It’s been 4+ months since people started using the Valencia center bikeway and over a month since SFMTA started its “pilot.”
Let’s see how effective the center bikeway is at keeping cars and trucks out of it.
Curbside protected lanes now: https://BetterValencia.com @bettervalencia
Driverless car freezes, forcing drivers into Valencia Street center bike lane
In a uniquely San Francisco-in-2023 incident, several drivers illegally motored down the center bike lane on Valencia Street last night in order to swerve around a frozen autonomous Waymo, according to a Twitter video from the scene. The short video shows a Waymo One flashing its lights, an indication the autonomous car encountered some insurmountable difficulty while driving and stopped dead in its tracks, while blocking a lane on Valencia.
Sunday bike ride yesterday...
First day of the center-running bicycle lane pilot on Valencia, and one of the highly touted K71 flexible posts is already down at 22nd Street
If it can't stop a car, it ain't a bollard.
Here's a Prius driving over the little rubber curbs, cutting directly across the center-running bike lane, and making an illegal U-turn on Valencia.
Who thought those little rubber curbs (designed *not* to damage cars) would stop people from driving across the bike lane??
Don't think those "No Left Turn" signs are going to prevent any cars or trucks from making left turns across the new center-running bike lane on Valencia.
Who thought those would work?
San Francisco is failing to meet its Vision Zero goal because it isn't installing protected bike lanes and other physical infrastructure that get people to shift trips from cars to active and public transportation.
SFMTA and Mayor Breed must make protected bike lanes a priority.
Yesterday, SFMTA gave an update on the City’s goal for zero roadway deaths by 2024 (Vision Zero).
SFMTA, the City, and Mayor Breed are failing to reduce roadway deaths because they aren’t doing enough to get people to shift trips from cars to active transpiration (e.g. bikes) 🧵
I never really looked at the numbers side by side and it’s even more staggering than I thought they’d be.
2022 budgets:
Amtrak: $2.3B
Federal highway: $64.3B
I can’t even imagine the difference it’d make if these were just partially evened out. Wonder how people who say Amtrak is a “waste” would respond after learning the actual numbers.
Some positive Valencia Street news: Valencia between 18th and 21st Streets will be open to people (closed to cars) on Saturdays 2–9 PM from July 8th to October 28th!
Have ideas for how to activate the street and make it a fun, inviting community space? ⬇️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjjk53JY2jwKnBMPh0heT1tMHv2rTz6385J-K3N7LLAXzjCA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Do you play music, teach yoga, painting, dance, DJ, or have a special hobby or craft you would like to bring to Valencia Street? Hi there! The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association wants your help to activate the four months of street closures that we'll be organizing on Valencia Street from 18th-21st street every Saturday from 2-9PM from July 8th to October 28th. If you have a fun idea to help turn this driving space into community space on one or more of these blocks for one or more Saturdays please fill in the below form! Ideas to get you going: Dance classes, art and painting classes, theater, comedy, improv, roller skating, exercise classes, lectures, music, flash mobs, something wacky!
Luke Bornheimer
Mission Local
Ryan Breaker