Bikers in San Francisco are beginning to think it will take an act of God to pass the city’s proposed Bicycle Plan, which calls for city-wide improvements in bike transit. The plan has been in the works since 1997, and proposes new bike lanes, new bike parking, and space for bikes on San Francisco’s Municipal Railroad metro trains, like the B.A.R.T. and Muni.Despite its popularity with city residents and officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, the plan has been continually stalled. In late 2006, it was further slowed by San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Warren, who issued an injunction to put the brakes on the progressive-minded Bike Plan after an alliance of by-the-book, pro-forma party poopers sued the city. The alliance demanded that the Plan undergo an environmental impact review, claiming it was illegal under the terms of the California Environmental Quality Act. (Since when are bikes bad for the environment? Yeah, we’re scratching our heads, too.)
With little hesitation, Warren ruled to eschew all reason and require a thorough investigation of the environmental impact of the Bike Project. The injunction has put the project on ice, probably until 2010.
In the meantime, San Francisco cyclists are keeping the faith. Plan supporters are showing their solidarity by displaying “Where Would Jesus Bike?” posters throughout the city. (You can download the poster here.) The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is also showing its fervor by hosting rallies to support the plan, and encouraging city residents to contact local government to keep bureaucrats from dragging their feet.
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