy of sciences, a member of the fine arts museum in san francisco. member of the san francisco bicycle coalition. it also one of the unlucky people who has to drive a car to mountain view for my employment, so i drive three days a week. it is not fun. i wish i were not dependent on the car, i am. but i do not see any reason why we have to tolerate it in the park. sundays are great day to ride in the park. it is gloria's. my wife and i come out. i wish my kids could have done it also. they're not run. my oldest daughter lives in brooklyn, and she makes fun of me because prospect park now is a great place to ride. and golden gate park still is not. we have world-class parking. we should keep -- we have a world-class park, and we should

keep it that way. that is all. thank you. commissioner buell: thank you. >> i am lawrence lee, a resident. from there, i bike downtown to go to work. i bike west through the part to enjoy some dirt under my feet, to find peace and the sculpture garden, sometimes to go to a late-night party at the museum. i really love those museums on those institutions. their 21st century institutions. not only with the architecture but the programming at the academy of sciences, working on educating people about climate change. and the museum offers a discount if you discountmuni -- if you take muni. this is the 21st century proposal that needs to happen now. it needs to turn into a 21st

century park which meets the needs of today's residents, giving a safe place for children and adults, like myself, to learn to bike safely, to practice their skills so they can get out to the streets. i actually feel safer on market street than i do going through jfk. it is because of the level of uncertainty. i. rided -- i have rode my bike in the dark, and people honk at me. people drive at high speeds. that does not happen on market street. [bell rings] a 21st century park also integrates recreation into our daily lives. and biking is a perfect example of how something fun that one does on the weekend can also go into our daily lives. finally, a modern park will

maximize its space, so i think the need is there for this bike track, the space is there, and i urge you to approve it. thank you. commissioner buell: thank you. >> good day, commissioners. my name is daniel. i live in the sunset district. i strongly oppose this jfk drive cycle track plan, because it is a bad design. everyone enjoys going to golden gate park. bicycles use jfk drive without problems. the road is wide enough for the bicyclist to ride safely. mta has not addressed pedestrian safety. pedestrians need to walk over bicycle lane buffer zones, in front of the parked cars and moving vehicles to reach the middle of a crosswalk. bicyclist do not make a complete stop at intersections, often missing at the district by a few

inches. golden gate park has not been tested in san francisco. people with disabilities, if they find parking, they will need to park 12 feet from the curb in the streets. how can they safely reach the sidewalks? the plan eliminates a vehicle curbside parking. many residents cannot ride a bicycle. they depend on cars. 100 parking spaces along to if they drive will be removed. nt is not offering the same amount of parking elsewhere, and it will be impossible for many people to visit the park in the future. mta did a poor job on out reach. no way to perform the public. how will the police and other vehicles access jfk drive? safety is important for all users. mta has only one group in mind. pedestrian, runners, and people with disabilities were left in the dark. mta said they decided on a single sidewalk track plan.

that is misleading. they created a survey for one group, showing that the survey is totally biased. the plan of $451,000 is not developed. it would be better if there was a petition to put it on hold until police, fire, emergency and the public is considered before any further improvements are considered. [bell rings] >> thank you. next. >> good morning. i live in the area and across the panhandle four times a week, where i dodge vehicles, where i dodge bicycles every day. in four years as chair of the physical assets council, this is probably the most important issue in terms of safety for people with mobility impairments, especially since this could be replicated throughout san francisco.

but it only came to us on friday. and then only because of a of te parking spaces and not the design itself. it won't come before the full council until tomorrow. it comes before the access committee today. this is the true input. this is dangerous for the disabled and seniors. by switching the parking lane to provide physical separation between bicycles and cars, this eliminates the current separation. the pedestrians joined from the parked cars, with a narrow strip, and then cross that line.

for those with mobility impairments, it is basically many hundreds and affects almost all of these spaces. these are parked in regular space is more often. like many, i have a wheel -- a wheelchair and a minivan with a side ramp. it would be impossible to enter and exit to the vehicles, and 10 more seconds. we should have a little bit more than two minutes. i can tell you that i will not feel safe or be safe with this. let's focus on this particular design, --

