Officials Propose Bike Speed Limits on Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco Chronice: The magnetic allure of the Golden Gate Bridge draws not only tourists but commuters - many of whom cross the landmark span on bikes, and are upset at a plan to slow their rides by imposing speed limits.

Bridge officials say the growing popularity of biking or walking across the bridge, a yearlong safety study and a planned four-month closure of the bicycles-only west sidewalk have convinced them of the need to slow down the cyclists.

"Our concern is safety," said Denis Mulligan, bridge general manager, citing the narrowness of the bridge sidewalks and the crowded nature of the east sidewalk, which is shared by pedestrians and bicyclists. But many cyclists complain that the speed limits are unwarranted, unwanted and would needlessly slow their commutes.

"It's a joke," said P.J. Gallagher, a recreational cyclist who lives in San Francisco and pedals the bridge regularly. "It's a solution for a problem that doesn't exist."

The bridge district this week proposed a 10 mph speed limit across the 1.7-mile bridge and approaches, with a 5 mph limit around the bridge towers and in construction and maintenance zones. The California Highway Patrol would enforce the law, issuing $100 tickets to violators.

The CHP would use speed monitoring devices, such as radar guns, to catch speeding cyclists, but cyclists say it would be difficult for most riders to know whether they're adhering to the 10 mph speed limit because most bicycles are not outfitted with speedometers.

Critics say that while safety is important, the accident rate is low and doesn't require speed limits. "This is a nonissue," said Wayne Baker, 50, who bikes across the bridge six to seven times a week from Mill Valley to his job as reservations manager at the Hilton Union Square. "That's a small number of accidents and only a fraction are related to speed."

Lew Ketcher, 68, has commuted on bike from Mill Valley to the Financial District three to four days a week for a dozen years. He estimates his average speed across the bridge at 15 mph, "which is not very fast," he said.

Several bike commuters, including Ketcher, said inattentive tourists on rental bikes pose a bigger safety problem."There are people coming right at you with a camera in one hand, looking out at the water," he said. "There are people stopping right in the middle of the path to take a picture."

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