The Golden Gate Bridge must stay free.
That's the message of Assembly members Phil Ting and Marc Levine, who are pushing to ensure that no toll for pedestrians and cyclists is imposed upon the Bay Area's iconic bridge.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the pair will introduce legislation on Monday that would block the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District -- which manages the bridge -- from ever imposing a toll.
The bridge district is looking for ways to fix a $32.9 million budget shortfall, and a toll for the many thousands of walkers and bikers who cross the bridge is seen as one potential solution.
Cyclists and walkers both have been in a tizzy since the district suggested looking at the idea on Oct. 24.
Both Ting and Levine had strong words for the proposal, including that it "sends the wrong message" and even goes as far as to deter walking or biking -- which would be "antithetical" to what the state stands for, according to the newspaper.
