Making the Golden Gate Bridge Safer for Cyclists

According to data from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and a Golden Gate Bridge District study, "a cyclist is five times more likely to crash traversing the Golden Gate Bridge as a motorist, and 21 times more likely to be injured." This indicates the need for improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure on the famous bridge, writes Roger Rudick.

The data shows that "there were 19 times as many solo bicycle collisions as there were bicycle-pedestrian collisions," partly due to newly installed fence slats that "amplify gusts, knocking cyclists over." The Coalition "is urging cyclists to participate in an outreach program, recently launched by the Bridge District, to get feedback and more information to figure out how to reduce crashes."

"[T]he District’s study, released last year, includes some specific improvements, such as: 'install additional high visibility wind warning signage along the west sidewalk to raise awareness' and 'implement a Standard Operating Procedure to shift bicycle traffic to the east sidewalk during hazardous wind conditions.'" The MCBC's assessment "also puts partial blame on Bridge District maintenance crews that use the path as a storage area," leaving less room for bicyclists to maneuver. "We are surprised to see that the study does not make any recommendations to increase clearances for two-way bike traffic going past construction material." Streetsblog comments that "crews would never regularly store materials in a motor-vehicle lane on the bridge, certainly not without significant traffic diversions and guidance. So why is a bike path seen as a suitable place to dump stuff?"

"MCBC is asking riders of the Golden Gate Bridge to check out all their recommendations, review the District’s study, participate in the outreach program, and take the Golden Gate Bridge District poll."