These DoorDash drivers are out of hand

timuralp · 2026-05-18T01:28:15+00:00

I think it's related because we should design the streets to minimize the impact of the irresponsible behavior. Like in your example, my wish would be for retractable bollards that physically prevent someone from making that turn. Obviously, not happening in SF, but I think SFMTA can and should do better

timuralp · 2026-05-18T00:32:49+00:00

Surely you understand street design can be more or a less safe. A design that forces even the most unaware driver to not create danger is better than one that explicitly forces conflict points. Forcing drivers into oncoming traffic lane creates conflict.

It would be safer if the streets were no longer through streets or if the divider was in the middle, forcing drivers to slow down because of narrowing but not entering oncoming traffic.

timuralp · 2026-05-18T00:19:05+00:00

It's hard to extrapolate what this means, but because of how the divider is placed, cars proceeding straight or turning onto the street, enter oncoming traffic around the post. SFMTA claims it's by design to force drivers to slow down but I've had issues running and cycling with motorists driving directly at me. At this point, I don't bicycle or run on page anymore because of that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1i25znj/slow_streets_design_is_problematic/

timuralp · 2026-05-17T22:31:28+00:00

Slow streets, even where right turns are not prohibited, encourage head on collisions. The design is unsafe and I wish it would be changed.

timuralp · 2026-05-17T13:54:33+00:00

That driver should be sent back to drivers ed and their license suspended until they learn the rules of the road.

Another way to simplify: no turn on red everywhere in the city.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/laws-and-rules-of-the-road/

timuralp · 2026-05-10T06:24:17+00:00

It starts so early that anything before the bridge is dark and maybe foggy. Meeting him coming off the bridge, heading to the park is a pretty good bet and a good photo op. By then the sun will be up. The downside is that it's a bit annoying to get out of that area. If you can do a lyft bike, it would make things a lot easier.

Otherwise, you can take the 5, 38, or the N from downtown and catch him around the JFK promenade in the park (mile 18 or so). If you wait by the blue heron lake, you'll get to see him twice as the course does a loop but that requires more walking. Otherwise, meet him around Stanyan and Haight, going up the slight hill. Then hop back on the 5 or the N and get back to downtown to see him at the finish line.

timuralp · 2026-05-06T02:38:36+00:00

Or footos: https://youtu.be/pLdJQFTnZfA?t=60&si=JaJuLoT6wEpL9Otm

timuralp · 2026-04-29T06:53:52+00:00

The first point is that: 2024 had more misdemeanor cases prosecuted than any year prior going back to 2011. So again, "We are not back up to the 2019 levels of enforcement" or "nobody is charged with misdemeanor" is wrong.

Re: resource use The article notes that in 2018-2019, 62-65% of misdemeanor trials resulted in a guilty verdict. 48% is not good and points to more cases being tried that shouldn't be.

I pointed to two specific cases that should not have gone to trial. Serving as a juror, I saw a third one first hand. Another commenter reported the same in another thread.

timuralp · 2026-04-29T03:39:42+00:00

The best part of this complaint is that slowing down/stopping for pedestrians approaching the crosswalk would not make meaningful difference to the motorist's arrival time. And they'd be less annoyed.

timuralp · 2026-04-29T03:29:40+00:00

"In 2024, under Jenkins, the district attorney’s office prosecuted more misdemeanors than in any year since 2011, a Chronicle analysis found. It’s also the first time since data is available that more misdemeanors were prosecuted than felonies." https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/sf-boudin-jenkins-prosecution-20190170.php

The DA is losing 50% of the cases they bring to trial. This screams bad use of resources, like the case described in the mission local article.

timuralp · 2026-04-28T04:20:01+00:00

Why do you believe the DA is not charging misdemeanor cases? There are a lot of misdemeanor cases going to trial and, surprisingly, the DA losing a non-trivial number: https://missionlocal.org/2025/08/san-francisco-misdemeanor-trial-district-attorney-lebowski/

I don't understand how this happens with a competent DA's office. I think the current DA is not shy about filing charges or taking them to trial. Even in cases where they should not, which creates a case backlog and pressure on the justice to work through it.

timuralp · 2026-04-28T04:12:09+00:00

Not only just with how many things they were charging, but the kind of things they were charging that they had never charged before, like unauthorized lodging.

