The San Francisco Citizen

Lane splitting - everybody’s doing it, even SuzukiGirl. But what does John Law think about that?

Q. Can motorcycle riders “split” lanes and ride between other vehicles? A. Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.

Does lane splitting irritate drivers? Perhaps, but who cares?

Go for it, dOoD. The University of California says lane splitting is good for you. Plus, these days you’ve got the Vatican-certified patron saint of motocycle riders, Columbanus of Bobbio, on your side.

Bonus.

“Filtering forward” through the long line of stalled cagers in front of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge toll booths. Click to expand:

You might think that because you live in San Francisco, you don’t need a four foot long plastic snorkel on your vehicle. But an urban snorkel mounted on the side of your Jeep would just look so boss, wouldn’t it? Plus, you can save on bridge tolls.

This Jeep, spotted in the Richmond, is from Hermanos Albera in the Mission - ask and maybe they’ll install one for you?

“Chris Daly is not exactly the president of Mensa.” That’s the quote today in the Chronicle in an article about closing part of Market Street to cars. Is Supervisor Daly supposed to be stoopid or something?

1. Trying to close part of Market seems a lot more appealing than some other ideas. Ideas like this, or like corn ethanol for example. Trying this Market Street concept, which has been proposed by others in the past, would be cheap to implement and would be simple to undo if things didn’t work out.

2. Chris Daly could easily become president of Mensa if he had a reason to want to do so. (Look out Alan Winson!) Chris wouldn’t even have to take a test to join. He could most likely dig up the SAT or ACT scores he needed to get into Duke and use them to get into Mensa. Bingo bango. (Bonus: He seems familiar with the organization.)

Chris is a smart guy you just happen to disagree with on this or that. So, let’s leave Mensa out of future discussions of how to move forward, mkay?

Carry on.

The 1972 comedy “What’s Up, Doc?”  is on tonight at 8:00 PM up at everybody’s favorite raccoon hangout, San Francisco’s Legion of Honor Museum . It’s Cinema Supper Club featuring Women Impressionists.

What’s Up, Doc?(1972, 90 mins)
Mixed-up suitcases add to the screwball zaniness when a trouble-prone college dropout (Barbara Streisand) pursues a musicologist (Ryan O’Neal) at a San Francisco hotel.

Be on the lookout for the damage caused by all those cars going down the Alta Plaza steps at 8:40 here.

via Johnny Grim’s photostream

See you there!

San Francisco’s Festival of Sail started yesterday - read all about it.

Movie star The Bounty in front of Alcatraz, as seen from the Crissy Field Overlook in the Presidio. Click to expand:

The Coast Guard’s Eagle, just after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Lot’s of great photos here, from Telstar Logistics. Can you spot the baggywrinkle?

A different view of the Eagle, next to the Alpha Tower of the Bay Bridge as witnessed by Petty Officer Sherri Eng:

Lots of people came out to see the SS Jeremiah O’Brien slowly chug along:

See you at the Festival of Sail!

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin is now Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party. About 150 people witnessed tonight’s election of the leader of the local Dems. Here is a full account of the evening, and here is an even fuller one.

“Swing voter” Susan Leal, representing California State Assembly Member Fiona Ma, stood up to give her reasons for supporting Mr. Peskin:

Local electeds Debra Walker and Tom Hsieh might have been on opposite sides tonight, but they managed a friendly knuckle knock regardless:

Excelsior.

The Presidio Trust and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy opened another overlook today: 

The Crissy Field Overlook is the third major vista point to be completed in the Presidio. The Overlook is part of a program to nearly double the size of the Presidio’s trail system and create new ways for the community to experience the Presidio’s great outdoors. The stone plaza features views of the waterfront, San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco skyline. The Overlook was supported by a generous gift from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

Click to expand:

You don’t need a car to get up there, so check it out. 

Don’t know why this is such a big deal in other places, but in San Francisco your dog is king.

Get your pooch in the car and the driver will even lower the window. Everybody’s happy. It’s a win-win.

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In one fell swoop, ten garage doors from this building got tagged. Oh well.

What else can you do, but get to work with your pickle buckets and can of WD-40?

“Please please please don’t give me a ticket.”

This is the scene today in the Haight - a wounded Mercedes Benz just a stone’s throw away from Janis Joplin’s old place up Lyon Street. On the windscreen is a plaintive note from the owner: “Please please please don’t give me a ticket.” As you can see, vandal(s) demolished five of the seven windows.

A timid car owner might have done a little cleanup and taken off, but a brave soul will rely on the good hearts of San Francisco parking control officers.

Success!!! The representative from DPT had mercy and DID NOT issue a hefty ticket for the crime of blocking street cleaners. Doesn’t that just brighten your day?