Making this intersection safe for bicyclists and pedestrians
History of Market & Octavia
Since the Central Freeway reopened in September 2005, the intersection of Market & Octavia has been a hazard for people biking on this important route, due to illegal and dangerous right turns onto the freeway. As the SF intersection with the most reported crashes over multiple years, Market & Octavia has received 19 different interventions from the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to stop drivers from making the illegal right turn.
While crashes have significantly declined through these efforts, more still needs to be done to improve safety. Even with a physical barrier and multiple signs to prohibit people from making this dangerous and illegal turn, some people are still violating the law and causing crashes and the SF Bicycle Coalition continues its years of efforts to improve the safety of this very important intersection.
Where we are today (updated August 2011)
To help further deter the right turn, the SF Bicycle Coalition worked with Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to pass AB2729 in the legislature, which would clarify the city's legal authority to install a camera to automatically monitor this turn. However, after passage, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the legislation, saying, "This bill is unnecessary. Current law already allows for violations of Section 22101 of the Vehicle Code to be enforced through an automated enforcement system." Unfortunately, the San Francisco City Attorney's office thinks differently, and is awaiting a formal opinion from the Attorney General's office (PDF) since January 2011 before moving ahead with the design.
In response to the recent injury crash at the intersection, the SF Bicycle Coalition has again called upon the Attorney General to help clarify the legal authority of the City.
Why not allow right turns?
When the Central Freeway tear-down /re-build was planned and the Market-Octavia area was re-imagined with open skies and a surface boulevard, planning for the Market St intersection drew much attention. In order to prevent Market Street from becoming a freeway feeder and congesting it with on-ramp queues, the plan for the intersection prohibited a right turn onto the freeway.
The prohibition of right turns also has a positive impact of public safety for people walking and biking along Market Street. The author of a 2003 SF Planning Department memo outlining why the right turn should be prohibited was injured at the intersection in August 2011 and the city plans to continue to prohibit the right turn in order to keep all modes of traffic flowing safely and smoothly along Market Street.
What has the city done to prevent turns?
The SFMTA has tried 19 different methods to prevent the right turn, including signage and curbs. In 2010 and and in 2008, the SF Bicycle Coalition worked with local legislators to pass legislation to allow camera enforcement at this important intersection, with support from the SFMTA. In 2009, the SFMTA proposed removing the bike lane entirely in order to force bicycle riders to merge with car traffic, believing this would reduce the likelihood of a right turn crash; the SF Bicycle Coalition believed this was the wrong way to resolve the problem, instead encouraging enforcement and better design for more separation of modes, to improve the safety and comfort of all users.
So, why isn’t there a camera there?
In 2010, the California legislature passed a bill to allow Camera enforcement of the prohibited right turn, but it was vetoed by the Governor, who said, “This bill is unnecessary. Current law already allows for violations of Section 22101 of the Vehicle Code to be enforced through an automated enforcement system.” Unfortunately, San Francisco’s City Attorney takes a different interpretation of the state law, and doesn’t believe they have the authority to install the light and automatically enforce violation of a sign -- only red lights. While the SF Bicycle Coalition continues to advocate for the City Attorney to re-evaluate their position, we are also working with Assemblyman Ammiano’s office to obtain a formal approval from the California Attorney Generals office, as he requested in January 2011.What are the next steps?
The SF Bicycle Coalition is continuing to call on the Attorney General to respond to Assemblyman Ammiano's request for clarifying the legal authority while also working with the City Attorney to re-evaluate their legal understanding of the law. We will continue to raise awareness of this issue, and work with all our partners and partner agencies to find a solution to reduce crashes at this important intersection. Check back here or subscribe to the weekly Biker Bulletin for regular updates on this project, and all our other work.Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes Market and Octavia Safety Bill
Update - October 2010: The SF Bicycle Coalition is disappointed that the Governor vetoed Assembly Bill 2729 (authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, which passed both the House and Senate) which would have allowed the City of San Francisco to use a red light camera to enforce, ticket and discourage the illegal right turns that continue to endanger people walking and bicycling at Market and Octavia. On the heels of this veto and with the growing number of people bicycling in San Francisco, especially on Market Street, we are urging the MTA to step up their enforcement to improve the safety of this intersection.
