Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

Lot's of people want to bike around North Beach. But according to a recent survey by the North Beach Neighbors association, 72 percent don't bike (or at least don't bike as often as they'd like) thanks to a lack of safe infrastructure. The survey asked some 120 North Beachers how they get around and what they think of bike infrastructure and Muni service in the area.

NorthBeachPieChart
false

"The lack of bike infrastructure is disappointing," said Danny Sauter, President of North Beach Neighbors. "We've seen great progress around the city, in SoMa especially, but north of Market there's no change--and when we ask members why they don't bike more, the reason is, by far, that they don't feel safe."

northbeachtransit
false

As the chart above shows, there's also dissatisfaction with transit. "There’s a lot of frustration around crowding of buses--most pronounced in the commute hours," said Sauter, adding that some buses are so overcrowded people simply can't get on board. "People understand that there are stops where they’ll be passed up, and if they miss a window, they just don’t get on the bus."

A parking protected bike lane on Folsom. While these have popped up all over SoMa, North Beach has gotten zip. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick
A parking-protected bike lane on Folsom. While these have popped up all over SoMa in the last couple of years, North Beach has gotten zip. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick
false

Sauters added that he did the survey after SFMTA held outreach meetings in North Beach, to look for possible transit and street improvements. In the long term, residents want to see the Central Subway extended. But in the short term, it's clear the respondents want the streets reconfigured to prioritize transit and bicycles over private cars. However, Sauter added that in his view changes to North Beach streets are "Not a priority of the Supervisor's... You can see the contrast between District 6, Matt Haney's District. In a matter of months we've seen streets dramatically transformed, that's possible in D3 too, if we had the political leadership."

He's talking, of course, of the way streets such as Folsom in the above image have been updated to address safety, while Columbus Avenue in North Beach, seen below, remains essentially unchanged. Both are Vision Zero high-injury streets:

While SoMa is getting protected bike lanes, this is what passes for bike infra in North Beach. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick
Unfortunately, painted sharrows are still what passes for bike infra on main streets in North Beach, such as Columbus Avenue seen here. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick
false

For the full survey results, click here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

First OC Streetcar Arrives

The $649 million 4.1-mile OC Streetcar light rail line is 92 percent complete, and now anticipated to open in spring 2026

May 8, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

California and Trump continue to spar and more news from up and down the state.

May 8, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here

After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.

May 8, 2025
See all posts