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examiNation SF: What do you think of paying tolls to drive on congested city streets?
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San Francisco is studying the feasibility of charging tolls and higher parking fees to ease congestion on crowded streets, but business leaders fear that a restriction on cars would drive businesses — and customers — away. Related Topics:
What do you think of paying tolls to drive on congested city streets?
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Had hopes for Prop H but... said:
there are aspects that sound so sweeping that in some areas it could actually make on-street parking worse. Plus, what's with giving extra perks to people who can afford to buy a new car (hybrid)? Try to read the fine print before you vote, and I will too. And if you can't make sense of it all, JUST VOTE NO. Compromise is reasonable, but we need to make a habit of rejecting propositions that include too much, instead of being bullied or tricked into voting for things we don't like or don't understand.
78 agree | 74 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
A great way to ease congestion is put in more parking spaces so people don't end up circling around the block over and over again looking for a spot. I ride a bike, but occasionally I have to pick something up that doesn't fit on my bike, and I spend a good 15-30 minutes trying to find a spot, both wasting gas and taking up space on the road. That can't be good for the environment, but the opposition to Prop H seems to think so. Not that Prop H is great, but something needs to be done about the parking situation.
84 agree | 87 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the powers-that-be really want working people to use public transportation, then they should make it attractive to working people - clean, comfortable and CONVENIENT. Unfortunately, most public transportation systems are run for the convenience of the unionized public transit workers and their bureaucrat bosses. Tough luck if you do shift work and get off at 11:00 at night. Who wants to hang around a bus stop at midnight waiting for a bus that operates on an hourly schedule?
105 agree | 85 disagree
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PhiloT Farnsworth said:
There is a price paid by drivers willing or required to drive in congestion and that is their time. Do politicians deserve to get paid for that time?
79 agree | 85 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Our streets should remain OURS said:
No tolls! I'd like to encourage people to get out of their cars as much as possible, but to me that means making other options more workable. Why are people with any clout always trying to make things harder for others, instead of easier? Businesses are quite right: I don't even have a car, and I'm still a great example of how they lose business (even neighborhood business) when driving and parking is difficult and expensive: I don't suggest a trip that sounds like a pain, because saying I'll pay just doesn't make it any better.
98 agree | 95 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
How about a new question?
85 agree | 87 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
taylor said:
We already pay tools, they are called taxes.
83 agree | 80 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm not sure this is the way to go. I feel if MUNI (if Prop A is approved) + other alt transportation (walking, biking, car share) is encouraged (safe, clean, beautiful streets), it can go a long way to easing congestion. Seems like this is more a burden on the middle and lower income earners, so that the wealthy have an easier go on SF streets - streets for the elite. Doesn't sound like my kind of SF.
Sounds like your definition of "elite" are people who have JOBS and need to get to them by driving. Mass transportation is fine for people who work conventional 8-5 jobs in the downtown area, but not everyone fits that mold. SF's problem is simply a bunch of we-wanna-change-the-world lefties who can't understand that their narrow view of how things should be simply doesn't work for everyone...
87 agree | 95 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It's ironic that the local government would even consider market pricing when it comes to parking meter rates or congestion tolls when they try every means to keep local businesses from employing the same practice. I guess they believe they really do know how to do things better than the rest of us!
89 agree | 88 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
San Francisc's current leaders have absolutly n creativity when it comes to generating additional income. Th only thing that crosses their mind is raising parking fees. The kicker is that they raise these fees but do not like people to drive and have absolutely no respect for the folks who actually pay the fees to build the streets. They have allienated the movie industry that generated millions of dollars in revenue. They leave Monstor Park vacant for all but 11 times per year. They tried to kick out the Blue Angels who bring in millions of dollars in revenue. They try to cancel festivals that made San Francisco an artistic community and they also brought in millions of dollars. Any other City would welcome what we have but these folks do their best to destroy what made San Francisco unique. Tolls for streets -give me a break. Where are the Boston Tea party Folks when you need them
90 agree | 91 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
The toll may be 50 cents , but then it will cost 52 cents to collect it . Case in point. Vincent Thomas bridge in Long Beach, Ca. They took out the toll because it cost to much to collect it. What price are we ready to pay?
83 agree | 82 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I'm not sure this is the way to go. I feel if MUNI (if Prop A is approved) + other alt transportation (walking, biking, car share) is encouraged (safe, clean, beautiful streets), it can go a long way to easing congestion. Seems like this is more a burden on the middle and lower income earners, so that the wealthy have an easier go on SF streets - streets for the elite. Doesn't sound like my kind of SF.
114 agree | 84 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I am sure the local government employees will still have their perks and park in their designated spaces surrounding city hall... all those spaces "RESERVED" for? Everyone should abide by these stupid rules and laws those peons at city hall enact. That is because they have privileges. SF flaunts Federal and State laws all the time and yet they want us to abide by their laws. Thiw will all get abused and torn apart.
107 agree | 85 disagree
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Otto Rite said:
I don't even want the government of San Francisco to study the feasibility of charging tolls and higher parking fees to ease congestion because it seems way too feasible and it's gonna cost me money and I seriously doubt it's going to make the streets any less crowded or parking more available. It costs $1.50 to ride the #30 Stockton bus but it still seems maybe just a little crowded to me.
120 agree | 99 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Congested pricing is not the sole solution to traffic in San Francisco. If Muni becomes safe, reliable, and convenient, people will use it. Perhaps the transit officials should consider converting Market Street into a BRT route like the proposal for Van Ness Avenue where the only buses drive down median of the street. Additionally, perhaps parking garages downtown should give a discount to car-share users.
