Bike guy takes over Muni
 |
| Reiskin is a Bike Guy |
Bike guy Ed Reiskin is now the executive director of the MTA. A Chronicle story tries to put his appointment in context:
He faces demands to improve Muni's lackluster record on reliability, to enact the new contract for Muni operators, which came with promises to save money and improve service, and to free up hundreds of millions of dollars for the controversial Central Subway rail extension into Chinatown.
The main reason Muni has a "lackluster record on reliability" is because the city is wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the Central Subway, money that should go to Muni and, while they're at it, paving city streets.
And since when is the Central Subway "controversial"? Only Howard Wong and the folks at Save Muni have steadfastly opposed that boondoggle. Not a single supervisor or a single candidate for mayor has criticized the wasteful project.
BART director Tom Radulovich has come out in opposition, but he's the only elected official in the city who has.
Muni, with 700,000 boardings a day, is the transportation agency's top priority. But it also oversees San Francisco's parking policy, traffic management, taxi regulation and pedestrian and bicycle programs---all significant and often contentious undertakings in their own right.
Even though Muni raises more than $180 million a year from parking tickets, parking meters, and parking lots, the city still has to borrow money to maintain our streets!
Muni should be the agency's "top priority," but bike guy Reiskin---who told the Bicycle Coalition last year that he supports slowing city traffic on behalf of cyclists---may not be the man for the job, since implementing the Bicycle Plan on city streets will mean slowing Muni on busy city streets.
Labels: Anti-Car, Bicycle Coalition, Central Subway, Ed Reiskin, Muni, Old Farts on Bikes, Parking, SF Chronicle, Traffic in SF
posted by Rob Anderson @ 11:48 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
If the SFPD enforced existing bus only lanes, we'd see a marked improvement in speeds. Extend those lanes, and enforcement, and the bike lanes would be a moot point.
The main reason Muni has a "lackluster record on reliability" is because the city is wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the Central Subway, money that should go to Muni and, while we're at it, paving city streets.
--> The hundreds of millions are not being spent yet, but if say, we had 100 million for MUNI to spend on something besides the CS, what would we spend it on that would improve reliability?
--> And I thought the people who benefit from better paved streets were the damn cyclists? What do you care?
The city just signed a $233 million contract for the Central Subway tunnel work alone.
Everyone benefits from well-paved streets, though potholes are a more direct threat to cyclists than to motorists, who experience discomfort and possible damage to their vehicles. There are potholes on McAllister Street that shake and rattle the #5 bus and that must also damage the buses over time, thus causing higher repair and maintenance to Muni.
Ah!
OK, let's say we get that 233 million back, fire Ed, and hire Rob Anderson. How are you going to make that 233 million turn into reliability?
$233 million would buy a lot of buses and drivers.
And then there's the $248 million bond on the November ballot to pave city streets. I wonder about the interest city taxpayers will be paying for that one.
Again, enforce bus only lanes and speed up buses. If a bus can make a run 5 min faster, with 5 min headways, that's one less bus per hour. You can either up service on that route or move the extra driver and bus to another route.
Simple, easy fix.
Don't like the CS? Why aren't you fighting for a transit only Stockton St? Private autos are at least 80% of the reason Stockton is so slow.
$233 million would buy a lot of buses and drivers.
More buses and drivers to get stuck behind double parkers. Better to buy a lot of meter maids and towtrucks.
I wonder about the interest city taxpayers will be paying for that one.
best time ever to borrow money. 2% interest, pay it back with inflated Obamadollars.
The old farts keep losing.
Because you young farts are so cool and so smart about public policy---the Bicycle Plan, Congestion Pricing, Critical Mass, high-speed rail, the Central Subway, Parkmerced, Treasure Island---the hits just keep on coming!
More highways, more airports, more parking. Just pave the whole damn country.
You old farts really have this down to a science.
Wait until we elect Michelle and get rid of Social Security and medicare! Nirvana!
Post a Comment
<< Home