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
D3 Supe Candidates Peskin, Christensen Weigh in on Polk Street Bike Lanes
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District 3 supervisor candidates Aaron Peskin and Julie Christensen gave their positions on bringing protected bike lanes to all of Polk Street this week in response to the SF Bicycle Coalition’s election questionnaire. Peskin gave an affirmative “yes,” while Christensen’s response was closer to a “maybe.” The redesign for Polk, approved by the SFMTA board in March, was watered […]
SFMTA Proposes a Car-Free Powell Street in Union Square
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The SFMTA has proposed making crowded, traffic-clogged Powell Street in Union Square a car-free street on a trial basis. Removing cars from the equation would make the street function better for pedestrians and cable cars on the blocks between Ellis and Geary Streets. As we wrote last year, it makes little sense to have cars on Powell, which […]
If Trees on Van Ness Matter So Much, Good Thing They’ll Double With BRT
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After the construction of bus rapid transit, Van Ness Avenue will have more than twice the number of trees it does today. But the SF Chronicle and local broadcast news reporters didn’t let that get in the way of blowing a story about tree removal notices completely out of proportion. Reports from the Chronicle, which kicked off […]
SFBC, 3 Supervisors Say Law Should Let Cyclists Treat Stops as “Yield” Signs
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The SF Bicycle Coalition announced its “unfettered support” today for a “Bike Yield Law” that would enable cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and cautiously roll through when there is no cross-traffic. Until now, the SFBC has had no official position on the stop sign law, focusing instead on the message that police enforcement of bicycle riders who […]
PARK(ing) Day 2015
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Photo via SPUR From Park(ing) Day: Providing temporary public open space . . . one parking spot at at time. PARK(ing) Day is a annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San […]
SPUR Oakland Forum: A Downtown for Everyone
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From SPUR: Image courtesy of Flickr user Joe Parks. Downtown Oakland is the center of the region’s rail network and has more available land for development than any other transit-oriented center in the region. Although housing is being built and companies are growing, job growth is not as fast as it could be. Join us […]
SPUR Forum: 5M: Creating Compelling Open Space in SOMA
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From SPUR: image courtesy 5M Planned for the intersections of 5th, Mission and Howard Streets, 5M is more than just a new mixed-use development. Capitalizing on currently underutilized surface parking and SOMA’s growing network of POPOS green spaces, the project will convert over 50,000 square feet of its four-acre site into public open space. Join […]
Signs of Lax Enforcement of Car Restrictions on Market Street
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Nearly two weeks in, the bans preventing private auto drivers from turning on to most of lower Market Street have, by all accounts, made the street safer and more efficient. But at an SFMTA Board of Directors meeting this week, member Gwyneth Borden noted that officers posted on Market “don’t seem to be as vigilant as one might like,” […]
Upper Market Street Gets First Phase of Safety Upgrades
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The SFMTA has completed its first wave of safety upgrades on Upper Market Street. The changes include painted sidewalk extensions (a.k.a. “safety zones”), high-visibility crosswalks, and signs prohibiting drivers from turning right at red lights. SFMTA officials and Supervisor Scott Wiener held a press conference today to mark the completion of the improvements between Octavia […]
SFMTA Approves 2nd Street Protected Bike Lane Redesign, Ponders Car Bans
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The SFMTA Board of Directors yesterday unanimously approved a redesign of Second Street which will remove traffic lanes and add safety upgrades like raised, protected bike lanes and sidewalk extensions. After years of delay, SFMTA Board members and some attendees at the meeting said it may not go far enough, and that the agency should consider car restrictions […]
Bike Station Opens at Civic Center BART After Two Years of Delay
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A bike parking and repair station opened at Civic Center Station today, providing BART and Muni Metro riders secure parking for 89 bikes, accessible only with a paid key card. Bike racks with another 60 spots were added outside the paid station area, adding to 63 existing rack spots. The paid parking was originally expected […]
SFMTA Open House: San Jose Avenue Road Diet
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Agenda From SFBC: Please join us at a community open house organized by the SFMTA. They will share information on the Northbound San José Avenue and I-280 Off-ramp Road Diet Pilot Project. SFMTA Staff will be available from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM at Glen Park School to guide members of the public through the […]