San Francisco Reveals New Bike Plan

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board is set to review the city’s draft Biking and Rolling plan, which sets the goal of putting a “safe bike route” within a quarter mile of every resident’s home.

As Rachel Swan explains in the San Francisco Chronicle, “The current draft lists 385 routes or street segments that are targeted for upgrades, ranging from brighter striping on crosswalks, to barriers along bike lanes.” The city wants to encourage residents to use bikes for short, local trips by making neighborhood roads safer for kids and older riders, particularly near schools. 

The plan calls for more interconnected bikeways, speed bumps, and other measures to improve safety and link existing bike lanes, as well as reducing conflicts between pedestrians and scooters. But it could face backlash from residents concerned about the loss of parking and driving lanes.

Swan adds, “Roads are a utility. But they also reflect a city’s values. For decades, San Franciscans have battled over how streets should function and which transportation modes should get priority. In recent years, SFMTA has reclaimed space from cars and dedicated it for bikes, scooters, or pedestrians, instituting a ‘quick-build’ process to streamline these projects.”