A mild crash, that is.
Going down the one-way part of Conzelman on Hawk Hill in Marin County USA:
Posts Tagged ‘limit’
Nice Video: “Brakeless in San Francisco” – Two Bros Bike Down Upper Conzelman Without Brakes – Ends in a Crash
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012OMG, San Jose Has a Skyline That You Can See From SF – City Hall, Bank of America Building – They’re Just Like Us!
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011Well this is the view you can get from Buena Vista Park in the middle of San Francisco.
That’s world-famous* Candlestick Park, Home of the 49ers and the Gold Rush, in the foreground, and in the background camera left is the City of San Jose, California’s third-largest and the Capitol of the Bay Area:
Click to expand, of course
Now I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking, “Enhance that image.”
Well here you go, it’s downtown San Jose with all those tall buildings. See? It’s San Jose City Hall, “The 88″ residential building (which is actually only 87 meters high but let’s not dwell** on that), the Bank of America Building (nee Bank of Italy) from 1926, and the “Knight Ridder Building” (per Google Earth, I don’t know what they call it these days).
Oh, and somewhere in the mix there’s also Mineta San José International Airport – Silicon Valley’s Airport and the San Mateo Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge.***
Anyway, I didn’t know San Jose had a skyline what you can see from the 415.
But don’t look for it to get any easier to spot in the future owing to the fact that that SJC international airstrip is right in the middle of it all and there’s a height limit of 87 meters (I think?) in the area.
So, San Joser has a big, domed City Hall and a tall Bank of America Building and whatnot. They’re just like us!
(Oh, and speaking of the Niners, enjoy our winning football team(s), Santa Clara County.)
*No, not “world-class.”
**Check it:
Eighty-eight (88) symbolizes fortune and good luck since the word 8 sounds similar to the word Fā (发, which implies 发财, or wealth, in Mandarin). The number 8 is considered to be the luckiest number of all in Chinese culture and prices in Chinese supermarkets can often be found containing many 8′s (see numbers in Chinese culture). The Chinese government has even been auctioning auto license plates containing many 8s for tens of thousands of dollars. The 2008 Beijing Olympics opened on 8/8/08 at 8 p.m. The shape of the Chinese character for 8 (八) also implies that a person will have a great, wide future as the character starts narrow and gets wider toward the bottom. 88 is used to mean “bye bye”; found in Chinese-language chat, text, SMS, IM. 88 is pronounced in Chinese Mandarin language as “ba ba” (“bā bā” to be precise), simulating the sound of the English language farewell “bye bye”.
And there’s this:
Eighty-eight is used as code among Neo-Nazis to identify each other. H is the 8th letter of the alphabet, so 88 is taken to stand for HH which in turn means Heil Hitler.For example, the number is used in the song “88 rock’n'roll band” by the neo-Nazi group Landser. The late convictedOrder terrorist David Lane wrote “Fourteen Words” and 88 Precepts, and the numbers are often found in combination (1488, 14/88, etc.). This form of the number has inspired the naming of the groups Column 88, Unit 88, White Legion 88 and Barselc88. Holocaust museum shooter James von Brunn often signed his writings as “JVB-88.”
***Both of which were featured in the 1992 Robert Redford movie Sneakers. Hurray!
“Redford tries to describe to Strathairn, who is blind, what he heard while in the trunk of a car. He remembers going across a bridge and being in San Francisco it means one of four possible bridges: Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, San Mateo, and the Dumbarton. They rule out the first two and then narrow it down to San Mateo based on the sound and frequency of the seams in the concrete.”
What’s Up With Battery Caulfield Road in the Presidio – Have the Feds Closed It Yet? A Premature Road Sign
Thursday, August 11th, 2011Well here’s what the 15th Avenue Entrance to the Presido looks like these days.
See that? It’s for bikes only now – cars need to use 14th Avenue:
Click to expand
Which is as expected, fine.
But what’s up with this new sign with the garbage bag over it?
This is right outside of the Presidio Landmark Apartments* on infamous Battery Caulfield Road.
I was bold enough to take a peek under the garbage bag. It said something like “Road Closed 110 Feet.”
