As of Monday, July 2, bike traffic in the southbound direction of Valencia will share a lane with car traffic for about half of a block. Bike and car traffic in the northbound direction will not be permitted through the intersection at all. For bicycles, the detour will be Guerrero Street, where there is bike lane, or San Jose Avenue through the hospitals parking lot; whichever is easier for you.

Your SF Bicycle Coalition has worked hard to ensure that the City is providing the smoothest detours and lots of signage during this construction, but if you see something that is unsafe, call 311 directly to report the problem, and let us know by emailing marc@sfbike.org. Thank you for your patience during this construction period, and for being a member of our organization.

Please email mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org and Ed.Reiskin@sfmta.com today. We’ve prepared the following email to help you voice your support. Please also cc: neal@sfbike.org. Dear Mayor Lee [INTRODUCE YOURSELF, WHERE YOU (AND YOUR FAMILY) LIVE, AND YOUR OCCUPATION] I urge you to add separated bikeways on Fell and Oak Street between Scott and Baker Street as soon as possible. [ADD HOW SEPARATED BIKEWAYS WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO BIKE MORE TO WORK, HOME, SCHOOL, AND LOCAL SHOPS: - WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU BIKE ON THESE ROUTES? - WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU'RE BIKING ON THESE ROUTES TODAY? - WHAT WOULD MORE COMFORTABLE BIKEWAYS (LIKE THE GREEN SEPARATED BIKE LANES ON MARKET STREET) MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR BIKE TRIPS? - DO YOU HAVE KIDS AND BIKE (OR WOULD BIKE) WITH THEM ON THIS ROUTE? - LIST ANY OTHER INFORMATION TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF.] I urge you to act quickly to create these three blocks of separated bikeway as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for connecting the city for everyone! Sincerely, YOUR NAME

Your email is important to show the diversity of support for three blocks of separated bikeway on Fell and Oak Street between Scott and Baker. The SFMTA is currently summarizing neighborhood feedback and narrowing in on options for this project. Stay tuned for updates and more ways you can help. Contact neal@sfbike.org for more information or to be added to our Fell and Oak email list. ]]> http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/act-now-to-help-get-separated-bikeways-on-fell-and-oak-in-2012/feed/ 1 http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/jfk-drive-separated-bikeway-coming-in-2012/ http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/jfk-drive-separated-bikeway-coming-in-2012/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:09:15 +0000 kristin http://www.connectingthecity.org/?p=1065 The JFK Drive separated bikeway design includes a continuous painted buffer between the bikeway and moving vehicles, with parked automobiles adding an additional buffer in some sections. This project will be on JFK Drive from Transverse Drive to Stanyan Street, including improved connections to the Panhandle Path. The SFMTA is also adding new curb cuts along JFK Drive, to improve access to the curb for many visitors using wheelchairs and scooters.See the SFMTA’s JFK Drive project page for more specific information on the design. Parking-protected bikeways have been in the ground in cities across North America and around the world for many years with many promising benefits. People biking enjoy an extra level of comfort being separated from motor vehicles – helpful for both seasoned bike commuters and those new to urban biking – and the SF Bicycle Coalition is thrilled to see this first example go in on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. People traveling on JFK Drive should take care of the following once the new design is in the ground:

• Enter and leave the bikeway at intersections and stay clear of the buffer zone.
• Be alert for people crossing the bikeway to enter or exit parked vehilces.
• Be aware of people with disabilities who may need to use part of the bikeway to exit vehicles.
• Obey all signs and markings and yield to pedestrians.
• When driving, be alert for people biking and walking and yield to pedestrians at intersections.
• When driving, park away from the curb along the buffer zone and use the buffer to enter and exit your vehicle. Watch for people on bikes when crossing the bikeway.

Community members were invited to drop in anytime during the four-hour Open House, allowing for even more people to fit this community meeting into their schedule. All the parents on bikes with their kids in tow on bikes, senior citizens living nearby, workers from Divisadero Street and scores of everyday commuters found a window of time to come and add their input.

The SFMTA presented a wealth of information about the leading options to add a separated bikeway on three blocks of Fell and Oak Street – developed from national standards and field research and influenced by the community goals brainstormed at the first community meeting in September. On December 3rd, the SFMTA presented more details on the bikeway designs, and stated that they are prioritizing their planning efforts only on the options that maintain the current number of automobile travel lanes.

The SF Bicycle Coalition is thrilled to see the SFMTA’s attention on improving these three blocks of Fell and Oak Street. Neighbors have been asking for calmer neighborhood streets for decades, and our members consistently cite these three blocks of Fell and Oak Streets as some of the scariest to bike on now and a priority for safety improvements.

This project and community meetings have benefitted from extensive community outreach including door-to-door business and resident outreach before public meetings, prominent signs on the road, mailers to local residents, and a strong partnership with many of the community groups in the area. All these activities have brought a large and diverse crowd together to share their experiences and ideas for improvements at every step of the process. With input from from neighbors, commuters, pedestrian and disability activitists, and SF Bicycle Coalition member at these meetings, we are confident we’ll all move forward to make swift fixes to these three blocks of Fell and Oak Street.

