Whereas, $564,460 to get kids on bikes

SF Bicycle Coalition

A proposed resolution from the SFMTA:

SAN FRANCISCO 

MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

RESOLUTION No. ______________ 

WHEREAS, In 2017, the Department of Public Health (DPH) applied for funds for the Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Project (Project) for the 2019-2021 school years; and, 

WHEREAS, The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) was budgeted in the grant application to receive $564,460 to provide technical assistance and to assist with outreach and communications for the Project; and, 

WHEREAS, As San Francisco’s Congestion Management Agency, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) is responsible for programming San Francisco’s share of One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Cycle 2 funds; the OBAG program is an initiative of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); and, 

WHEREAS, The SFCTA programmed OBAG funds for the Project, in part, on the condition that grant oversight of the Project be transferred to the SFMTA; and, 

WHEREAS, The OBAG funds originate from the Federal Highway Administration, and are administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and, 

WHEREAS, On March 6, 2018, the SFMTA Board adopted a Resolution of Local Support for the Project, as required by MTC; and, 

WHEREAS, When Caltrans approved the grant application, it also approved sole sourcing to SFBC a contract for technical assistance and outreach, as set forth in the grant application; and, 

WHEREAS, There is no Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) subcontracting participation requirement for this Contract; and, 

WHEREAS, On July 24, 2019, the SFMTA, under authority delegated by the Planning Department, determined that Contract No. 2019-40 is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Sections 15060(c) and 15378(b); and, 

WHEREAS, On February 1, 2019, Caltrans determined that the Project, including the services in Contract No. 2019-40, qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion under 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 771.117(c): activity (c)(1) and as such, there is no requirement to prepare an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and, 

WHEREAS, Copies of the CEQA and NEPA determinations are on file with the Secretary to the SFMTA Board of Directors and are incorporated herein by reference; now, therefore, be it, 

RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors approves SFMTA Contract No. 2019-40, with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to provide services to support the Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Project, for a contract amount not to exceed $564,460, and for a term of two years. 

I certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors at its meeting of September 17, 2019. 

______________________________________ 

Secretary to the Board of Directors 

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Rob's comment:

For children riding a bike is more dangerous than football, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, but what do they know?

A story in the SF Chronicle: "Bicycling was No.1 [cause of injury] for 8- to 11-year-olds, and it was the only activity to be in the top five for kids of all ages." Later: The Chronicle's headline on this story is a lie ("Basketball, football top youth injury list"). Our leading daily couldn't bring itself to highlight bad news about its long-time support for the misguided bike revolution. See also this.

A recent story in the SF Weekly: Safe Streets Advocates Demand S.F. Declare a Traffic State of Emergency. 

If the Bicycle Coalition and Walk SF think city streets are so dangerous, why do they encourage children to ride bikes on those streets?

The answer: because they are fanatics for whom everything and everyone---even the city's children---are mere accessories to their anti-car crusade in San Francisco.

The Bicycle Coalition strikes a note of urgency: Don't let your children miss out.

Streetsblog and Mayor Breed support this foolishness.

See also The irresponsible bike hype.