I haven’t heard of any conflict yet, so assume that this sign is not currently operational.
Speaking of which, here’s part of the actual Battery Caulfield, AFAIK – it was a Nike Missile base, your know, for the Russian Bear Bombers and whatnot. They stored the Nikes horizontal and then would open the pod bay doors to fire. And you can see the flat top of Mount Sutro in the background – that’s where the fire control base was for the SAMs of the Presidio, back in the day:
Anyway, wazzup with BC Road closing? I gots to know.
*Speaking of which, just look – cars in the parking lot. Personally, I wouldn’t pay four figures a year just to park in the West Bay, but that’s how they do it these days. Anyway, my point is that, unlike last year, there are people actually living in the Presidio Landmark. It took a while, and the looky-lou’s were pissed off that they had to apply for an appointment just to check things out, but the joint probably doesn’t feel like the hotel from The Shining anymore.
Why Do the Traffic Signals on Geary All Turn Green at the Same Time? Doesn’t That Encourage Speeding?
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010In the sense that the faster you go, the more intersections you can get through.
See this trail of green lights stretching out to infinity? That’s how they roll in the Richmond District:
Click to expand
“I Can’t Drive 25″: How Lowering the Speed Limit on Masonic Made Everybody a Speeder
Thursday, September 16th, 2010By now, everybody knows that rocker Sammy Hagar Can’t Drive 55 - that speed limit was so low it caused him all kinds of consternation back in the 1980′s.
Now, just imagine how upset Sammy would get on Masonic Avenue these days, what with its relatively new 25 MPH speed limit.
Well, the cops will be out there, handing out tickets and putting up the radar signs.
Try it for yourself, if you want, try driving the limit. Obeying 25 MPH requires some concentration but it can be done. This shot from the driver’s seat of Mom’s Taxi is proof.
“Speeding” down Masonic at idle and with the foot on the brake pedal:
You really need to keep your eye on the dash, though.
Could Usain Bolt outrun you in your car at this speed? Well, considering that he can easily break Masonic’s speed limit on level ground, I think he’d be able to pass you while going downhill.
Of course the real problems with this portion of Masonic are:
1. All the parked cars;
2. Trees that shouldn’t be where they’re at and can’t be moved; and
3. Those who value aesthetics over safety.
Oh well.
And hey, speaking of safety, here’s the safe way down Masonic – see the cyclist on the sidewalk?
And oh, look at this.
But hey, will this initiative really “improve access” for “all modes of transportation?”
Seems unlikely at this point.
Oh well.
Presidio Update: Battery Caulfield Road Shutdown Meeting to be Held in Early October
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010Now you have even more time to email snail mail in your comments about the closure of Battery Caulfield Road in the Presidio.
Soon, you might not be welcome to test drive your new Lambo on Battery Caulfield. Oh well:
Click to expand
The latest skivvy:
The Presidio Trust is considering two approaches to limit vehicular use of a portion of Battery Caulfield Road:
1) limitation of vehicular use during weekday peak AM and PM hours, 7 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm, as well as on weekends (Alternative 1); or
2) limitation of vehicular use at all times (Alternative 2).
The proposed limitation on vehicular use is intended to reduce cut-through traffic to maintain public health and safety, to protect environmental values, to protect natural resources, and to avoid conflict among visitor uses.
By restricting the use of Battery Caulfield Road, the Trust also intends to reduce the amount of traffic through the 14th and 15th Avenue gates.
The Trust invites comments on both of these proposed limits of public use. Send comments to: John Fa, The Presidio Trust, 34 Graham Street, P.O. Box 29052, San Francisco, CA 94129-0052, or via email to: batterycaulfield@presidiotrust.gov.
Please make sure your comments have your name and contact information. Comments must be received no later than October 15, 2010. All written comments submitted to the Trust will be considered, and this proposed use limit may be modified accordingly. The final decision of the Trust will be published in the Federal Register.
To view a copy of the Federal Register Notice click here.
The Trust will be scheduling a meeting the first week of October. Information on the meeting will be disseminated as soon as details are confirmed.”
Tell the Presidio How You Feel About Battery Caulfield Road Shutting Down – Deadline Sept 1.
