Profile: Burt Hill
15 October 2006 | culture, interviews | No Comments
Bert Hill is what I consider one of the uber bikers in San Francisco. Somehow he’s made his whole world revolve around the bicycle. Not only does he volunteer for the SF Bicycle Coalition as a safety course teacher, but he is involved with Transportation For a Livable City and he dabble in making cycling transportation his living. He is currently a representative of biketree, an innovative bicycle security company for commuter-cyclists. Currently, he is the chair of San Francisco’s Bicycle Advisory Commitee which is the focus of our discussion.
BitterCyclist: You participate in a wide range of community activities. How did you get interested in cycling in particular?
Bert Hill: I’ve been cycling for over 50 years, with some waning and waxing. I was a utility rider through my graduation from college, but transitioned to occasional recreational riding after moving to SF in 1972. I returned to daily utility riding in the early 90s when MUNI began melting down and the hybrid evolved to a form that worked well all year on city streets.
BC: What events led to you are now that compel you to volunteer heavily in the areas of cycling and alternative transportation?
I became an environmental advocate in college during the late 1960s, and have remained personally active. I studied urban development/planning in college, but couldn’t find work at that time that didn’t include shopping centers or recreational projects. I went to work for an engineering company; this discipline compels process thinking about efficiency and sustainability. I long dreamed of working as a urban design and transportation advocate when my kids were grown and I could afford to work on worthy projects without a focus on a professional wage. Bicycles are so inherently efficient, healthy, and low cost they should be the obvious transportation choice for most of the population most of the time.
BC: One of your roles is to chair San Francisco’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, what is your role as chair, and what are the major responsibilities of the Advisory Committee?
I’ll answer the second question first. The BAC considers all transportation projects that involve bicycles and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and City/County departments. We provide a public forum for expression of the role of bicycling. This includes oversight and facilitation of the SF Bicycle Plan and periodic updates. As the chair, I work with my fellow committee members, city entities, and the general public in identifying major areas of interest. I am responsible for the agenda, correspondence, and attendance at public meetings where the BAC has a direct interest, and where a responsible BAC committee member cannot attend. I also facilitate the monthly BAC meetings, and perform administrative functions as required by our charter.
BC: What are the major bicycle transit improvements that you are working on currently?
In order to delegate major bike projects, we create task forces to investigate and recommend resolutions to the committee. Our current task forces are looking at the Bike Plan progress measurement, bike theft and security, Bayshore Blvd./Home Depot, Piers 27-31, and Golden Gate Park in the Concourse area. In addition, we are studying the Rincon Hill transportation plan, permitting bicycles on the MUNI Metro, and the stenciling of ‘Shared Lane Markers’ in key areas throughout the city.
BC: In a perfect San Francisco, what would the bicycle transit system look like?
Our goal is the ability to bicycle from anywhere in SF to anywhere in SF on a network of roads designed for safe, easy, and secure bicycle transit; delivering a cyclist within a few blocks of their destination. Because this city is a dense urban landscape with narrow roads and multiple uses, bicycle routes will always need to consider and work with other transportation forms to create a system that gets everyone where they need to go, with the highest possible efficiency and sustainability. We plan to work in phases; initially the Shared Lane Markings (called sharrows) will identify the proper location for cyclists on the road and publicize network streets. Over time, bike lanes will be stenciled in many locations, as the Level of Service and environmental considerations favor the higher volume of cyclists. Special street signals for bicyclists and other facilities will be changed to recognize the special needs of cyclists. In a few cases, it will make sense to create special paths and bike-only roads. Intersections will have ‘bike boxes’ in front of waiting vehicle traffic to provide cyclists the advantage of visibility and safety. The California Vehicle Code and local ordinances will change to improve overall people movement on streets and sidewalks.
BC: If people were interested in getting involved with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, how could you participate?
Initially, attend BAC meetings and speak on the issues of interest to you. Volunteer on task forces, and help in information gathering. Send a letter to your member of the Board of Supervisors expressing your views on bicycle issues; volunteer to be nominated to a seat on the BAC. Committee members are nominated by board members, representing each of the eleven districts.
Bert Hill: I’ve been cycling for over 50 years, with some waning and waxing. I was a utility rider through my graduation from college, but transitioned to occasional recreational riding after moving to SF in 1972. I returned to daily utility riding in the early 90s when MUNI began melting down and the hybrid evolved to a form that worked well all year on city streets.
BC: What events led to you are now that compel you to volunteer heavily in the areas of cycling and alternative transportation?
I became an environmental advocate in college during the late 1960s, and have remained personally active. I studied urban development/planning in college, but couldn’t find work at that time that didn’t include shopping centers or recreational projects. I went to work for an engineering company; this discipline compels process thinking about efficiency and sustainability. I long dreamed of working as a urban design and transportation advocate when my kids were grown and I could afford to work on worthy projects without a focus on a professional wage. Bicycles are so inherently efficient, healthy, and low cost they should be the obvious transportation choice for most of the population most of the time.
BC: One of your roles is to chair San Francisco’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, what is your role as chair, and what are the major responsibilities of the Advisory Committee?
I’ll answer the second question first. The BAC considers all transportation projects that involve bicycles and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and City/County departments. We provide a public forum for expression of the role of bicycling. This includes oversight and facilitation of the SF Bicycle Plan and periodic updates. As the chair, I work with my fellow committee members, city entities, and the general public in identifying major areas of interest. I am responsible for the agenda, correspondence, and attendance at public meetings where the BAC has a direct interest, and where a responsible BAC committee member cannot attend. I also facilitate the monthly BAC meetings, and perform administrative functions as required by our charter.
BC: What are the major bicycle transit improvements that you are working on currently?
In order to delegate major bike projects, we create task forces to investigate and recommend resolutions to the committee. Our current task forces are looking at the Bike Plan progress measurement, bike theft and security, Bayshore Blvd./Home Depot, Piers 27-31, and Golden Gate Park in the Concourse area. In addition, we are studying the Rincon Hill transportation plan, permitting bicycles on the MUNI Metro, and the stenciling of ‘Shared Lane Markers’ in key areas throughout the city.
BC: In a perfect San Francisco, what would the bicycle transit system look like?
Our goal is the ability to bicycle from anywhere in SF to anywhere in SF on a network of roads designed for safe, easy, and secure bicycle transit; delivering a cyclist within a few blocks of their destination. Because this city is a dense urban landscape with narrow roads and multiple uses, bicycle routes will always need to consider and work with other transportation forms to create a system that gets everyone where they need to go, with the highest possible efficiency and sustainability. We plan to work in phases; initially the Shared Lane Markings (called sharrows) will identify the proper location for cyclists on the road and publicize network streets. Over time, bike lanes will be stenciled in many locations, as the Level of Service and environmental considerations favor the higher volume of cyclists. Special street signals for bicyclists and other facilities will be changed to recognize the special needs of cyclists. In a few cases, it will make sense to create special paths and bike-only roads. Intersections will have ‘bike boxes’ in front of waiting vehicle traffic to provide cyclists the advantage of visibility and safety. The California Vehicle Code and local ordinances will change to improve overall people movement on streets and sidewalks.
BC: If people were interested in getting involved with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, how could you participate?
Initially, attend BAC meetings and speak on the issues of interest to you. Volunteer on task forces, and help in information gathering. Send a letter to your member of the Board of Supervisors expressing your views on bicycle issues; volunteer to be nominated to a seat on the BAC. Committee members are nominated by board members, representing each of the eleven districts.
Leave a Reply
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed. You can also pingback or trackback from your own site.