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They are not paying for permits. The MTA has proposed a permit system for a limited number of shared private/public bus stops, but it has not been introduced, v

They are not paying for permits. The MTA has proposed a permit system for a limited number of shared private/public bus stops, but it has not been introduced, voted on, or even released publicly, and has lingered since as early as October 2012[1]. Even if the pilot program succeeds (maybe some time next year), and Google, et. al., start paying for bus stop permits, there's still the issue of the city turning a blind eye to all the illegal stops that have gone on for the last 5 years or so. It's great for the city to create a program that encourages mass transportation, but subsidizing it for only a select class of people is a poor use of public funds at best, and discriminatory at worst. [1] http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/rules-proposed-for-commuter-shuttle-buses-in-san-francisco/Content?oid=2317470 http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/rules-proposed-for-co...

yapcguy 13y ago
Yes, yes and yes. Google & co. did not ask anybody before they started using the public Muni stops. They just used them. To hell with regulations, traffic laws, and the city of San Francisco. Google & co. are bullying the city. This is the real issue.
- pslam 13y ago
  The city isn't turning a blind eye at all, and there's no bullying. There's a conversation going on between the city and the private companies involved, in fact. They recognize that the coaches aren't permitted to use Muni stops, but there is currently no better solution - to eliminate them would greatly increase road traffic or choke Muni with the increased passengers. This is a highly complex issue and you cannot pick on just one player. It doesn't help anyone.
  - yapcguy 13y ago
    Of course it's bullying. The private companies have been violating traffic laws, repeatedly, for years. They know what they are doing is against the law, but they keep on doing it. Any impact on road traffic or Muni has got nothing do with the above violation of the law.
    - phxrsng 13y ago
      Just to be clear - you advocate fining UCSF for a decade of back-fines as well, right? Since their shuttles do the same thing. Or are we only ok with bullying the tech companies back?

yapcguy 13y ago

Yes, yes and yes. Google & co. did not ask anybody before they started using the public Muni stops. They just used them. To hell with regulations, traffic laws, and the city of San Francisco. Google & co. are bullying the city. This is the real issue.

pslam 13y ago
The city isn't turning a blind eye at all, and there's no bullying. There's a conversation going on between the city and the private companies involved, in fact. They recognize that the coaches aren't permitted to use Muni stops, but there is currently no better solution - to eliminate them would greatly increase road traffic or choke Muni with the increased passengers. This is a highly complex issue and you cannot pick on just one player. It doesn't help anyone.
- yapcguy 13y ago
  Of course it's bullying. The private companies have been violating traffic laws, repeatedly, for years. They know what they are doing is against the law, but they keep on doing it. Any impact on road traffic or Muni has got nothing do with the above violation of the law.
  - phxrsng 13y ago
    Just to be clear - you advocate fining UCSF for a decade of back-fines as well, right? Since their shuttles do the same thing. Or are we only ok with bullying the tech companies back?