Taxi Driver Apparently Runs Red Light at Masonic and Fell, Crashes with and Injures Bicyclist

Crossing with the green bike signal at Masonic

Green bike/pedestrian signal at Masonic; countdown at 6

UPDATE, 9:30 pm, Feb. 14th

This evening I spoke with Officer Will Wong of SFPD Park Station about the collision involving a bicyclist and motorist last night. Officer Wong was at the scene, interviewed the parties involved as well as witnesses, and filed the incident report.

Wong stated that "maybe" there was an illegal left turn by the driver of a taxi van onto Masonic Avenue. He said there were two conflicting stories about the collision. "The taxi driver and his passenger said that there was a solid green light on Fell for them to proceed, but then they weren't absolutely sure it was a green for going forward or for turning left," Wong explained. He added that the bicyclist and other witnesses at the scene said there was clearly a green light for proceeding through the crosswalk.

As noted in the earlier post (below), one witness saw, or caught a quick glimpse of, the collision and another individual noted that the crosswalk countdown was underway and was at the number "6" when she saw it immediately after the incident. The bicycle/pedestrian signal for crossing the crosswalk begins with a solid green for about six seconds and the continues with a countdown starting at fifteen.

Wong said that the bicyclist might have had some responsibility if she entered the crosswalk once the countdown had begun.* "If the light starts flashing and the countdown begins, you're responsible. The countdown is meant for people already in the crosswalk." He added that he understood that many people don't interpret the countdown that way and that he usually doesn't cite for entering once the count begins. Wong said he also realized that whatever the countdown status of the crosswalk signal, the taxi driver had a solid red during that time period.

"Now the determination will be up to the investigators," Wong concluded. "My job is to collect the information." He did not expect the witnesses in the case to be contacted further, which, he said, was not unusual in non-fatal collisions. Officer Wong's incident report has been sent to the Traffic Investigation unit of SFPD Central Command.

* California Vehicle Code, 21456 (b). Flashing or steady "DONT WALK" or "WAIT" or approved "Upraised Hand" symbol. No. pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety zone or otherwise leave the roadway while the "WAIT" or "DONT WALK" or approved "Upraised Hand" symbol is showing.

NOTE: Bicyclists have the right to bike, not walk, across Masonic Avenue using the crosswalk since it is an extension of the bike path, as noted in this previous post.

ALSO, the bicycle light at Fell and Masonic follows this progression: solid green, yellow for 3 seconds, and then red. The bike light stays green until the pedestrian countdown light reaches "0" in its countdown from 15. If this injured bicyclist was in the crosswalk during the countdown, as one witness stated, she was travelling with a solid green light.

A 25 year old female bicyclist was injured late Saturday night when she collided with a blue taxi van that was making an illegal left hand turn from Fell Street onto Masonic Avenue, according to witnesses. The bicyclist complained of shoulder pain and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The driver of the van stopped mid-way in the block between Fell and Oak and was questioned by the police. Several bicyclists travelling the busy mixed-use Panhandle Path and a motorist and passenger stopped to help the injured woman. Three SFPD squad cars, two SFFD fire engines, and an ambulance appeared at the scene as well.

This morning the front desk officer at SFPD Park Station confirmed that an accident report had been completed, but he was unable to provide details of the ten page account because he "was busy with several other matters." He suggested the officer who filed the report might be available to discuss the case later today. He confirmed, however, that the motorist had not been cited, as of yet. He added, "We can do it (cite at the scene) but we usually don't do it." In several other collisions, SFPD has not cited involved parties pending conclusion of an investigation. Last week BIKE NOPA reported the details of a just-released accident report about a pedestrian fatality that occurred September 15th of 2009.

