Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Bicycling

Bicycle Coalition Readies Valencia Protected Bike Lane Push

Note: GJEL Accident Attorneys regularly sponsors coverage on Streetsblog San Francisco and Streetsblog California. Unless noted in the story, GJEL Accident Attorneys is not consulted for the content or editorial direction of the sponsored content.

Advocates for better bike infrastructure on Valencia got a pleasant surprise last week--SFMTA installed some safe-hit posts in front of parklets, on a few short stretches between 15th and 19th. As reported (and very well put) by Mission Local, the street is now a "smidgen safer."

This was the first concrete step (okay, plastic) of a funded Valencia project--in November, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority approved $145,000 for the ‘Valencia Street Bikeway Implementation Plan’ to fix the bike lanes. This was in response to protests, publicity, data-gathering efforts, and a whole lot of people reaching out to elected officials and speaking at board meetings at SF City Hall.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is seizing the moment and mounting a major advocacy effort to influence the designs and make sure they result in a safe, bike-and-ped-friendly street.

Kristen Leckie, a community organizer hired in February by the SFBC (welcome Kristen!) led a meeting Thursday evening, attended by some 35 volunteers and coalition members, to develop an advocacy strategy for the project. This falls into the SFBC's model of organizing around particularly troublesome streets or neighborhoods and keeping the pressure up on city bureaucrats and elected officials; this is how they got protected bike lanes in SoMa.

IMG_20180315_173154
SFMTA lined the bike lane with safe hit posts in front of parklets and bike corrals.
false

As with past efforts, the SFBC asked its volunteers to brainstorm a long-term vision for Valencia and decide who to reach out to, such as business owners, politicians, and other advocates. "Who do we need to connect with to get a really great project that serves everyone?" asked Leckie of the group.

IMG_20180315_181530
Leckie lead a brainstorming session of SFBC volunteers about advocacy efforts for Valencia
false

Dani, a volunteer in the group, said she'd like to see something similar to what's planned for Market Street, with sidewalk level, protected bike lanes. Jeremy Pollock, another SFBC member (and Streetsblog contributor), wants to take things further, and envisions a completely car-free Valencia. Mia, another volunteer at the meeting, rides Valencia daily as part of her commute. Her boyfriend, she said, was riding a bike on Valencia when he was hit by a car making an illegal u-turn (fortunately, he was okay). "I'd just like to see bigger bike lanes, like they have in Portland."

A breakdown of collisions on Valencia, by type. Image: SFMTA
A breakdown of collisions on Valencia, by type. Image: SFMTA
false

But the most obvious solution may be to extend the existing parking-protected bike lane (on Valencia south of Cesar Chavez) up the entire length of the street.

For now, cars still have to cross the bike lane to reach the curb to park on most of Valencia, so there's no way to physically protect the bike lanes until that fundamentally flawed design gets fixed. But next to the parkletts it's a different matter, since cars can't park there anyway, which is why SFMTA decided to take this early step and put in plastic posts at these handful of locations.

With project funding now in place, things are moving quickly. SFMTA will hold community design workshops this summer and expects to have plans drawn up, ready for implementation, by Fall.

What's your vision for Valencia? Do you want to see a street where cars are banned and only paratransit and delivery trucks can enter? Or are protected bike lanes satisfactory? Post your pictures and observations.

A few more pics below:

It's mysterious why SFMTA didn't put extra bollards at the bike share station.
It's mysterious as to why SFMTA didn't protect the bike lane at the bike share station. Cars have no reason to cross the bike lane here either.
false
IMG_20180315_173517
Another view of the new safe hit posts in front of Mission Bicycle Company, along a bulb out with a bike corral.
false
IMG_20180315_173743
SFMTA also put in a solid, double stripe--which got as much consideration as the single stripe from this tow truck driver who parked here to get a pizza.
false

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Sacramento City Council May Declare Emergency Over Traffic Safety

The city faces high and rising injury rates on its roads. The proposal to declare an emergency is appropriate, say advocates, but it needs to be much stronger.

September 18, 2024

SPUR Talk: Prop 4, the Climate Bond

A panel of experts breaks down an important bond on the November ballot

September 18, 2024

Don’t Get Doored – Rosemead Blvd Bike Lanes Need Your Input

Caltrans is taking input on its repaving and possible reconfiguration of Rosemead Boulevard in South El Monte, via a survey and a public workshop.

September 18, 2024

Another Reason We Have a Housing Crisis? Highways!

In urban neighborhoods — especially Black ones — land once set aside for homes was decimated for car drivers.

September 18, 2024

Is St. Louis’ Transportation Structure Set Up to Sustain its Multimodal Boom?

St. Louis could soon become the latest U.S. city to radically restructure how it plans its transportation future. Not everyone thinks that's a good idea.

September 18, 2024
See all posts