Planning Association for the Richmond, SF

Bicycle theft-recovery registry coming online

More and more people are getting around San Francisco by bicycle, but unfortunately with that increased bike traffic more people are losing bicycles to theft. Richmond SFPD says stolen bikes are one of the most common property crimes, lifted from garages and off the street; the police have a warehouse overflowing with recovered bikes, with no effective way to reunite them with their owners.

A new tool to help address bike theft is a voluntary bicycle registration program now launching. According to news reports (SF Examiner 2/9/14), SAFE Bikes, a collaboration between the SFPD and safe-streets advocates (including PAR), will officially launch Thursday (2/13/14); you can take a look at the registry website now and learn more:

SAFE Bikes website

Of course, it's best not to let your bike be stolen, so learn how to secure your bike as well as you can. Get bike locking tips and heads-up theft prevention tips at the SF Bicycle Coalition.

And follow the SF Police Department's @SFPDBikeTheft, started by officer Matt Friedman, who tweets out stolen bike alerts, pictures of bikes the SFPD has recovered, and tips to prevent getting a bike stolen in the first place.

Accessible parking forum this Saturday (Oct 19)

The Mayor's Office on Disability (MOD) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will be hosting a public forum about accessible parking policy this Saturday morning, Oct 19. This forum is an opportunity to learn more about, and provide feedback on, the Accessible Parking Policy Advisory Committee’s recommended policy changes to improve access to parking for people with disabilities.

Accessible parking forum
Saturday, October 19, 2013
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. – welcome and poster session
11 a.m. to noon – presentation and discussion
Port of San Francisco, Pier 1, The Embarcadero

Members of San Francisco’s Accessible Parking Policy Advisory Committee, a stakeholder group comprised mostly of people with disabilities, will present their package of state and local policy recommendations to increase access to parking and reduce disabled parking placard misuse. The package includes:

1. Increase blue zones
2. Improve enforcement of placard misuse
3. Improve DMV oversight of placard approvals
4. Allow jurisdictions to require placard holders to pay at the meter
5. Direct revenue to accessibility improvements
6. Allow jurisdictions to establish reasonable time limits for placard holders

Learn more about the committee and its recommendations at the project web page

Read the updated report covering the committee process, research, recommendations, outreach, and next steps.

The Muni F-line Historic Streetcar has an accessible stop in front of the event location at The Embarcadero and Washington Street. The closest Muni Light Rail/BART station is the Embarcadero Station, approximately 1/4 mile away. For Muni route, schedule, fare and accessible services information anytime, visit SFMTA.com or call 311.

The meeting location is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and others with disabilities. Assistive listening devices, materials in alternative formats, American Sign Language interpreters and other accommodations are available upon request to [email protected] or (415) 701-5380. Providing at least 72 hours notice will help ensure availability.

If you can’t make it on October 19, please send feedback to [email protected] or by calling 415.701.5380.

Sunday Streets in the Richmond District Oct 27; learn more at a community meeting Tuesday 10/8, 10/15, 10/22

Sunday Streets creates miles of car-free streets for people of all ages to “get out and get active” in diverse San Francisco neighborhoods, connecting communities, promoting healthy activity, and supporting local businesses.

Sunday Streets will visit the Richmond District for the very first time on Sunday, October 27, traveling on Clement Street between Funston and Arguello, and Arguello between Clement and Fulton (click here for a route map). From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the streets will be transformed into a safe, fun space for kids, families, friends, and neighbors to get outside and engage in healthy activities while exploring the neighborhood on foot or by bike. All Sunday Streets activities are free and open to all, so come out and enjoy the fun.

Sunday Streets is excited to partner with the Clement Street Farmers Market. For this special one-time collaboration, the market will spread out along four blocks of the route, from Arguello to 5th Avenue. They will be up and running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., so bring an extra bag or two and load up on healthy treats!

Sunday Streets in the Richmond is co-sponsored by Presidio Trust and Parks Conservancy, who will be hosting interactive displays about the Presidio around the intersection of Arguello and Clement.

Questions? Concerns? Please come to a Sunday Streets community meeting any Tuesday this month (10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22):

Sunday Streets in the Richmond — Community Meetings
October 1, 8, 15, 22
6 p.m.
Toy Boat Dessert Cafe
401 Clement Street (at 5th Ave)

For more information, email [email protected], call 415-344-0489 Ext 2, or visit the Sunday Streets website.

And don’t forget that the 20th Annual Pet Pride Day will be taking place on October 27th in Golden Gate Park — swing by Sharon Meadow before, after, or during Sunday Streets to check out on site adoptions, rescue partners, parade, food, kids activities, pet costumes and tricks, and more. Bring your furry friends with you, it’s going to be a great day on the west side of town!

Sun 9/29: Golden Gate Park Roads More Car-Free Than Usual for Academy's Quarterly Free Day and Alice Now & Zen Concert

There's lots going on in Golden Gate Park this Sunday (9/29), fun FREE events — it will be harder to drive through, so walking and biking and shuttle buses will be the best way to go. Ike Kwon at the California Academy of Sciences writes:

Dear Friends,

In honor of the Steinhart Aquarium’s 90th anniversary, the California Academy of Sciences will offer free admission to visitors on Sunday, September 29 as a thank you to the City of San Francisco. On this same day, Alice Radio 97.3 will host the annual Now & Zen Fest concert at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, also free to the public. Regular Sunday street closures in Golden Gate Park will take place. Several thousand visitors are expected at both events during the course of the day.

To do our part, the Academy is doing two things:

1. We are sending the attached notice and map to traffic reporters tomorrow as well as neighborhood groups.
   
   
2. We are paying for 2 additional Rec and Park Rangers and 2 SFPD Officers to help direct traffic in and around Golden Gate Park East.
   
   

Thank you for your support in celebrating this auspicious day.

Sincerely,
Ike

Ike Kwon
General Manager
California Academy of Sciences

See this map for particulars on park circulation and car-free areas, and see this media alert for more on traffic measures for the events.

Outside Lands Festival returns Aug 9-11

It's Big Event Season in Golden Gate Park, starting with Outside Lands next weekend (August 9-11). PAR has been working closely with event organizers Another Planet Entertainment, the SF Police Department, SF Municipal Transportation Agency, Recreation & Parks Dept, Dept of Pubic Works, and Supervisor Eric Mar to prepare for this big event and address community concerns like parking and traffic and noise.

Again this year, Another Planet will have a Community Hotline to respond to any issues that may arise during the festival. The festival hotline will be available from 10:00am – 11:00PM on the festival days. The hotline number is 415-750-3842.

To help alleviate vehicle congestion in our neighborhood, festival promoters are strongly encouraging patrons to take alternative means of transportation to the festival, including MUNI, private shuttles, biking or walking. There will be 2 dedicated tow trucks and 1 Parking Control Officer on each side of the Park to quickly respond to any blocked driveways or any other parking issues related to the Festival. Rec & Park has printed signs alerting attendees to not block driveways, which may be obtained at the front desk of McLaren Lodge at 501 Stanyan St. If you need to have a vehicle towed please call the MTA directly at 415-553-1237.

Read this letter to neighbors from Another Planet Entertainment to learn more.

And mark your calendar for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, coming up on Oct 4-6.