Stay tuned for more updates on this project in the coming weeks. We’ll be posting specific information about the design proposals when they become available and make sure you’re notified on opportunities to weigh in on the design and speak up in support when decisions are being made.

Please contact Neal Patel at neal@sfbike.org or 415.431.2453 x312 if you have any questions or if you want to be added to our Fell and Oak email list for timely updates on how you can get involved.

At the first community workshop in September, over 100 people came out to help shape the SFMTA’s plans for a separated bikeway on Fell and Oak Streets between Scott and Baker Streets. Members from the North of Panhandle, Alamo Square, and Lower Haight Neighborhood Associations, the Wigg Party, local business representatives, and many neighbors and SF Bicycle Coalition members came out and the discussion was lively. After a break-out session, those in attendance stressed that the main goal of this project should be to prioritize safety of all road users.

The SFMTA presented 5 options for a separated bikeway on these three blocks of Fell and Oak Streets. The first three options (shown below) involve one-way bikeways on both Fell and Oak Streets, while the other two include a two-way separated bikeway on either Fell or Oak Street. Click here to download the SFMTA’s full presentation.

These design concepts come from decades of community efforts at calming streets in the neighborhood, and a robust community outreach process in 2011 for these specific proposals, including the following recent activities:

June 2011 – Businesses on Fell and Oak Streets between Scott and Baker surveyed about ideas and concerns of general separated bikeway concept.

July – August 2011 – Alamo Square, Inner Sunset, and North of Panhandle Neighborhood Associations discuss preliminary concepts for Fell and Oak Separated Bikeways at their monthly public meeting. All residents and business on Fell and Oak between Scott and Baker received flier of these neighborhood meetings on their door.

August 2011 – Outreach about project details and upcoming Community Workshop at the Inner Sunset Farmer’s Market and Alamo Square Flea Market.

September 2011 – 1st Community Workshop for Separated Bikeways on Fell and Oak Streets between Scott and Baker Streets attended by over 100 community members and business representatives. All businesses and residents in a 20 square block around the project are received notification of the Meeting by hand-delivered and/or mailer.

At the December 3 Open House, the SFMTA will present more detailed information about each design and will be soliciting feedback – your input is crucial to make sure the project moves forward with the most community input on the design and in a timely manner.

The SF Bicycle Coalition will be providing free bike valet at the Open House from 10am to 2pm, so you know your bike will be safe while you participate. There will also be a free bike education workshop immediately following the workshop at 2pm, as an introduction to safe urban cycling.

Contact neal@sfbike.org (or 415.431.2453 x312) if you have any questions, and we’ll see you on December 3rd.

Here is a glimpse at the long history of input on the JFK Drive Separated Bikeway:

Late 2010 – Early 2011 – SFMTA and Recreation and Parks begin conceptual plans for separated bikeway on JFK Drive.

Spring 2011 – Outreach on project and upcoming community meetings to groups including Mayor’s Office of Disability, Paratransit Coordinating Council, Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, WalkSF, Supervisors Eric Mar and Carmen Chu, Planning Association for the Richmond, Inner Sunset Park Neighbors, SF Parks Trust, Neighborhood Parks Council, SF Travel Association, and general public.

Community members weigh in on JFK Drive Separated Bikeway

June – August 2011 – SFMTA administers survey of options and preferences for JFK Drive Separated Bikeway to 488 people (see http://tiny.cc/lhqew for full survey results).

Sample section for JFK Drive

June – August 2011 – Outreach to all above-named groups about survey and community workshop results, with listing in Recreation and Parks email newsletter.

August 16, 2011 – SFMTA 2nd Community Workshop of preferred design option with over 40 participants (see http://tiny.cc/9fo4w for photos).

August – October 2011 – Outreach and meetings with above- named groups on final designs for JFK Drive Separated Bikeway.

September 7, 2011 – JFK Drive Bikeway public discussion at Recreation and Parks Commission – Capital Committee.

October 5, 2011 – Concourse Authority hears public comment and unanimously approves JFK Drive Separated Bikeway.

October 6, 2011 – JFK Drive Bikeway public discussion at Recreation and Parks Commission – Operations Committee.

October 20, 2011 – JFK Drive Bikeway public discussion and decision at Recreation and Parks Full Commission, 10 am in Room 416 of City Hall.

Email Neal@sfbike.org if you would like to come and speak at the 10/20 Recreation and Parks Commission hearing.

Members from the North of Panhandle, Alamo Square, and Lower Haight Neighborhood Associations, the Wigg Party, local business representatives, and many neighbors and SF Bicycle Coalition members came out and the discussion was lively. After a break-out session, those in attendance stressed that the main goal of this project should be to prioritize safety of all road users. You can read our live-tweet account of the evening here.

The SFMTA presented 5 options for a separated bikeway on these three Fell and Oak Streets – click here to download the SFMTA’s full presentation. The three options below were most supported by community members, with options D and E involving a two-way separated bikeway on one street.