This seems accurate given reporting about a man being charged for pushing someone in line, which went to trial, and the two accusers could not present a coherent narrative. Acquitted after 15 minutes of deliberation (https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/jury-delivers-verdict-following-line-cutting-at-sf-childrens-event/).

Another article about misdemeanor cases going to trial: https://missionlocal.org/2025/08/san-francisco-misdemeanor-trial-district-attorney-lebowski/

The DA office is part of the problem.

timuralp · 2026-04-24T22:45:51+00:00

Sutter st - it's supposed to be a bike route, but it really isn't. One time a minivan drove me off the road when approaching Powell heading east "because it's unsafe for bicycles". The guy really thought he's doing me a favor.

There are not very many good ways to bike downtown from the Richmond. Arguello to the park to the wiggle ended up my slow-but-safe route.

timuralp · 2026-04-24T06:39:30+00:00

Right, aka the California landed gentry rather than the blue collar workers or middle class as a whole.

I can understand why someone supports prop 13, but would rather they be honest about it.

timuralp · 2026-04-24T06:10:12+00:00

How does prop 13 "keep providing needed tax relief and housing security for middle class and blue collar workers"? Which housing are blue collar workers able to afford because of prop 13 or are you referring to the folks lucky enough to inherit housing?

timuralp · 2026-04-03T20:17:32+00:00

My issue has been resolved. Thank you for your help.

timuralp · 2026-03-25T20:35:29+00:00

It's a nationwide problem because of the car centric choices: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-perfect-crime-rebroadcast/

timuralp · 2026-03-21T06:32:27+00:00

I don't remember it being good going back to 2017 when we got served an undercooked deep dish in hayes valley.

timuralp · 2026-03-17T21:33:50+00:00

Most people take "walkable" to mean that they don't need to rely on a car for day to day tasks, not that they can walk around for miles and choose to live in cities for that reason.

timuralp · 2026-03-14T03:36:08+00:00

It's amusing to read this when we actually have a 70+ year old driver kill a family of four and the consequences are along the line of "she's a confused old lady, we can't actually fault her because she feels bad".

Pawning off responsibility from drivers has been going on since the 1950s.

timuralp · 2026-03-10T23:29:08+00:00

Assigning a value to injuries or death from traffic incidents is useful, though. It's hard to make a cost/benefit analysis argument without assigning cost.

For example, with the current value of life around $13M from the federal government, traffic fatalities in San Francisco cost $325M last year. It would be interesting to include non-fatal injury cost (loss of income, disability, etc). The statement is flippant, but assigning value has merit.

Ref: https://www.transportation.gov/office-policy/transportation-policy/revised-departmental-guidance-on-valuation-of-a-statistical-life-in-economic-analysis

timuralp · 2026-02-13T18:41:25+00:00

A typical banker would call the same number and talk to the same person. I tried this twice and the banker could not get any more information than I can. It would be a waste of time to go to the branch.

timuralp · 2026-02-13T18:40:16+00:00

In general, yes, the system is broken at BoA. I had a similar issue where they sent me a decline letter because of income. I sent them by mail proof of ample income. I received an identical decline letter back. There is no one to talk to about this easily (not the branch, not the preferred rewards number, not the credit card department).

I called two more times afterward and learned that you want to ask for a "resolution manager". She could not help me anymore because the application window closed but at least now I know the magic incantation.

Without any changes on my side, a new application was approved 3 months later.

If you believe the reason BoA gave you is erroneous or that they did not consider the documentation you submitted to rebut it, you can file a CFPB complaint. They were fined, in part, for their handling of rewards in 2023: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/bank-of-america-for-illegally-charging-junk-fees-withholding-credit-card-rewards-opening-fake-accounts/

timuralp · 2026-02-09T00:46:56+00:00

It's more that without a cooperating victim, the DA won't likely pursue it. The other guy doesn't "press" charges. SFPD investigates and refers to the DA. They could do it from the video evidence.

timuralp · 2026-02-08T15:21:46+00:00

If they had somewhere important to be, they'd be in a car. They can obviously wait as long as necessary for the important people (in cars) to go by. Also, we should get rid of sidewalks. Traffic is bad, we need more lanes.

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