SFMTA Staffers Share their Favorite SF Bike Rides

SFMTA Staffers Share their Favorite SF Bike Rides
By Eillie Anzilotti

Happy Bike Month, San Francisco! To celebrate, we’re sharing some of SFMTA staffers’ favorite rides through the city. From protected bike lanes to quick-build projects to Slow Streets, the JFK Promenade, and the Great Highway, all of the routes roll through projects that the SFMTA has completed in the last several years to make biking through San Francisco easier, safer, and joyful. We hope you get some inspiration for your next ride--and share your favorite route with us! For easy trip planning, we’ve included each ride below on an interactive map.  

Jeffrey Tumlin, Director of Transportation: “I explore all of San Francisco by bike, but this is a standard trip: Starting from the Castro, I head up the Slow Street on Noe, where I like to admire the trees and people watch in Duboce Park. Then, I ride north on Scott to Fell Street along the Panhandle. When I reach the new JFK Promenade, it’s amazing how the feeling changes. You can hear birdsong everywhere, and I can’t count the number of kids whom I’ve seen learning to ride a bike, scooter, or skateboard. Then, I ride the whole length of the park to the Great Highway. I’ve lived in San Francisco my whole adult life, but thanks to the JFK Promenade I’ve been to the beach more times in the last two years than the previous 30. I love seeing the community out along the Great Walkway, and exploring the restaurants in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods for a picnic. I grab a coffee at Andytown or the Kahve truck, then make my way back using Page Slow Street, stopping to pick up fresh flowers from Guy Clark, whose owned his shop on 15th and Noe for almost 40 years.” 

Soroush Roback, Engineer, Livable Streets; Kimberly Leung, Acting Pedestrian Program Manager, Livable Streets; Victoria Chong, Planner, Livable Streets; Winnie Lee, Engineer, Livable Streets: “We’ve done this ride as a group a few times since COVID began: We start in the Marina, ride through the Presidio the Inner Richmond, then take the Cabrillo Slow Street down into Golden Gate Park, then out to the ocean. The route spans Lake Slow Street, the JFK Promenade and car-free MLK, the Great Walkway, and the Arguello Bike Lanes, with a beer stop at Beach Chalet Fields. From end to end, it‘s a leisurely, safe 18 miles with great scenery and people watching!”  

Mari Hunter, Planner, Parking & Curb Management: “I live in southern Marin so I ride back and forth over the Golden Gate Bridge.  On the way in, I drop down to the bike path past Crissy Field then roll over Pac Heights and through Japantown using the bike route on Steiner to the Slow Street on Page, which I take down to Market. On the way back, I boogie over to the Webster bike lanes then wiggle up to the Slow Street on Clay, head west to Arguello and go through the Presidio to the bridge.  I love the variation: some good hills, gradual climbs, sharrows, bike lanes, and Slow Streets—plus great views!” 

Kimberly Leung, Acting Ped Program Manager, Livable Streets: “I bike from the Richmond neighborhood to the SFMTA office on South Van Ness taking Cabrillo Slow Street to 8th Ave to car-free JFK to the Page Slow Street to Market! I only started bike commuting in December 2019, and when the pandemic hit, car-free and car-light streets were a game changer for me by giving me the space to practice being more comfortable on a bike. Biking is now my primary way of getting around the city, and I’m so happy that so many other people can experience that on streets that are so much more inviting for people to walk and bike now.”  

Mike Sallaberry, Senior Engineer, Livable Streets: “My nine-year-old daughter and I take this route to get ice cream! Starting at Cabrillo Slow Street, we take the 23rd Ave Slow Street north to Lake Slow Street, go along Lake to 5th Avenue, then take 5th Avenue south to get ice cream at Toy Boat on Clement. After we fuel up, we take 5th Avenue to Golden Gate Park, enter in at 6th Avenue, and then take JFK Drive west to Transverse, get on the dirt path along Crossover and take that back to Cabrillo. It’s very safe— almost all either a Slow Street, car-free JFK, or a path (short sidewalk segments too)—and the ice cream stop halfway is perfect to relax a bit and get sugared up for the return trip home.” 

