The Valencia Street bike lane project has seen extensive plans and public outreach, yet discrepancies have emerged between the approved designs and what was actually installed by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).
Luke Bornheimer, an advocate from Streets Forward, highlighted these inconsistencies, prompting further examination of the bike lane’s safety features.
In a recent post by Streetsblog discussing the incomplete nature of the Valencia bike lanes, it was noted that many corners were installed without the necessary concrete protections essential for preventing right-turning drivers from endangering cyclists.
Bornheimer pointed out these protections are crucial to ensure that drivers don’t overlook cyclists in their blind spots, which can lead to serious accidents.
Despite the conceptual plans suggesting a more secure design, the final installation appears to have reduced essential safety elements, including the number of posts and speed bumps at critical intersections.
SFMTA’s Michael Roccaforte responded, noting that design modifications were made based on public feedback and the constraints of available space.
He explained that while some elements were changed, such as eliminating speed bumps, the intention was to create a more navigable space for cyclists.
However, many cyclists have expressed concern over these changes.
A user identified as ‘Nolan’ commented on the Streetsblog article, describing instances of near-misses with vehicles making right turns without checking for cyclists first.
The lack of concrete barriers, as highlighted, leads to diminished visibility into bike lanes at intersections, creating dangerous conditions for cyclists.
Another cyclist shared a similar sentiment, describing close encounters with turning vehicles, emphasizing that avoiding accidents has been a matter of vigilance rather than infrastructure safety.
These observations underscore the necessity of wide corner islands at intersections as a means to compel drivers to slow down and reposition their vehicles, thus improving the safety of cyclists.
Advocates for cycling infrastructure are drawing comparisons between San Francisco and Oakland, which they argue has successfully integrated concrete protections into its bike lanes.
Magnus Barber noted his experiences commuting through both cities, posing the question of why Oakland appears to successfully implement these features while San Francisco has struggled.
Despite some flaws in Oakland’s infrastructure, advocates point to its commitment to building safe, concrete-protected intersections as a model for San Francisco to follow.
While the new Valencia bike lanes represent an improvement over previous infrastructure, the SFMTA’s decision to scale back on crucial safety elements raises questions about the city’s commitment to cyclist safety.
As these discussions continue, Streetsblog hopes for a recognition of these shortcomings from SFMTA and a potential solution to enhance the safety of cyclists along Valencia Street.
image source from：sf