>> diane and paul? >> i ride a bicycle between 8000 and 9,000 miles per year, 2,000 miles per year on the streets of san francisco. this beautiful new repaving, i consider this, in its current state, to be one of the most accommodating venues for bicycle riding in san francisco. i am terrified -- terrified of the prospect of driving through this as it is currently designed. it will often be populated by bicycle lists with different levels of speed, often driving

being followed by the training cyclists, trying to pass them. i expect the buffer zone will be a passing zone and a passenger and loading zone. this is for accidents and close calls, among the population of the bike path. i think the commission for their interest in the well-being and positive experience of cyclists, and asked for them to reject this proposal, redirecting the concerns and the resources to projects that would benefit those who actually ride bicycles. and conservatory drive which is used by hundreds of cyclists every day.

chu e., martha, lisa bonner, and julia -- and paul. >> i am resident of san francisco. i have been here for 15 years now, the european extract. this is mystified as to why private automobiles are allowed at all. i have come to accept this. and that i see that this proposed segregated bicycle lane seems to be the best option, and i ride a bicycle or take public transportation. that is one of the reasons i came to live in san francisco.

this transportation mode -- i race bicycles. i am one of the group that is on tuesdays on the west side of the park. and i can say that no training cyclist would use the bicycle lane. the training site lists that i know -- they would ride on the roads, and the bicycle lanes would be used for their intended purpose, which is the commuter for the slower times like this. i do not always stand around at the high speeds, and i have almost been hit by a car but

this has not happened yet. i have almost been hit on four different occasions. i am fearful of the occasion that causes a disabling industry -- injury. and i welcome any initiative that increases the safety of bicycle riders. >> martha, lisa, juliet, and christopher. john tollaway and patty. >> i used to serve with the citizen's advisory committee, and i am also of officer with the association of responsible people, just south of golden gate park.

we totally oppose this plan. the unintended consequences and the mass transit authority. i live just to the south of golden gate park. we used to have three lanes of traffic, with a northbound lanes, and a few of them had southbound lanes. but there were always three lanes of traffic. they talked about calling this traffic. and we signed on to this. who does not want this? we wanted to direct the traffic, leaving the neighborhood safer for the children, the rest of them. they put in two lanes of bicycles, cutting out one traffic lane, and leaving a

turning lane which worked out well for the people driving into their homes. what happened was, traffic was backed up. if you are on lincoln, that commute times, you cannot even go to seventh avenue. and if you are on the the alphabetical street, you cannot even turn on to seventh because the cars are already there and there is no room for you. what i am talking about this, be careful. when we solved the problem, we ask for the mass transit authority to come speak to us. i am saying when you have this land, the cars will circle around looking for a place to park in the neighborhood.

do not approve this. >> martha? >> i am part of the 7% of the bikers, and i feel confident. but even when i fight, with market street i feel relaxed and safer, and i can enjoy my bike a little bit more. i also know that because i go for the park a lot, it is hard to see where the blacks should or should not be. in the pavement on some of the recreational pathways, and i think that by having the very visual biking area, the tourists and the families will come to this museum and i think it is

important that the parks be for recreation and not parking cars. >> lisa or julia, could you come forward? christopher? >> i live in the richmond district. i only learn how to ride a bicycle three years ago because i saw all of these biking lanes. and i thought that maybe i should try this. and through a wonderful education class i learned how to ride my bike. i am always on the east, and to me, having this designated space would be a huge difference in how comfortable that i feel in dealing with cars. i often am afraid i will be cut off.

it is tough enough to ride on jfk, and if we had this kind of infrastructure i would have gotten out of a lot sooner. >> thank you. >> i am a six-year resident of san francisco and i commute by bicycle every day. i spend an hour of every day in the streets of san francisco. and i ride my bicycle to the following destinations, with jfk. there is the golf course, and the outside lands to the west, and occasionally ocean beach.