Jen Wong, Planner, Livable Streets: “I like to ride from the Ferry Building down the Embarcadero, then switch to the off-street San Francisco Bay Trail at Oracle Park, hugging McCovey Cove. From there, I take the 3rd Street Bridge and follow the waterfront past the Chase Center and end at Crane Cove Park or head all the way down Minnesota Slow Street into the Dogpatch. I love the views and how safe it is, with car-free portions and protected bike lanes—and the fun places to eat and drink at along the way, like The Ramp and Spark Social.” 

Laura Stonehill, Engineer, Livable Streets: “We like to take weekly weekend rides as a family, and around a third of them go from our home in the Mission to Golden Gate Park so my five-year-old can ride on the car-free streets. My husband and I both have e-bikes, and we take a route that’s a bit steeper but more low-stress and car-light: We ride from 17th Street to Valencia, then take Octavia to the Slow Street on Page, all the way into Golden Gate Park. Once we reach car-free JFK, my five-year-old gets on her own bike and we ride to any park destination she wants—recently, we went all the way to the Boat Playground at 45th Avenue using the car-free route. On the way back, we like to stop at the Panhandle Playground before taking the Wiggle back to the Mission.” 

Eillie Anzilotti, Public Relations Officer, Livable Streets: My favorite ride crosses the whole city: I start at the Ferry Building and take Better Market Street to the Wiggle. In my childhood memories, Market Street is jam-packed with traffic, and I love how safe it is for biking now. Mid-Wiggle, I stop for a coffee at Café Reveille, slide my to-go coffee into my water bottle cage and keep pedaling! From there, I ride along the Panhandle in the Fell Street protected bike lane—it was installed as a social distancing response during COVID, and I find it to be super useful when the Panhandle path gets crowded. Then it’s on to the car-free route through Golden Gate Park and out to the Great Highway for some ocean views! Unless I take a longer coffee break, the whole ride takes me less than an hour—and it’s safe, (mostly) flat, and beyond pleasant.”   

Published May 13, 2022 at 11:32PM
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Scooter Sidewalk Riding Detection Technology Demonstration

Scooter Sidewalk Riding Detection Technology Demonstration
By Sarah Hellman

The SFMTA held a public demonstration of e-scooter sidewalk riding detection technology on Thursday, May 12, 2022 involving the three permittees: Lime, Scoot, and Spin. The demonstrations were required as part of the SFMTA’s Powered Scooter Share Program, which ensures that shared scooter operations support the City’s recovery from the pandemic in a safe, sustainable, and equitable way. This includes keeping our sidewalks safe, particularly for our most vulnerable pedestrians and road users.  

Scooter sidewalk riding is illegal pursuant to the California Vehicle Code Section §21235(g) and poses significant risk to pedestrian and scooter rider safety, particularly for older adults or persons with disabilities using the sidewalk. Sidewalk riding detection technology enables the device to detect sidewalk riding in real time. Once detected, the scooter automatically slows the rider to a safer speed. We believe that sidewalk riding technology has a strong potential to curb usage scooter riding in San Francisco and may be the most effective way to reduce scooter share sidewalk riding in the City.  

As part of the permitting process, the SFMTA required operators to first submit a plan for deploying sidewalk riding technology and then to begin implementation consistent with the plan. In recent months, each of the three permitted operators—Lime, Scoot, and Spin—have complied with our requirements and deployed scooters equipped with the new technology. 

Thursday’s demonstration is the second demonstration to test this technology – the first was held in December 2021 – and we are pleased that the scooter companies are making progress with this important safety technology. Since the first demonstration, all permittees have started rolling out their sidewalk detection technology along The Embarcadero, which is a high-use area. Staff reported notable improvements during Thursday’s demonstration. The ride felt safer, there was an audible signal that the device had mounted the sidewalk and the sidewalk was detected more accurately. There are still areas for improvement, and as the scooter companies roll out this technology to their full fleets over the coming months, SFMTA staff will provide additional guidance. For example, staff identified deceleration method and speed as areas for additional guidance based on the results of Thursday’s demonstration. Because this technology is so new, these types of demonstrations help staff identify best safety practices and we will continue to work with the companies to continually improve. 

