incidents.
Brian Culbertson commented on the video of the incident between a bus operator and a
bicyclist, noting the need for improving road safety, and stressed the importance of focusing
on solutions rather than assigning blame. Culbertson supports training programs for bus
operators to prevent future conflicts and ensure safe interactions on the road.
Mark Hedlund commented on the video of the incident between a bus operator and a bicyclist
and asked for mutual respect between cyclists and bus drivers, emphasizing the importance of
safe infrastructure and training for both groups. Hedlund urged the Board to foster
cooperation and learning between cyclists and bus drivers to ensure safety and create greater
trust on the road for everyone.
Carter Lavin from the Transbay Coalition and the East Bay Transit Riders Union commented on
the recent incident between a cyclist and a bus operator and wanted to highlight structural
issues affecting transit safety. Lavin called for better street safety and shared use of roadways
among all users - bicyclists, pedestrians, and bus operators - through improved street design to
enhance safety for everyone. Lavin remarked that all stakeholders in this system must work
together for a safer transit environment.
Alita Dupree, Team Folds, expressed excited anticipation for AC Transit under the new Clipper
2 system and looked forward to utilizing fare capping and open payments features.
Billy Trice Jr. expressed concern over rising bus pass prices, particularly affecting seniors and
disabled individuals who rely on public transportation. Trice Jr. suggested that funding be
sought from Sacramento to keep prices affordable, emphasizing the challenging times and the
need to support vulnerable groups.
Tommaso emphasized the importance of safety for multimodal users on the streets,
particularly cyclists and pedestrians, and vulnerable groups, like children and seniors. Tomasso
stressed the need to reduce “vehicle miles traveled” for climate mitigation and called for
improved training and plans that accommodate increasing urban density and multimodal
travel.
Nick Pilch highlighted concerns for bicyclist safety by sharing a similar personal encounter with
a bus as a bicyclist, saying that assurances were given that the operator would be reminded of
safety protocols. However, Pilch commented further that such guidance may not be
consistently enforced and urged for operators to receive comprehensive and recurring training
on bicyclist safety.
Latrina Meredith, President and Business Agent of ATU - Local 192, emphasized the public
service commitment of AC Transit bus operators, clarifying that they do not seek to
inconvenience anyone. Meredith defended bus operators against negative portrayals in the
media, asserting that bus operators are trained professionals facing daily challenges, including
respect for their driving space amidst cyclists. Meredith urged public understanding and
respect for the complexities of their job, noting that the role involves significant responsibility
beyond simply driving. Meredith called for factual accuracy before judgments are made about
bus operators' actions.
4.
5.
MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA
There were no modifications to the agenda.
CONSENT CALENDAR (AND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT ITEMS)
There was no public comment offered on the Consent Calendar.
