[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more] From: Diane Solomon
To: TEPublicComment
Cc: Smith, Ryan; Laveroni, Kyle; Ann Ferris
Subject: December Second Public Comment From BPAC for Transportation and Environment Committee Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:22:04 AM
Agenda item (d) 2. CC 24-432 City Street Sweeping Performance Status Report Good afternoon, my name is Ann Ferris. I’m here on behalf of your Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Last December our BPAC received a presentation from our City’s Street Sweeping program. We learned from Jennifer Seguin that her department works mightily to keep our streets well swept.
We brought to her attention and today we bring to your attention the following:
When large commercial waste bins; abandoned cars; large piles of tree branches and yard waste; and cars illegally parked near large downtown cultural events obstruct bikeways, these obstructions on well-traveled streets are often not cleared on timely basis.
Obstructed bikeways are dangerous for cyclists because at high-motorist-traffic-times, or at well-attended downtown events, cyclists can’t move into lanes where cars are— bicyclists have nowhere to go. This is also dangerous for pedestrians when motorists making right turns can’t see pedestrians.
BPAC members, as well as members of the public who attend our meetings, have reported these types of obstructed bikeways to 311 and it hasn’t helped.
Might our City’s Parking Compliance group, the Integrated Waste Management division of the
Environmental Services Department, and the Street Sweeping team meet and find a way to
work together more closely to enforce our City’s parking and waste management ordinances?
Lastly, the fines paid for parking violations are added to our City’s General Fund.
Please
consider earmarking these funds so they instead help fund our City’s Vision Zero program.
Thank you…