The Powered Scooter Shared permit program allows for innovation while also ensuring private mobility options are positioned to best contribute to the public welfare of the city. Requiring sidewalk riding detection is just one of SFMTA’s initiatives to ensure that shared scooter usage follows safe riding measures and does not deteriorate the pedestrian environment and disability access.   

In addition to deterring improper riding through specific safety requirements, on-street enforcement and holding the scooter share permittees accountable for implementing their sidewalk riding detection technology, the SFMTA is also committed to: 

• Actively maintaining an accessible path of travel along city sidewalks by requiring scooter permittees to have a locking mechanism and adhering to specific parking requirements to ensure that the scooters are not strewn about the sidewalk. If scooters are not parked properly, scooter companies may be cited. SFMTA has a public dashboard that shows citations and complaints.  

• Requiring scooter permittees to provide adaptive scooter devices as part of their on-street fleet and complementary rental programs. All permittees must provide devices with adaptive features such as three wheels, a basket or seat, to expand the range of users who can participate.  

Scooters are a sustainable mode of travel and a complement to Muni and public transit service, and SFMTA looks forward to working with the Powered Scooter Shared Permittees to continue improving this important technology. For more information, please visit Powered Scooter Share Permit Program. 

Published May 13, 2022 at 04:39AM
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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
By Christine Osorio

Motorcyclist participating in the 2021 Motorcycle Safety Class.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. In San Francisco, motorcyclists remain some of the most vulnerable road users. Over the last few years, the number of registered motorcycles has increased consistently, and it is now common to see motorcycles and scooters in every neighborhood of the city. This presents benefits in the form of reduced congestion and fuel consumption versus private automobiles, but also safety challenges for people who ride motorcycles.  In 2020, motorcyclists comprised 23% of all traffic fatalities, reversing two years of decline for motorcyclists.

To reduce severe and fatal motorcycle crashes, the Vision Zero SF Motorcycle Safety Program was created in 2016. Over the years this program has worked to raise awareness of motorcycle safety through outreach, safety ambassador trainings, and marketing campaigns. The Vision Zero SF Motorcycle Safety Program also increases capacity building within the motorcycle community, partnering with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Traffic Company to provide free hands-on motorcycle skills classes to riders. Classes are conducted by SFPD motorcycle instructors, and participants get one-on-one feedback for how to improve their riding. 

 Riders learn techniques that improve defensive riding and practice drills like:

• Crash-avoidance drills
• Emergency maneuvers
• Going slow with control
• Proper braking
• Turning techniques
• Urban riding drills

Participants cite the class as beneficial in improving their skills and “totally worth it” to learn from experienced motorcyclists from SFPD. The motorcycle classes are funded by the Office of Traffic Safety and is in its third year of offering hands-on classes. Classes begin in May and will run through August.

More information can be found at Motorcycle Safety | Vision Zero SF

Published May 11, 2022 at 07:28PM
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Taking Muni to Bike San Francisco’s Iconic Rides

Taking Muni to Bike San Francisco’s Iconic Rides
By Kate McCarthy

Take your bike on Muni using the racks on the front of buses to access bike rides on the Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park and across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thousands of riders are expected to hop on a bike in May for National Bike Month and Bike to Wherever Day on Friday, May 20. For people new to bicycling in San Francisco, using Muni buses to avoid our famous hills and reduce overall trip distances is a great way to get to iconic bike rides and scenic parks.  

All Muni buses have bike racks on their front that can hold two or three bikes (only folding bicycles are allowed on Muni’s Metro trains and historic streetcars). Using the bike racks on Muni buses to transport your bike is easy! And, if you have questions while you are doing it, you can always ask the operator, who can assist you. Those looking to bicycle in parks, along the Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park or across the Golden Gate Bridge can simply hop on Muni buses with their bikes—or take Muni to a bikeshare bike—to experience these iconic rides.  

