As San Francisco’s population grows with the projection of 82,000 new homes under the Mayor’s Family Zoning Plan, local environmental advocates are raising concerns about the pace of infrastructure improvements for biking and walking.
Advocates for safe streets emphasize that while the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) and County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) have made strides in enhancing road safety, the progress has been frustratingly slow, particularly when deadly traffic collisions continue to occur disproportionately throughout the city.
The City’s quick-build and Slow Streets programs have been positively received, offering cost-effective solutions for safer pedestrian and cycling environments.
Recent studies indicate that a quick-build protected bike lane installed on the Panhandle segment of Fell Street resulted in a remarkable 40 percent reduction in traffic collisions, at a cost of only $425,000.
Overall, data from 28 streets undergoing quick-build treatment showed a 16 percent decrease in collisions, and Slow Streets initiatives contributed to a significant 48 percent drop in traffic-related incidents.
However, the inability of the City to efficiently prioritize and implement these projects raises serious questions.
Two high-profile examples, planned protected bike lanes on the Embarcadero and Brotherhood Way, symbolize the challenges faced in modernizing San Francisco’s streets.
The proposed extension of the Embarcadero’s protected bike lane, spanning half a mile, has been stalled since 2014 due to complex engineering issues and an extensive community engagement process that took five years to complete.
SFMTA’s own project page notes that
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