Golden Gate Bridge Considers Charging Bicyclists, Pedestrians

Expect to see a sea of spandex filling the usually staid chambers of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District on Friday when directors consider charging a toll for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the landmark bridge. Even if the bike and pedestrian tolls remain in the financial strategy, Clemens said, they would need to go through public hearings and be approved by the bridge district board before officials could start collecting cash. The financial strategy also contemplates raising bridge tolls by 5 percent annually starting in July 2018, boosting bus and ferry fares by 5 percent a year beginning in July 2017 and working with regional officials to raise the requirement for getting into North Bay carpool lanes to three occupants, a limit now only used on Interstate 80 leading to the Bay Bridge.