Along the Great Highway 

There may be nothing more spectacular than riding a bicycle at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Each week the Great Highway temporarily becomes a great bike ride Fridays at noon until Mondays at 6 a.m. when the roadway is closed to private automobiles for the two miles between Lincoln Boulevard and Sloat Avenue. Hop on the 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 7 Haight/Noriega, 18 46th Avenue, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid or 48 Quintara/24th Street to access the 17-acre park and its unrivaled scenic public space. 

Through Golden Gate Park 

Families shouldn’t miss the opportunity to pedal the along the 3.1 mile Promenade through Golden Gate Park that was recently made permanently car-free. Adults and children alike have learned how to ride a bike in Golden Gate Park on JFK between Stanyan Street and Transverse Avenue. From there you can explore all Golden Gate Park has to offer from the Conservatory of Flowers to the Japanese Tea Gardens (recently made free to all San Francisco residents), watch roller skaters at the 6th Avenue Skate Park or roll over to Stow Lake to check out the nesting herons.  

One of our favorite Muni facts is that 70% of San Franciscans live within a 15-minute walk of a transfer-free Muni ride on one of our many buses serving Golden Gate Park including 18 46th Avenue, 29 Sunset, 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 7 Haight/Noriega, 28 19th Avenue, 33 Ashbury/18th Street,  43 Masonic and the 44 O’Shaughnessy. 

Over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito Ferry  

Avoid San Francisco hills on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge by putting your bike on Muni’s 28 19th Avenue and getting off at the Golden Gate Bridge Stop. The Golden Gate Bridge has a bike path on the western side that you can access from the bus stop by bicycling west under the bridge. Once you get across the bridge, take Conzelman Road to Alexander Avenue, go right to pass under Highway 101, and enjoy the downhill ride as you glide into Sausalito. Follow the waterfront onto South, Second and Bridgeway to the ferry terminal at Viña del Mar Park. Golden Gate Ferry will take you and your bicycle on a scenic cruise back to San Francisco.  

Once at the San Francisco Ferry Building you can hop on the 9 Fulton, 9R Fulton Rapid, 14 Mission or 14R Mission Rapid to get where you are going next. Or, to get back to the 28 19th Avenue, it is a mostly flat eleven-minute (2.1 mile) bike ride along the Embarcadero north and left onto to Jefferson to Aquatic Park. On the west side of Aquatic Park, you can hop back on the 28 19th Avenue. Depending on whether you decide to pedal the two miles back to the 28 19th Avenue route, this ride is four to six miles, mostly downhill and flat. 

For more information about bicycling in San Francisco go to Bicycling San Francisco or SFMTA.com/Bikes. 

Published May 09, 2022 at 09:10PM
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New Sculptures Light up Van Ness Avenue

New Sculptures Light up Van Ness Avenue
By Luis “Loui” Apolonio

Light sculpture at Van Ness Avenue and O'Farrell Street

Spectators gathered both online and in person to watch new lighting sculptures on Van Ness turned on for the first time on March 31, 2022. The whimsical and brightly colored sculptures located on the new Van Ness BRT boarding platform between Geary and O’Farrell are made of steel with LED lights inside on a timer set to illuminate at night. 

The lighting event was kicked off with SFMTA Director Jeff Tumlin and MTAB Chair Gwyneth Borden serving as emcees. Mary Chou, Director of Public Arts and Collections at the San Francisco Arts Commission, spoke about the art installation itself, as well as the process for selecting the artist who would be awarded the project. In addition, Maddy Ruvolo, a member of the SFMTA’s Accessible Services team and a recently appointed member of President Biden’s U.S. Access Board, shared the importance of having accessibility as a part of transportation projects. 

