Mission Mission

It’s been a long time coming, and now it’s going to be reality. Streetsblog reports:

A long-awaited blueprint to significantly improve safety and livability conditions on Cesar Chavez Street was approved by SFMTA Board today, culminating nearly a decade of community input and planning.

“This is the final step for approval of this really great project,” said Marc Caswell, program director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. “This project has been in the works for years, and watching the Department of Public Works, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the SFMTA, and everybody at the Planning Department come together to build this world-class project was really inspiring and a great example for how future projects should come together.”

I can’t wait! Read on.

Previously:

Imagine A New Cesar Chavez

You’ve seen Portlandia by now right? If not, I think you’d better watch all of their web clips right now.

Say, someone should pitch a sketch to Portlandia showing people posting on a blog about how they are surprised you haven’t heard of it yet.

I was just kidding about the “how to” part, but it looks badass, right?

Girls Girls Girls, the best blog about globetrotting young people I’ve ever read, snapped this picture in Amsterdam or something I think.

The Box Dog Blog has a bunch more sweet deals listed right here.

Don’t fall for their elaborate trap:

I for one am gonna write my Supervisor.

Previously:

Human Trafficking Ring Exposed in Dolores Park!

Concerned reader Jeremiah M. noticed the suspicious contents of this black Nissan pickup truck parked on Valencia at 21st and decided to alert the authorities:

Notice hacksaw, broken u-lock, many bicycle wheels including several sawed apart bicycle wheels.

What do you think, readers?  Is there a logical, non-criminal explanation for having all of this stuff or were we just treated to a behind the scenes peek into a bicycle thief’s mobile base of operations?  Those are quite a lot of sheared spokes in that blue bin.  Also, are those wheels locked down or just sitting there?  Either way, this doesn’t look good!

Ha ha. All you’d have to do to steal this mug is quick-release the ceramic handle and glue it back on later good as new. Should have invested in a mug with steel reinforcement.

[photo by Ben Skinner via Fecal Face]

Previously:

I Lock, U Lock, We All Lock

Cart Security

Longtime readers might remember Lael as the first person other than me to have “editor” status here on Mission Mission. Nowadays she writes about environmental concerns on a blog called Clamorous Fall (it’s what comes a little while after the Silent Spring), where yesterday she took issue with all the fumes we breathe as cyclists:

I don’t mean to be unreasonable, I even like the smell of exhaust.  I love the smell of gasoline and breathe extra deeply at gas stations.  But when I’m out on the road, all I can think about is benzene, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter that is flowing into my lungs.  Some may choose to buy a “supercool hightech anti-pollution mask” and others may choose to only cycle in rural areas, but these are not really good options for most of us.

Read on for more science and advocacy and pictures of the “supercool hightech anti-pollution mask.”

Streetsblog reports:

Valencia Street’s nearly two-year-old Green Wave signal re-timing aimed at prioritizing bicycle traffic speeds continues to please street users, city leaders, and advocates alike. What started as a temporary pilot will become a permanent institution this week with the installation of four new Green Wave signs along the corridor.

“Green Waves are the most recent example of the SFMTA finding innovative ways to further improve cycling in San Francisco,” said SFMTA CEO Nat Ford.

Following examples in cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Portland, the signal optimization keeps vehicles traveling at a steady cycle-friendly 13 mph from 16th to 25th streets while garnering benefits for all users.

Great! But how come this blog post is the first time I’ve noticed the signage pictured above? Maybe those need to be bigger so motorists will see them too and stop gunning it from red light to red light. Read on.

[via Urban Velo]

[Photo by Bryan Goebel / Streetsblog]

Reader Clay W. needs our help:

I walked outside of Mission Cliffs and my Specialized Langster had been freshly stolen! The cable that locked my bike to the poll was laying on the ground. Right next to it was a cruiser bike with leather handlebars and the lights still blinking (whoever stole my bike took the time to put the kickstand up). I waited around for 15 minutes and talked to people at the scene who agreed that I should take the cruiser.

Now I have a new cruiser bike that was probably stolen from some poor hipster girl. What’s the ethical thing to do in this situation??

I’m pretty sure this shady CL add is for my stolen bike.