The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a proposed ordinance that would make it easier for bike riders and pedestrians to sue those who intentionally threaten and harass them.

Sebastopol became the first city in Sonoma County and one of few in the nation to pass an ordinance that makes it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to sue drivers who threaten or harass them.

Greenhouse gas emissions declined in Sonoma County in 2011 for the third straight year, reflecting an expansion of renewable energy sources and a down economy, which lowered demand for power and transportation. Still, Sonoma County’s goal of reducing emissions 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2015 remains elusive, officials said Tuesday.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today is expected to endorse studying a proposed ordinance that would make it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to sue drivers who intentionally threaten and harass them.

Bicycle advocates unveiled a proposed local ordinance Friday meant to arm cyclists and pedestrians with new legal ammunition against drivers who intentionally threaten and harass them.
The proposal from the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition would make it easier for ‘vulnerable users’ to sue drivers in civil court. It defines various forms of harassment and triples monetary penalties, making cases more attractive to attorneys.
It’s intended to fill perceived gaps in criminal prosecution, which has a higher standard of proof and requires such things as as the positive identification of the driver.

Healdsburg City Council agreed Monday the most viable alternative for cyclists once Memorial Bridge closes for fix-it work next year is an old rail bridge.

The Santa Rosa City Council agreed reluctantly Tuesday to spend $200,000 to study whether a bicycle and pedestrian undercrossing can be built beneath the future rail line at Jennings Avenue. The council unanimously agreed to explore ways to avoid the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit service fencing off the pathway that people have used to cross the tracks for years at that location.

Hop Kiln Winery’s proposal for a major expansion was denied by Sonoma County officials Thursday as being out of scale with the rural Westside Road. Westside Grapes, the owner of Hop Kiln, was also told by the Board of Zoning Adjustments that it needs to resolve lingering illegal uses on the property and come back with a proposal for a new production facility.

A bold plan to encourage higher density housing near the future commuter rail station near Coddingtown mall is winning praise for its embrace of sustainable development principles but also criticism from some worried about its impact on their private property rights.

Repealing the tax that funds efforts to build the SMART commute rail line in Sonoma and Marin counties is a bad decision, says Lisa Wittke Schaffner, CEO of the Sonoma County Alliance, and Gary Helfrich, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. If the repeal effort succeeds, they say SMART still must honor $200 million in contracts, forcing residents to pay for something and getting nothing in return.