Supervisor Sean Elsbernd voiced concerns about a widely applauded bill to help allow bike/pedestrian use of the Bay Bridge at today’s Transportation Authority – Finance Committee meeting.
The bill, known as SB1061 or The Hancock Bill, “would allow the Bay Area Toll Authority to use toll revenue to help fund a bike path on the West Span of the Bay Bridge.” (That’s our side!)
During the State and Federal Legislative Update part of the proceedings, in which the board runs down current legislation relevant to our area and rates it things like “watch” and “support,” known and admitted bike fan Supervisor Daly recommended the board amend their position on this bill from “watch” to “support,” saying that the Bay Bridge “would be incomplete without bike access on the west span.”
Not so fast, said Supervisor Elsbernd, asking if the language in the bill included plans for a suicide net on the bike path. “I want the bikes to be able to go on the Bridge” said Elsbernd, “but I don’t want the Bay Bridge to become like the Golden Gate bridge.”
In the end, Elsbernd agreed to support the bill, but emphasized the need to communicate that “we don’t want to see the Bay Bridge go down the same trail and end up in that long discussion.”
