Ride-hailing cars block SFO’s Terminal A entrance

QRecently our family got dropped off at SFO international Terminal A for departure.

It was difficult to get to the curb and unload. There were many ride service drivers with engines idling hanging out and being obstructionist. Why does SFO condone departing passenger inconvenience at Terminal A? Who at SFO is responsible for allowing cars to sit there without loading or unloading? — Steven Rubin, Monterey

AThis has been a problem for a couple of years and last month SFO began relocating Uber and Lyft drivers making pickups to the top floor of its domestic parking garage. They also made all hourly garages free for up to 30 minutes, to give private motorists an alternative for their own drop-off and pickup activity. SFPD works the curbs and now undercover officers have been added to enforce the rules.

QI have some complaints regarding Uber drivers stopping in through lanes on public roads in order to pick up riders. Three times in one week I had to suddenly stop in my right-hand lane behind an Uber driver in Palo Alto because they were picking up a rider on the street and not on the shoulder or onstreet parking. The California Drivers’ Handbook states (p. 61): “Never stop on the road unless necessary for safety or to obey a law.”

I had never noticed this behavior from Uber drivers or their riders. Just thought this was a curious development. — Josh Greben, Sunnyvale

AUber drivers should know better but in downtown areas it can be difficult to find space at a curb. Yet they should never stop in the far right lane on a city street to pick up or drop off passengers.

QRecently, San Jose’s Department of Transportation resurfaced Payne Avenue. Two words: Wow! Gorgeous! The previously tired, jawchattering, bumpy road is now smooth and quiet. Similar high-quality resurfacing was done on Doyle Road a while back. Bravo, SJDOT!

But Williams Road is fairly heavily traveled and underwent a major sewage line project that ran from Saratoga Avenue to Moorpark. But it only was patched and not that well. Boo, SJDOT. What gives? What factors decide the quality of a resurfacing project? — Bob Young, San Jose

AMany factors go into deciding when to pave a road. Since 2012, San Jose has confined its repaving to streets on the 944-mile major street network. These are streets that carry over 85 percent of city traffic. Other considerations include:

• Funding availability. The new gas tax funds are helping to pave 100 miles of city streets.

• Planning around projects that may impact the street.

• Maintenance history.

• Planned safety, bikeway or other complete streets projects.

• Geographic equity across the city.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/ mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5037.