NOPA resident Mariana Parreiras and a friend, who was driving, approached the intersection last night at the time of the crash. "We were travelling northbound on Masonic and stopped at Fell at the signal; we were at the front of the queue and right at the crosswalk," Parreiras recalled. "My friend suddenly yelled and jumped out of the car to help the cyclist." Although she did not witness the collision, Parreiras said she immediately got out of the car and looked at the pedestrian signal countdown because she was concerned that she and her friend might get hit in traffic. "The countdown was at "6," she stated. Parreiras is a member of the neighborhood advocacy group FIX MASONIC and is quite familiar with the intersection and the pedestrian/bicyclist signal. "The light turns green for several seconds and then it begins the countdown; clearly the bicyclist had the right-of-way in the intersection." (Note: the bike/pedestrian light is green for about six seconds and then begins a countdown from fifteen). Parreiras rushed to check on the cyclist who had walked from the middle of the crosswalk and sat down on the sidewalk on the east side.

Parreiras' friend,Tom, was driving the car and spoke to BIKE NOPA, but requested that his surname not be included with his account. Tom said he and Parreiras were in the far left lane travelling north and stopped at Masonic for the red light. "Out of the corner of my eye I saw a bicyclist coming (from the west) through the intersection. It happened very quickly... I'm not sure if I saw or heard the collision first. I heard some crunching and realized the cyclist had been hit," Tom stated. "I shifted into park and turned on the blinker. I saw that others were with the cyclist and I got out to get the bicycle out of the way before something further happened." A few minutes later Tom returned to his car and moved it around the corner. He told a police officer what he saw and provided his contact information. He concluded, "It seemed as though the facts were fairly straightforward about what happened." By 5 p.m. this afternoon, he had not been contacted further by SFPD.

The Fell and Masonic intersection is considered one of the most dangerous intersections in the city, with multiple collisions between motorists and bicyclists or pedestrians. The mixed-use path coursing through Panhandle Park crosses Masonic, and hundreds of bicyclists use the east-west route every day. The high risks at the intersection persuaded the Superior Court to allow an exception to the bike injunction, and the city installed a bicycle/pedestrian light. Motorists traveling westbound on Fell and wanting to turn left at Masonic get a red light when the cyclists and walkers are crossing. Although the number of motorists running the red left-turn signal has dropped as motorists become more accustomed to the added signal, users of the Panhandle Path observe illegal turns regularly. Motorists have remarked that the left turn signal on Fell at Masonic is confusing. Whether the collision last night resulted from one more case of reckless red-light running or confusion about the turn signal is not known

This post was updated with new information at 5 pm, February 14th.

NOPA VELO Ride 2: Death-by-Duel / Lake Merced Trek

What’s it take to get a NOPA street named after you? For U.S. Senator David Broderick it meant death-by-duel when he paced off against, no less, a California Supreme Court Justice along the shore of Lake Merced in 1859. Did the “dictator of San Francisco” really deserve a street-naming? Find out more about all this and the “Street named Broderick” during NOPA VELO’s second monthly ride for neighbors and friends.

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, February 28, 2010

9:30 a.m. for Meet’n’Mingle at Matching Half Café, 1799 McAllister at Baker

10:00 a.m. ride kicks off for 2.5 hour spin to Lake Merced and back

Easy and flat biking for all levels. Kids on their own bike ok if with guardian

Drinks and lunch after the ride at one of NOPA’s favorite restaurants.

Heavy rain cancels.

More information coming on BIKE NOPA. Check out last month’s smash Patty Hearst / Presidio ride here and plan to join the fun February 28^th.

Wiggle and Waller Set for Surface Relief

Resurfacing underway on McAllister Street last year

NOPA cyclists get around town a lot, and any time they find a newly resurfaced street it's pure bliss. "If only more streets could be like this," is a common wish, a mix of appreciation and wistfulness. Even as the city struggles to find new revenue for badly needed street repair, a scaled-back schedule of repaving brings some bright prospects. A recent request for construction bids from the Department of Public Works identifies three popular cycling streets for the surface makeovers they deserve. Later this summer biyclists can anticipate much smoother spinning along these routes:

• Waller Street, from Stanyan to Buena Vista
• Sanchez, from 17th Street to Duboce
• Steiner, from Duboce to Waller

Just a block of the Waller project is part of a bike route, but cyclists use this full stretch in the Haight all the time. The Sanchez work will give a huge boost to safer, easier biking in the Castro and Duboce Park areas, especially the block before Duboce which has long resembled grinding over a washboard. And the three small blocks of Steiner from Duboce to Waller deserve a celebration all their own when their much-repaired, rough surfaces get the smooth treatment. Blocks of the Wiggle bike route are included in both the Sanchez and Steiner projects.

