San Francisco Launching Raised Bike Lane Program

The city's Municipal Transportation Agency will construct a block of raised bike lane on Valencia Street as a showcase for more such projects to come.

1 minute read

May 10, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


John Metcalfe provides the details on plans for the city of San Francisco's first raised bike lane on Valencia Street in the Mission District. According to Metcalfe, the "curb-hugging lane will be raised about 2 inches above the road surface, and will measure 6-feet wide with an additional 5-foot 'buffer zone.'" Moreover, the Valencia Street lane will be the first of a "handful" more raised lanes scheduled for construction next year, "all planned for areas with high rates of bicycle injuries."

The design is more likely to be found in Europe (Milwaukee, Chicago, and Bend, Oregon also have them). The format is designed to achieve the same benefits as a protected lane, but "not as in-your-face as, say, defensive lines of bollards or planters."

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 in CityLab

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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

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