Aaron Bialick
Aaron was the editor of Streetsblog San Francisco from January 2012 until October 2015. He joined Streetsblog in 2010 after studying rhetoric and political communication at SF State University and spending a semester in Denmark.
Recent Posts
SF’s New “Sustainability Fee” Set to Include a Big Incentive to Build Parking
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The city’s proposed Transportation Sustainability Fee — which would be assessed on new development to speed up construction of walking, biking, and transit infrastructure — moved forward today with approval from the SF Planning Commission. The commission approved a maximum rate slightly higher than the city had initially proposed but far lower than what some livable streets advocates wanted. […]
New SFMTA Safe Driving Video Is Required Viewing for City Truckers
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The SFMTA has produced the city’s first training video to teach truck and bus drivers safe urban driving practices and highlight the extra care needed to operate in close proximity to people walking and biking on city streets. The video will be required viewing for all truck and bus drivers employed or contracted by the city, as well as companies […]
Sunday Streets: The Mission
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From Sunday Streets: The Mission Sunday Streets will take place on Valencia St from 26th St to McCoppin Hub Plaza. Sunday Streets is a pet friendly event.
Sunday Streets: Western Addition
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From Sunday Streets: The Western Addition Sunday Streets gives you the opportunity to explore Fillmore and Fulton Streets by foot, or bike. Moving at a bit of a slower place, you will find all kinds of hidden gems along this route. From local art, great views of the gorgeous City Hall, the famous painted ladies, […]
SFMTA Engineering Hearing
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Agenda
Sup. Christensen Gives Tentative Support for Car-Free Powell Street
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District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen offered tentative support for the car-free Powell Street trial proposed for Union Square. The SFMTA hopes to have a pilot project in place in November, in time for the holiday shopping season, but it has met some resistance from the Union Square Business Improvement District because delivery vehicles would be banned during daytime […]
Human Life Wins: Masonic Ave Redesign Survives Tree Removal Appeal
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The Masonic Avenue safety overhaul will move forward after the SF Board of Appeals upheld tree removal permits protested by a handful of neighbors at a hearing yesterday. The project calls for the removal of 49 trees. Even though each tree that will be removed will be replaced with three new trees, neighbors filed an appeal to preserve all […]
Aaron Peskin Consulted With Polk Street Bike Lane Opponents on Lawsuit
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District 3 supervisor candidate Aaron Peskin provided consultation for Polk Street bike lane opponents earlier this year on filing a lawsuit over the street’s redesign. Despite his recently-declared support for full bike lanes along Polk, Peskin confirmed his one-time involvement with Save Polk Street, a group of merchants which has fiercely opposed protected bike lanes to preserve […]
SF Board of Appeals Hearing on Masonic Ave Tree Replacement
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Agenda Of note: (6) APPEAL NO. 15-085 CURTIS SPECK & ARIANE EROY, Appellant(s) vs. DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS BUREAU OF URBAN FORESTRY, Respondent Masonic Avenue between Geary Blvd. and Fell Street. Protesting the ISSUANCE on May 19, 2015, to the Department of Public Works, of a Tree Removal Permit (approval of request to remove forty-four […]
SFMTA Board Approves McAllister Muni Upgrades, Traffic Circles
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The SFMTA Board of Directors today approved a package of upgrades on McAllister Street to improve pedestrian safety and speed up buses on the 5-Fulton line as part of Muni Forward. Among the changes, two stop signs will be replaced with transit-priority traffic signals, and two others will be replaced with traffic circles. The project is […]
How Many People Will Get Hurt If the Masonic Redesign Gets Delayed Again?
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Another sorely-needed street safety redesign could be threatened by neighbors protesting the replacement of trees, even though, when all is said and done, the number of trees in the project area will double. The overhaul of deadly Masonic Avenue could be delayed or altered if the SF Board of Appeals upholds an appeal against tree removal permits at […]
In 1954, Turning Market Street Into a Parking Lot Seemed Like a Good Idea
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In an alternate universe, the streetcar tracks that line the center of Market Street would have become car parking. That was an actual proposal in 1954, put forward by Supervisor Marvin Lewis. The plan [PDF] was recently dug up by SFMTA staff from the agency’s archives. Today it’s an appalling idea, but back then it […]