The Department of Public Works continues to work with the SF Bicycle Coalition to prioritize bike route blocks for repaving when possible, and these additions to the schedule are a few of the benefits of that cooperation. Something to look forward to this summer.

This Saturday: Panhandle Park Stewards Ready for Plants and Trees, Turf and Soil

Dale Danley Ready for Park Stewards Next Work Day Feb. 13th

NOPA neighbors might know Dale Danley better, and more recently, as "Ranger Dale," the native habitat expert who spoke with cyclists during NOPA VELO's spin through the Presidio last month. Long-time bicyclists are familiar with Dale's volunteer work with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition where he served as president of the board of directors (2002-2004). Now Dale has taken on another pursuit: getting the Panhandle Park in the best shape ever. BIKE NOPA caught up with Dale on a rainy day away from gardens, native plants, and invasive weeds to chat over coffee in our kitchen.

What are the Panhandle Park Stewards?
We're volunteers from the community working together to improve the Panhandle Park, to make it more accessible and enjoyable for everybody in the community. We're continuing the tradition of a Panhandle Clean-up, or work day, that happens the second Saturday of each month. On that day, we work with the park's gardener, Guillermo, on projects that probably couldn't get done without the extra hands of community volunteers.

Why are you getting involved?
When I learned that Mary Helen Briscoe, the longtime neighborhood organizer, needed to hand-off the project, I offered to lead the group into 2010. I've been living in the North Panhandle neighborhood for 10 years, and hope I have the gardening skills and the neighborhood connections to keep the Park Steward project growing.

Are you changing the name from Panhandle Clean-up?
I'm trying out calling us "Park Stewards" and see what the reaction is. I think a lot of people are eager to do work with the plants and trees, the turf and the soil. I'm really interested in lending a hand to tend the living inhabitants of the park, or planting flowers that my neighbors will enjoy.

How does this compare with your volunteering for habitat restoration at the Presidio?
The Presidio runs a large, successful program for community-based habitat restoration, and I volunteer once or twice a week – pulling the non-native weeds, and growing native plants, in the natural areas scattered across the park. I'll try to replicate some of their successful elements: provide the right tools for the job, cultivate dedicated volunteers, explain the natural processes and how the human activities affect the ecosystem. Also, offer a tasty snack and create a friendly, social atmosphere. San Francisco Rec and Park also runs dozens of volunteer programs, many highly successful, but the Presidio's program is the one I know best!

Will you try to add more native plants to the Panhandle?
I love native plants, but there are several reasons the Panhandle's not a great place for them, starting with all those tall trees that create so much shade. Perhaps the most substantial obstacle is that it's a historical landscape that should be preserved. Secondly, its spaces are already spoken for by different users like picnickers, bicyclists, basketball players, and dog walkers. But there's growing interest in native plants, and people are keen to make our green spaces as beneficial to the environment as possible, so I wouldn't be surprised to see that idea put forth by neighbors and volunteers. Maybe we'll plant natives in containers, for educational purposes or perhaps designate one of the small decorative beds for natives. Then there are those underused islands near Stanyan created by the traffic loops...hmmm! Seriously, though, I have a lot to learn about the park before I can pursue any specific plans.

Any worries about taking on this new project?
The panhandle has some long-standing problems: muddy fields in winter, vehicles damaging the turf, homeless campers. The multi-use path is getting more and more popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists, and with more users, there's some friction and some calls for new designs. I hope the park's problems don't diminish the fun and satisfaction volunteers get from a good work day. In my ideal vision of how these projects work, as volunteers become increasingly invested in their neighborhood park, they also become more knowledgeable and capable of figuring out solutions that might solve some of these problems.