The SF Bicycle Coalition wants to hear from you – do you have a preference on a design option?

Contact neal@sfbike.org (or 415.431.2453 x312) and let us know if you have any preference or questions about this project.

You can also direct questions or support to the SFMTA project Manager Luis Montoya – Luis.Montoya@sfmta.com, 415.701.4376.

This separated bikeway on JFK Drive between Stanyan and Transverse Drive will make it much more comfortable for the thousands of people already biking this route, and for the thousands more who would like to. This project will add one-way separated bikeways on each side of JFK Drive. Each separated bikeway would be at least six and half feet wide with a three to seven foot wide painted buffer. Parked automobiles would buffer the bikeway in some places as well (see many examples of parking-protected bikeways in this great short film from Streetfilms).

sample cross-section for JFK Drive near Stow Lake

See the MTA’s final presentation (delivered at the August 16th Community meeting) here.

Earlier this year, over 400 people completed the SFMTA’s survey, where a strong preference was voiced for one-way separated bikeways on JFK Drive. 90% of survey respondents supported one-way separated bikeways, and the same percentage stated that a separated bikeway is appropriate for a park setting. This project, as finalized by the community, will remove approximately 153 parking spaces on JFK Drive. The SFMTA has located some replacement parking (converting parallel parking to perpendicular parking) to recoup an additional 73 parking spaces. The net loss of 80 parking spots to fit in this important bicycle safety facility represents less than 3% of all parking in the eastern part of Golden Gate Park.

The San Francisco strongly supports the JFK Drive separated bikeway — for the safety of and comfort of those who are already biking, and the thousands who would like to — and we are thankful to the hundreds of people who have helped shape and move this project forward. You can add your voice in two ways.

1. Send an email to Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the Recreation and Parks Department, and CC Neal Patel, and him know that you want 1.5 miles of safe, protected bikeway on JFK Drive this year.

Send your letter to Philip.Ginsburg@sfgov.org today and also cc: neal@sfbike.org, using this sample if you would like: Dear Mr. Ginsburg: [INTRODUCE YOURSELF, WHERE YOU (AND YOUR FAMILY) LIVE, AND YOUR OCCUPATION] As one of the seven in 10 San Franciscans who ride a bike, I urge you to create a fully separated, continuous bikeway on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park by this year. A protected bikeway on JFK Drive will help me and growing numbers of people who want a safe and comfortable way to bike in the Park. [ADD HOW A SEPARATED BIKEWAY WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO BIKE ON JFK DRIVE, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: - IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND BIKE (OR WOULD BIKE) WITH THEM ON JFK DRIVE - IF YOU USE (OR WOULD USE) JFK DRIVE TO BIKE TO WORK OR TO GET TO MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS IN THE PARK, OR ANY OTHER REASON WHY A SEPARATED BIKEWAY ON JFK DRIVE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU] I urge you to help create a safe and comfortable bikeway on JFK Drive by this year, so we can connect the city with safe and comfortable bikeways for everyone. Sincerely, YOUR NAME

2. Speak up at an upcoming hearing. See below for dates and times and let Neal know if you can make it:

• October 5, Concourse Authority Approval, 4:30 pm, City Hall Room 263
• October 20, Recreation and Parks Full Commission, 10am, City Hall Room 416

Email neal@sfbike.org if you have any comments or questions. Let’s get connecting the city! ]]> http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/voice-your-support-for-a-safer-jfk-drive/feed/ 0 http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/one-more-link-for-the-museum-educator/ http://www.connectingthecity.org/2011/one-more-link-for-the-museum-educator/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:47:14 +0000 abbey http://www.connectingthecity.org/?p=962

Deb Clearwaters, Museum educator, talks about the new 17th Street bike lanes.

Find out how you can help fill in a gap of the 17th Street Bike Lanes here.

How have the 17th St Bike Lanes improved biking for you?
Part of my daily commute, almost always by bike since November 2010, is along 17th at the base of Twin Peaks. I am fortunate to have a bike lane almost my entire commute from upper Corbett to Civic Center. This really helped me get over the initial fear of cycle commuting. I also sometimes go see bands at the Bottom of the Hill or Thee Parkside via 17th. If it weren’t for the bike lanes along 17th and throughout the city, I would probably ride home and get my car to go out after work.

What’s your favorite thing about getting around San Francisco by bike?
Having cycled everywhere in small college towns and beach towns on the east coast, I really wanted to get into cycling as transport again. San Francisco has the climate and the cycle-friendly roads making it feel like a smaller town from a biker’s perspective. My sense of well-being and health has greatly improved since starting to commute by bike. I lost 20 pounds and now look forward to my climb up Twin Peaks, where I dreaded it for the first few months. I love whizzing by the jammed cars on Market street in the mornings. It truly is the fastest way to get to work for me.

What’s your favorite destination to bike to in San Francisco?
Home. The climb up Twin Peaks is gorgeous along Corbett where there are lots of flowers and not too many cars. I sometimes pass through 4 different micro-climates, from breezy and clear to warm and dry to a fog storm at the top.