However, the true star of the evening was the light sculpture itself—the two installations at the intersections of Geary and O’Farrell streets are parts of a single piece of art. At a prime location among the culture, arts and civic life of Van Ness Avenue, this artwork is meant to inspire conversation. 

Contrasts among Pardo’s modern fixtures provide pops of bright color and light against the architecture and more muted tones nearby. The light sculpture at once stands out as being unique and colorful while also complementing the space in which it exists without competing with the surrounding visual elements in the area.  

Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo described the sculpture as “an urban coastal redwood.. it is made of steel, light and weather… it is young not old… it comes out of the concrete…not the soil…it does not grow… its purpose is to orient and remind… maybe of the past... maybe the present... it is an urban machine…” 

Pardo, who is based in Los Angeles, is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist and 2010 MacArthur Fellow known for colorful, architectural, thought-provoking designs. His work is displayed in Miami, Berlin, New York and Paris, and now San Francisco.  

The San Francisco Arts Commission selected his proposal which was then shared with the public for comments in 2015. San Francisco’s commitment to public art is codified in the 1969 Arts Enrichment Ordinance, which mandates a percentage of construction costs be earmarked for public art.  

Pardo’s creations provide plenty for San Franciscans to discuss. Next time you’re on a bus traveling down Van Ness, visit the new installation and be sure to catch a selfie of yourself with the sculptures. 

Published in memoriam of our colleague, Luis “Loui” Apolonio. 

Published May 07, 2022 at 04:51AM
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L Taraval Improvement Project Update

L Taraval Improvement Project Update
By Sevilla Mann

Roundtable at the Community Parklet Shares Project Updates 

This past week, the SFMTA hosted a media roundtable discussing updates about the L Taraval Improvement Project at the community parklet located in front of the The Rolling Out Café on Taraval St.  

Segment B construction began in February 2022 and is scheduled to be completed Fall 2024. Sewer and water infrastructure work is currently taking place. Future work includes track work, overhead line work, the construction of new boarding islands and streetscape improvements.   

On hand to answer questions and provide updates was District Four Supervisor Gordon Mar, SFMTA Board Director Sharon Lai and Director of Transportation Jefferey Tumlin.  

The Roundtable 

Supervisor Mar opened the discussion by highlighting the many benefits that the local community will receive with the planned infrastructure upgrades along the corridor. These benefits include:  

• Replacing sewer and water lines to allow for longer longevity of utility lines 

• Track upgrades resulting in a smoother ride and less noise for residents and merchants  

• New safety boarding islands for safer boarding and off boarding for Muni customers and for ADA compliance  

• Sidewalk bulbouts and pedestrian crossing at intersections for enhanced visibility and to make pedestrian crossing safer  

We value our community partnerships, frequently provide updates and listen to and address community needs and concerns from individual residents and community organizations like the People of Parkside (POPS). As part of the community outreach for project updates, we utilize media in multiple languages, develop multilingual printed materials, use social media, post web updates on project pages and send out email and text updates to subscribers to keep the community informed about potential impacts. Director Tumlin reminded everyone that we depend on our community partners for the success of this project. The partnership is what has led the way during the planning, design and construction of the entire L Taraval Improvement Project. 

A construction mitigation program is active for the project to help lessen the impacts to residents and local businesses during construction. The program integrates construction mitigation measures such as dust mitigation, traffic control, and loading, delivery and parking assistance mitigation. The SFMTA in partnership with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) will support small businesses with resources and a suite of services such as free consulting, technical assistance, and the creation of a business action plan. A small business working group has been formed as part of the project and will develop a marketing campaign specific to the businesses in the Taraval neighborhood.  

The Community Parklet 

Designated as a public space for the neighborhood and Parkside’s first parklet, the community parklet in front of the Rolling Out Café located at 1722 Taraval St. between 27th and 28th avenues was built as a community effort.  Demonstrating tenacity, proprietor Bruno Tse of The Rolling Out Café drove fundraising efforts to solicit and secure the donations and funding needed to complete the parklet. Since its opening in 2016, he has also taken care of the upkeep. Slated for removal this month for the duration of construction, the parklet will be rebuilt once the project is completed. The unique design elements and plaques with contributors’ names have been saved and will be incorporated into the new structure.   

