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Muni may start catching double parkers on film
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If signed, a bill on the governor’s desk would allow Muni to install cameras on its buses to help clear transit-only lanes of double parkers.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - San Francisco could soon follow London’s footsteps by using bus-mounted cameras to nab drivers who double park in transit-only lanes.
It is the latest attempt to help Muni buses meet on-time performance targets mandated under a voter-approved proposition by clearing the roads of drivers who illegally park in transit-only lanes.
In the last few years, Muni has implemented a variety of programs and measures to make the transit system that carries 700,000 daily riders on more than 1,000 buses, trains and trolleys faster.
A three-month pilot on the 1-California bus route included additional police enforcement, improved fare collection and extra supervisors and resulted in an on-time performance increase from 81 percent to 88 percent.
A similar pilot is being conducted on the J-Church metro line.
The City has 19 streets with more than a dozen miles of transit-only zones, including the major thoroughfares of Geary Boulevard, Market, Mission, O’Farrell, Post, Potrero and Sacramento streets. When it comes to double parking in transit-only lanes, the fine in San Francisco is $250.
Details on how many cameras will be used and which buses they will be piloted on are nil, as Muni says it is still developing a “draft concept of operations that will define the technology and how it will be implemented,” Muni spokeswoman Maggie Lynch said.
City officials, however, have cited figures from London’s program, which resulted in a 92 percent reduction in transit-only zone citations because of the video enforcement.
A bill, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, that would allow the camera enforcement passed the state Senate this week and is now waiting for the governor’s signature.
“If the governor signs this bill, Muni service will be improved,” Newsom said in a statement released this week. “Double parking significantly impacts on-time performance and delays hundreds if not thousands of San Franciscans on public transit citywide every day.”
Voice your opinion and vote in our poll at examiNation SF: How do you feel about using Muni cameras to nab bus-lane double-parkers?
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:42 PM MST on Thu., Sep. 13, 2007 re: "Newsom: Let Muni cams tape bus lane culprits"
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12:10 PM MST on Thu., Sep. 13, 2007
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11:28 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 27, 2007
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10:33 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 27, 2007
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10:02 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 27, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
I doubt cameras alone will improve MUNI's service. Without a coordinated effort on many levels, including cameras, I'd guess MUNI will continue to limp along.
180 agree | 186 disagree
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Wai Yip Tung said:
I think this is a no-brainer. Double parker delay everyone in a transit corridor for his own convenience. Yet enforcement is almost non-existent! The fact people learned they can do this with impunity make it become an epidemic. Please ticket every single one of them.
213 agree | 188 disagree
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Wai Yip Tung said:
I think this is a no-brainer. Double parker delay everyone in a transit corridor for his own convenience. Yet enforcement is almost non-existent! The fact people learned they can do this with impunity make it become an epidemic. Please ticket every single one of them.
191 agree | 200 disagree
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Seven said:
These cameras will only be used on transit-only lanes. So if your chronically slow/late/missing-in-action bus doesn't run on transit-only lanes, then this bill will do nothing to improve service. Typical. My property taxes subsidize a downtown (Gavin) + Chinatown (Ma) project and do nothing to improve my neighborhood. Hey Gavin, some of us live west of Divisadero! Can you hear us as easily as you take our tax dollars?
236 agree | 178 disagree
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jimsr said:
It's time we get a "pol heads" who can solve the traffic and parking problems and stop insulting us by proposing more fines and more cameras.
196 agree | 211 disagree
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Albert B. Franklin, Redwood City said:
San Francisco has enough cameras to capture the fate of a Mountain View female whose boyfriend was seen with her on Highway 101 in Mountain View, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo, Burlinghame, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Daly City and San Francisco. But wait! The parking garage recorded them leaving together, while he is shown days later stuffing her lifeless body in the trunk of her car, as a friend drove him home? Hey, thanx so much Gavin!
187 agree | 212 disagree
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