121 agree | 99 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Obesity is epidemic, get out and ride a bike, walk or run. Use the car when you have to. Its a win win solution to the problem.
86 agree | 87 disagree
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Riley said:
The automobile industry spent US$19.8 billions in 2006 alone propagating its unfulfillable fantasy of single automobiles whizzing along roads "uncluttered" with other cars, red lights, or pedestrians. In other words, those whose research makes them most familiar with the issue -- the automobile manufacturers themselves -- have concluded that the realities of automobile ownership and operation are, at best, unsalable. The fact is, the fantasy that virtually every adult can and should occupy no less than 150 square feet and consume a private supply of non-renewable resources every time they move themselves from one place to another -- or park their transportation machinery -- is a fantasy whose time has gone. It's time for the automobile industry and its customers to quit receiving direct and indirect subsidies at society's expense and start paying the full costs of their self-centered non-solution to the problems of transportation in an increasingly crowded urban space.
111 agree | 95 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I don't want to pay, but don't drive in so wouldn't; I want others to though. Think it's the only way to decongest the city a bit.
93 agree | 94 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Still would like an answer to my question from a previous related article: Why are meters not fed on Sundays, despite there being many events on Sundays, more stores open on Sundays? Why is parking totally free underneath the Central Freeway (along 13th Street and environs)? Why oh why?
103 agree | 108 disagree
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West Coast Liberal said:
It is a failure the infrastructure commons that supports work and family. What the present system does is support the banks the auto industry and takes surplus capital from the working class. i will not accept the system which steals from all of us. I know it isn't London but we do have the density yet we do not have room for more roads and cars. Maybe rockets to Castro Valley from China Basin. Car sharing taxis, and car pooling. We have all we need we just have to use it more efficiently if we can share. Maybe that is the problem. The point may come when we "have more time than money" and the options will seem more appealing. Our greed and selfish ways encourage waste.
120 agree | 97 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The point of the tolls is not to punish people for driving, but to make it possible to get on the bridge in less than an hour. The charge should be small enough not to inconvenience occasional drivers and tourists, but at the same time large enough to make daily commuters think twice about it. And, maybe it will be easier to swallow if the residents are provided with, say, 10 days of free driving per month.
106 agree | 97 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We don't need it and it would only punish working, commuting people and consumers. We're not London with a functioning Tube. If we had to rely on MUNI exclusively, our economy would be behind Guatemala's. I ride MUNI regularly and have a car. Sometimes, you just need a car and drivers shouldn't be punished for relying on them to work and transport their families.
112 agree | 82 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I take muni everyday. Will I get a discount on my fast pass? Fix Muni up and make it more presentable to ride. I think paying tolls downtown is ridiculous. Moms and dads work down there. They need their cars to pick their families up after school daycare, the babysitters, shopping before going home, etc. The car is necessary for families. Punish the single people in this city, not families who are struggling to even stay in this City. Big businesses will start to move away from the City, too. Politicians get it together, please!
108 agree | 99 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What is so difficult for people to understand? They're exploring toll roads due to traffic congestion, caused by CARS. MUNI riders, bicyclists and pedestrians would be exempt from the toll. Come on car dummies, what's the puzzle? Either get out of your car or be prepared to pay for the privilege of clogging up this city's busiest street. As for the first poster and that lame threat about businesses leaving SF, please, I am not falling for it. If they wanted to pay for a Walnut Creek address on the corp. stationary, they'd be doing it. Just ask BofA.
99 agree | 97 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If San Francisco continues to punish people who come here to do business, people will quite simply stop doing business here. Eventually no one will be able to pay the high price of living here, other than the idle rich and the homeless.
96 agree | 111 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Muni will automatically improve at least a little bit if there are less cars downtown due to tolls and higher parking fees. Market Street should be closed to regular traffic too. Then buses would flow up and down Market street much easier. You say apples to oranges but your argument is also a bit like which came first, the chicken or the egg? If Muni improves, people will take it, restricting downtown access to cars would improve Muni.
112 agree | 87 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Comparing S.F. to London seems a bit like the ol' adage of commparing apples to oranges. I believe greater London is now 15-20 million and S.F. is approaching a million. First thought which comes to mind is if MUNI actually operates like a real mass transit system, people will get out of their cars and use it, alleviating considerable congestion on the streets.
105 agree | 85 disagree
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West Coast Liberal said:
Make them all pay for the sins of the fathers. Mass transit should take first priority. MOST people do not drive a car. It is a minority that ruins the city for the majority. Too bad so many think that driving a car anywhere anytime is a right. Maybe we should make Market street into an underground street so the car can drive like THX 1138 did in 1970. Unfortunately we would have to tear down most of the high rise in the finacial district to accomplish what should have been done 70 years ago. BART should go to the Golden gate and to the beach even though it would turn North Beach into fruitvale. All hail the new Mission.
147 agree | 117 disagree
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WD said:
Yes, we are talking about progressive politicians here. They would rather spend their time creating resolutions that oppose the war in Iraq rather than thinking of real solutions to help congestion. They certainly do not fix Muni where the best they can do is 75% on time.
120 agree | 93 disagree
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Cliff said:
That does seem like some sort of double-taxation. Once again , people jump to the easiest solution (make people pay) rather than facilitating more real and lasting changes through better urban planning and thought.
109 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Aren't we paying those street in the first place! Why would we pay to use streets our streets?
90 agree | 99 disagree
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