Next workday: Saturday, February 13, 9 am to 11 am

Meet at the Bulletin Board (in the Panhandle, 1 block west of Masonic Ave)

Wear sturdy shoes (boots the best) to keep your feet dry.

This month, it would be great to have neighborhood volunteers sign up through the Onebrick site to ensure we have enough supplies.

Everyone, including volunteers, can follow the progress of the Panhandle Park Stewards with their new blog here.

Ride It or Walk It, But Do the Wiggle

Perhaps you thought the raved-about Wiggle was a recent hill-dodging bike route to get to NOPA and the Panhandle from most anywhere east. Maybe you didn’t know that much. Cast aside all assumptions and join expert Joel Pomerantz for his all-things-Wiggle “zig-zaggy” tour on two wheels or on foot. Expect plenty of natural and social history along the way.

Be transported back to the days when these very blocks were part of the San Souci Valley, with the inevitable sand dunes but also a good share of ponds and creeks. The real San Francisco natives, the Ohlone people, used this route, according to Pomerantz, “long before it became known by the ridiculous moniker.” Joel doesn’t shy from the ridiculous tag. He’s the one to first popularize the term “Wiggle” in a 1994 issue of the SF Bike Coalition’s Tubular Times. Not for a full decade did the Wiggle name really stick.

Do the Wiggle Bike Tour
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
Time: 12:45 to 2:30 pm
Meet: At the Bike Mural, Duboce Bikeway, Corner of Duboce & Church Streets
Cost: Donations appreciated, but no one turned away for lack of funds

Do the Wiggle WALKING Tour
When: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 1 pm to 2:3 pm
Meet: At the Bike Mural, Duboce Bikeway, Corner of Duboce & Church Streets
Cost: Donations appreciated, but no one turned away for lack of funds

More info on this tour and others, see ThinkWalks here.

Fell/ARCO Traffic Tangle Closer to Trial Solutions

SFMTA proposal to improve safety for users of Fell St at ARCO station

One enhancement suggested by Marc Caswell of SFBC

The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) will implement traffic flow changes for bicyclists and motorists approaching Divisadero on Fell Street. The MTA hopes the trial improvements will resolve a raft of safety problems for street and sidewalk users at the Fell Street entry to the ARCO gas station at the corner of Divisadero. The proposed designs are expected to be implemented “fairly quickly.”

James Shahamiri, MTA Assistant Engineer for the Bike Program, told BIKE NOPA that he thinks a gradual approach will work best for the changes. “We’re trying to take experimental steps now and see how they work. Maybe we’ll enhance them later.” He emphasized that design changes have yet to be finalized but he expects plans to be approved “fairly quickly,” perhaps within the next two days. “But we’re not going to be making changes on the street tomorrow,” he cautioned. When pressed further about whether MTA will proceed before the bike injunction is fully lifted (which is not expected before June of this year), Shahamiri said, “We can definitely do this before June.”

The improvements will likely include “several small steps”
• Installation of four “soft-hit” posts along both sides of the bike lane near ARCO
• Transitioning the bike lane inward as it approaches ARCO (see diagram)
• Applying painted “hatching” on the street surfaces to guide traffic flow
• Posting “Keep Clear” signs to advise motorists
The MTA proposal will not remove parking spaces, change lane widths, or prevent access to driveways.

“The idea is that the posts would force any queuing vehicles in the bicycle lane to go back out into the travel lane to turn into the gas station,” Shahamiri wrote Tuesday to a “study group” of NOPA and Alamo Square neighbors and livability advocates. “This should make queuing in the bicycle lane pointless.

Members of the review group responded more positively to the latest MTA proposal than to a previous plan presented last September and reported in a BIKE NOPA post. Michael Smithwick, Transportation Chair for the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association (ASNA), wrote, “It is a sound plan” that keeps cars out of the bike lane up to the ARCO entry but does not keep them from blocking the bike lane at that point or keeping motorists off the sidewalk. He and Marc Caswell, Program Manager for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, proposed adding prominent signage and painting more hatching of the bike lane and sidewalk at the ARCO entry.

