Third S.F. Cyclist Death Sparks Movement For Protected Bike Lane

The death of 24-year-old cyclist Amelie Le Moullac on August 14 marks the third this year by a truck, and the second by one turning right (known as a right hook) into the bike lane. Her death has set off a movement for safer streets in SoMa, S.F.

2 minute read

September 8, 2013, 11:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Streetsblog's Aaron Bialick has covered the many unfolding aspects of Le Moullac's death and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's subsequent work to ensure that these types of deadly truck/car vs. bicycle collisions don't reoccur, particularly in the fast-growing South of Market area (SoMa) district of San Francisco, the location of all three bicyclist deaths this year.

SFBC is asking San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to "commit to the redesign of Folsom Street" where Le Moullac had been riding that would include converting the existing bike lane into a protected bike lane.  As Bialick noted in a blog for SPUR in 2011, it is an example of an "outdated, 20th-century strategy of engineering downtown streets into multi-lane, one-way motorways."

Bialick and KRON’s Stanley Roberts observed that "few drivers seem to understand how to properly make a right-turn in a bike lane — they’re required to merge fully into it, like any other traffic lane, while yielding to people on bikes. Instead, many drivers turn across the bike lane, setting up bicycle riders for a “right hook” crash."

Right hooks were the causes of death for Le Moullac and Dylan Mitchell while they were biking this year. The third victim, Diana Sullivan, was reportedly run over while stopped at a red light at Third and King Streets. None of the truck drivers involved have been cited or charged.

This movement for greater bike safety in the South of Market Area (SOMA) region of San Francisco following the deaths of cyclists has been seen in other cities.  We noted attempts to safeguard cyclists from 'right hooks' in Seattle in 2008 and with the installation of 'bike boxes' in Portland in 2008.

September 6th update from SF Bicycle Coalition: "We are hearing commitment from the City that they will implement a pilot redesign of Folsom Street that includes separated bikeways!"

Wednesday, August 21, 2013 in Streetsblog SF

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business