Monday, August 2nd, 2010Well you have the entire month of August to snail mail in your opinion about the Presidio Trust shutting down Battery Caulfield Road. Deets below, initial reactions here.
(And hey, speaking of that whole area, there’ll be a tour and update meeting at the new Presidio Landmark apartments starting at 6:30 PM tonight, Monday, August 2nd. Get the deets over at the Richmond District Blog.)
El mappo:
Click to expand.
Basically, you’re going to need to use the tunnel, or 25th Ave, or Washington. The Presidio Trust doesn’t want you driving past the old hospital just to “cut through.” The short version:
“The Presidio Trust is considering two approaches to limit vehicular use of a portion of Battery Caulfield Road: 1) limitation of vehicular use during weekday peak AM and PM hours, 7 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm, as well as on weekends (Alternative 1); or 2) limitation of vehicular use at all times (Alternative 2). The proposed limitation on vehicular use is intended to reduce cut-through traffic to maintain public health and safety, to protect environmental values, to protect natural resources, and to avoid conflict among visitor uses. By restricting the use of Battery Caulfield Road, the Trust also intends to reduce the amount of traffic through the 14th and 15th Avenue gates.
The Trust invites comments on both of these proposed limits of public use. Send comments to: Planning Department, Presidio Trust, 34 Graham Street, P.O. Box 29052, San Francisco, CA 94129-0052. Comments must be received no later than September 1, 2010. All written comments submitted to the Trust will be considered, and this proposed use limit may be modified accordingly. A subsequent Federal Register notice will provide a response to comments, identify the decision, and give 30-day notice of implementation. We will email this second notice to you as well. The final decision of the Trust will be published in the Federal Register.
The gritty nitty:
(Oh, by the way, don’t be surprised to learn that your license plate might somehow get recorded when you make your cut-through trips through the park. That’s one of the ways they keep track of you.)
So that’s it. The full monty, after the jump.
San Francisco Man Swears He’ll Never Drive More Than 60 MPH – The Pledge 60 Movement
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009This man, recently seen on Franklin Street, has sworn he will never drive his Mazda 626 LX-V6 more than 60 MPH. Why? Cause he’s a part of the Pledge 60 Movement. Check out the sign that he printed at home (or at work, let’s hope, considering the cost of replacement printer ink, “starter cartridge” don’t get me started):
“I pledge 60 MPH max to save U.S. gas $“
Fair enough. Not sure how this would work on the nascent Trans-Texas Corridor where they’ll have an 85mph limit, or for that matter Montana where teen-aged girls on narrow highways will pass you in their tiny three-cylinder cars going 90+, but oh well.
Click to expand
The Sierra Club has/had a similar campaign – “I Can Drive 55 (or whatever the limit is).”
Pledgers should keep to the right (avoiding those carpool lane-stickered Toyota Priuseses going 80+ on the I-80) and they’ll be fine.
Pledge on.
(These kinds of pledges probably will have a higher success rate than those chastity pledges that don’t seem to work.)
The Thrifty Sheriff’s Deputies of San Francisco County
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009Don’t you hate parking tickets from the DPT? Well join the club started by this fellow, an on-the-job, uniformed San Francisco County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Just what do you think he’s doing to the left rear tire of this unnamed, straight-out-of-Sindelfingen, Executive-Klasse, Autobahn-burning luxury car that he just happens to have the keys to? He spent a few minutes doing something to that tire. After he left, the luxury car had no Parking Control Officer chalk mark. Which is unlike…
…the other cars in this two-hour free parking zone, which had left rear tires all marked up with chalk. Thusly:
That mark could be evidence that you overstayed your welcome, so it will get you a hefty ticket when the PCO comes back. Is it agin the law to remove the mark from the tire your Parking Control Officer just chalked up? Yes, that’s a violation of the San Francisco Traffic Code Section 21.
Do people really park, go to work and then move their cars around the neighborhood all day long? People do. Of course if that’s their habit, then stray marks might be all over their tires, perhaps necessitating a cleaning every now and then.
That could have been what happened here. Sure looked funny though.
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