[Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)

[Brinkman, Cheryl]

So, that is one more reason why car drivers need to pay more in the way
of taxes and fees - to cover enforcement.  And, the more we manage to
enforce for smaller stuff the more likely we are to stop the bigger
stuff - the guy who shot the GG Bridge toll person had a bunch of
traffic warrants out on him.  If he had been pulled over for running a
stop sign or speeding he never would have made it to the shooting - he
would have been arrested.
 
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/11/BAG27C62T21.D
TL
<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/11/BAG27C62T21.
DTL> 
"a city resident who was already on probation and wanted on traffic-
related warrants"
 
The WalkSF instigated SFPD Crosswalk sting netted a bunch of drivers
with no insurance and/or no drivers licenses.  Wasn't the Oklahoma
bomber pulled over for a traffic citation?
 
 
Motorcycles
 
I'm about to start working on motorcycle parking on our street - I
noticed that the longer then one car spot in front of our building had
five motorcycles parked in it for a few days - a much more efficient use
of space then one car - and makes it easier for me to see over the bikes
to the street when pulling my bicycle out of the garage.  We did get a
few motorbikes on our sidewalk and I called them in - along with my
routine calls about cars on the sidewalks.  The sidewalks are for
pedestrians, and if DPT had bothered to enforce the law over the past
decade or two I wouldn't have to call the cars in because they would not
be there.  Consider it deferred maintenance.  And as we all know,
deferred maintenance is often more expensive.
 
I do feel for the motorbikes for lack of street parking spots
specifically for them - BUT - I see motorcycle parking spots in garages
advertised for not very much money. So, once again, it's not lack of
parking, it's lack of free parking.
 
Cheryl
 
 


  _____  

From: Mike Sallaberry [mailto:Mike.Sallaberry at sfgov.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 1:43 PM
To: Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
Subject: [Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)



Well, you have only so much peanut butter to spread, and a lot of bread
to cover.  If we make a big campaign to focus on bus stop parking
violations, we lose resources in other areas, like enforcing sidewalk
parking, preventing double parking on bus routes or in bike lanes, etc
etc. 

For instance, the person who lives on Hayes St near Divisadero who has
made it their personal quest to call in and have every motorcycle parked
on the 15' wide sidewalk ticketed is taking resources away from what I
think are bigger problems.  And yes, I was one of those people to get a
$100 ticket...thanks so much.  Prior to that, someone (the same person?)
was kind enough to put a U-lock around my front wheel, undoubtedly seen
as an appropriate punishment befitting such a heinous crime, at least
from their righteous point of view. 

Yes, I know that motorcycles can leak oil and are hot right after
operation, but what if they don't and are covered and are not in the
actual sidewalk space people walk?  Is it really worth calling in? 

Thanks.  I don't care if you agree with what I said...I needed that.  :)

Mike

ps  Does anyone else think it's fair that 3' wide, 400lb motorcycles are
ticketed the same amount as 3000 lb cars that block the entire sidewalk
and damage the concrete?  I don't mind parking on the street, but I do
mind my bike getting knocked over by one of the many inept motor vehicle
operators, most probably recently transplanted from a suburb where
parallel parking means pulling your weekday car in next to your weekend
car in the double wide home garage. 

pps Don't worry Suzahna...I know it wasn't you that called in! 

> ...
> Why doesn't DPT (aka MTA)  start enforcing bus stop parking 
> violations? Who would the lobby be that would fight that? 
> Politically, I don't get it.
> 
> suzahna

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