The L Taraval Improvement Project 

The L Taraval Improvement Project is a multi-agency collaboration with the SF Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Works to improve and upgrade the aging infrastructure to make pedestrian crossing safer, increase accessibility and improve transit reliability.  

To follow the progress of this project as we move into the next phase, please visit the project webpage and sign up for updates.  

For questions or comments, please email LTaravalProject@SFMTA.com or call 415.646.4771. 

Published May 06, 2022 at 03:01AM
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Making Way for the Muni Metro of our Dreams

Making Way for the Muni Metro of our Dreams
By Erin McMillan

In order to achieve the SFMTA’s vision for transit service, we have some work to do. Staff have provided an overarching framework for how SFMTA will achieve a truly dazzling vision for Muni service: The Muni Metro Modernization program. 

The Muni Metro Modernization program. 

The program uses a multifaceted approach: As a foundation, making state of good repair upgrades and replacing aging systems through our Subway Renewal Program already underway. San Francisco's Muni Metro subway system moves our highest volumes of customers through the core of the city. And it operates on infrastructure that was constructed between 50 to 100 years ago, much of it original. It is well-documented that Muni Metro has been plagued with service reliability problems for decades. The Subway Renewal Program lays out a systematic approach to capital upgrades over the next ten years, targeting strategic repairs, replacing and enhancing our most critical systems. This work will improve our subway’s resilience and prepare it for the demands of the future. Much of this work over the next ten years include things that customers never see, but are essential to keeping the system safe, efficient and reliable.  

Another major project that will increase the Muni Metro network’s capacity, and reduce wait times and crowding on your Muni Metro trips:  the Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP). TCUP possesses the greatest potential of any single investment to significantly improve system efficiency. Our outdated centralized train control system is under constant pressure and is increasingly operating beyond the capacity for which it was designed nearly three decades ago. 

While we’ve learned operational and service lessons throughout the pandemic, we’re continuing to improve our ability to measure the health of the subway. Using data dashboards to monitor subway travel time, queuing, average daily subway delay and maximum trains per hour, we’re improving our ability to make informed decisions about subway operations and service. Following the successful pilot of the J Church surface-only route, we’re looking for ways to increase our adaptability and improve responsiveness to changing travel patterns.  

In addition to improving subway infrastructure and performance, the Muni Forward program will focus on improving surface rail through capital improvements that will increase the reliability and performance of the line segments operating outside of the subway. Customers will continue to feel the positive impacts from the Muni Forward program with more reliable surface rail service that translates into a more reliable subway.  

The Train Control Upgrade Project bridges state of good repair improvements and service improvements by replacing a 20+ year old system in the subway and expanding new technology to the surface. And of course, strategic investment in our light rail fleet and facilities is critical to achieve this work.  

In addition to improving the infrastructure and service of Muni Metro, we are also planning for the future. The Muni Metro Core Capacity Planning Study sets out to answer critical planning questions for our system— What is our future higher-capacity transit system?​ What is the program of infrastructure projects and service that will get us there?​ How can we get more capacity in the subway and at the same time improve reliability? We have already begun to experiment with innovative service approaches, such as the J Church Surface-only Pilot, as a way to test some of the service ideas that will be explored further in the Core Capacity Planning Study. Building upon the work laid out in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Bay Area Core Capacity Transit Study and the ConnectSF Transit Strategy, the Core Capacity Planning Study will develop a comprehensive long-term strategy for expanding the capacity of the Muni Metro system.  

We know what the issues with Muni Metro are—and we have the tools and programs in place to improve the system. From capital improvements like train control system upgrades to improving our service performance through the Muni Forward program and innovative service solutions like the J Church Surface-only Pilot, we’re working to improve the reliability and service of the Muni Metro both in the near and long term. 

For more information, visit the Muni Metro Modernization Program page.

Published May 04, 2022 at 01:20AM
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