Caswell expressed concern that the MTA plan, while a good start, “dumps the bicyclist off” into the large space along the ARCO lot and should instead guide riders to Divisadero and through the intersection, preferably with a bike lane painted green. Janel Sterbentz of ASNA also encouraged a green-painted lane for safer passage at both the Scott and Divisadero intersections.

In a conversation this morning, Shahamiri said he was ready to incorporate some, but not all, of the proposed changes. “We can do the signage and the crosshatching on the streets, but I’m not sure if we can do the hatching on a sidewalk." Shahamiri advised that the MTA was not ready to paint the bike lane green. The agency is studying whether the Fell/ARCO traffic location fits the criteria for previous approval MTA received to experiment with green lanes at other “conflict areas” in the city.

Shahamiri and study group members all agreed that enforcement would be required for the proposed changes to work. “I’d like to see SFPD out there citing drivers,” he said. The MTA proposal will continue to be reviewed in the days ahead. Shahamiri emphasized, "Our intention is to work with the community in an ongoing process.”

4pm update: More on the MTA proposal with additional comments on Streetsblog this afternoon.

Pedestrian Stings Target NOPA's "Dangerous Intersections"

Crossing Masonic at Fell while biking the Panhandle Path

FIX MASONIC has urged safer traffic management on the avenue

SFPD Park Station will increase “pedestrian stings” at North Panhandle intersections as part of a joint operation with Northern Station to crackdown on motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians using crosswalks. The operation follows a crackdown begun last year at select NOPA intersections.

“We focused on Fell and Masonic and also Fell at the DMV (Baker Street),” Captain Teresa Barrett of Park Station told BIKE NOPA. “These streets were ‘complaint-driven,’” she explained, referring to the high number of reports from the public about the risks they encountered at these locations. “They’re dangerous intersections.” Barrett said. In particular, the Fell and Masonic intersection is one of the city’s worst for crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

“The first couple months after the new bicycle signal was installed at Fell and Masonic the situation was disastrous,” Barrett recalled about the problems at the intersection in 2009. At that location, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians had to get accustomed to the signal that gave a red light to motorists ready to turn left on Masonic from Fell so pedestrians and cyclists could use the crosswalk safely. Barrett said the station also set up stings at Parnassus at Stanyan and at Kezar Drive near Park Station.

Captain Barrett reported that this year her station and Northern Station are expanding the pedestrian stings by working together and sending teams of motorcycle officers to problem intersections. The effort by the two west-side stations is similar to sting operations undertaken by Captain David Lazar of Ingleside Station last summer. Lazar explained his reason for starting the program to Streetsblog at that time. “Our traffic collisions have been low and our pedestrian fatalities have been low and I want to keep it that way. We want to make sure it’s not acceptable for people to just blow through intersections.” In one day Ingleside plainclothes officers walked into crosswalks and monitored drivers who failed to yield to them. Officers issued 123 citations and arrested 10 motorists for misdemeanors, according to SFWeekly.com.

The Park Station sting operation continues in the midst of heightened concern about safety on the city’s streets. Yesterday a driver of a city water department truck struck and killed a pedestrian using a crosswalk on Ocean Avenue near Miramar Avenue in the Ingleside neighborhood. Streetsblog reported the story last night. At almost the same time in the afternoon, a Muni bus driver struck and seriously injured another woman crossing San Bruno Avenue in the Portola district, according to SFAppeal. Earlier this week BIKE NOPA reported the San Francisco District Attorney’s decision to not seek criminal charges against the driver who struck and killed Melissa Dennison on Fell Street last September. In that case the DA’s office found “fault was split, fault was joint.” The information released by SFPD and the DA’s office raised questions about the decision and the lack of consequences for the driver.

Related post here on DA decision regarding pedestrian fatality at Fell and Broderick Streets.