The SF Bicycle Coalition thinks this red light camera would have been a smart solution to enforcing the illegal right turns and making Market and Octavia intersection safer. SF Bicycle Coalition staff have been in Sacramento working with our Senators and Assemblymembers to improve the safety of this intersection, and it is disheartening that Gov Schwarzenegger didn't see the value that this camera would have to enforcing the illegal right turn. The City has tried different street designs, including a concrete barrier island and soft-hit posts to improve safety and dissuade the illegal right turns, but it hasn't been enough. We have long advocated that to improve everyone's safety, the City should address the source of the danger — the drivers who are illegally turning right onto the highway. We believe camera enforcement is a good first step to enforcing the illegal right turns and increasing safety for everyone at this notoriously dangerous intersection. Our work on this intersection continues, stay tuned for how you can help.
January 2010: Judge Denies City's Attempt to Remove Bike Lane
After over 200 bicyclists and state and local officials rallied to save the Market & Octavia Bike Lane, we cheered today's decision by Superior Court Judge Peter J. Busch to reject the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) proposal to remove a bike lane and protective barrier at the notoriously dangerous Market and Octavia intersection.
In a hearing that lasted over an hour, the court expressed concern that the City did not present sufficient evidence that the MTA's proposed change would have a positive effect on bicycle safety at the troubled spot. The court expressed skepticism that the MTA's "shared lane" proposal (which would have replaced a separated bike lane and safety barrier with a single, regular traffic lane shared by motorists and bicyclists) would improve the situation, citing common occurrences in which bicycles and cars move side by side in shared traffic lanes throughout the city. In addition, the court suggested that the MTA proposal might simply move an existing conflict point a few hundred feet up the street to a new conflict point where cars and bicycles would be forced to merge.
The SFBC acknowledges that the intersection merits legitimate safety improvements, as an unacceptable number of collisions continue to occur there. Bicycling advocates and city leaders are urging implementation of the Planning Department's Upper Market Community Plan, which recommends colored, raised bike lanes and an extension of the concrete safety barrier. 
In the same hearing the court approved the City's request to make minor improvements on existing bike routes, including adding sharrows, or shared lane markings, on streets where they already existed, and some additional markings on existing bike lanes. The SFBC supports these minor requests by the City. But the court denied the City's request for new sharrows on Third Street, a major bike route that has changed significantly since the introduction of light rail transit, and the request for new bike racks at two locations.
The court cited an apparent lack of urgency for these changes, questioning why the City was only now bringing these requests forward, given that the City is close to completing its required Environmental Impact Report (planned for this Spring), at which time the injunction would likely be lifted.
For more details, read our press release or check out our photos and the StreetsBlog SF report.
On January 7, 2009 the Municipal Transportation Authority voted to approve the removal of the barrier and bike lane at this dangerous intersection. The Planning Department had previously proposed creating a raised and painted bike lane and the SFBC wholeheartedly supported this plan (image below).Unfortunately, the city intends to ask Judge Busch to allow the removal of the lane as an 'emergency safety improvement' as an exception to the 2-year old injunction against bike improvements. SFBC staff and members who have been injured at this intersection asked the MTA to abandon this ridiculous idea, but the city has chosen to go ahead with this misguided plan anyway.If you feel strongly about this issue, we urge you to write a letter to the editor to the SF Chronicle and keep checking back here to see what's happening next.
The Planning Department's proposal for Market & Octavia, supported by the SFBC
[a popular myth credits the SFBC with single-handedly blocking the eastbound right turn from Market Street onto the Central Freeway, but it's not so — learn more about the history of the forbidden right turn from this June 2003 Planning Dept. memo]
September, 2008: Keep fighting for a safe Market and Octavia
While Market and Octavia continues to be one of the most dangerous intersections for cyclists in San Francisco, Fiona Ma's AB 23 did not pass this legislative session.
The SFBC will be working closely with state lawmakers in the coming months to reintroduce similar legislation to make Market and Octavia safe for cyclists.
If you would like to be kept up to date on our next actions, email Marc.
March, 2008: Enforcement Cameras for Market and Octavia Go to the State Senate
Take Action! Make a phone call in support of AB 23
Market Octavia continues to be one of the most dangerous intersections for cyclists in San Francisco. The SFBC is working to get Assembly Bill 23, the critical bill which will allow for camera enforcement of cars making the illegal right turn, through the Senate Transportation Committee. While the proposed cameras will catch perpetrators in the act, most importantly, they will also serve as a deterrent by threatening a heavy fine on perpetrators considering the notorious turn. Ironically, cameras can currently be installed at Market/Octavia under state law for red-light runners, but not for the most egregious crime occurring there- the illegal turns which keep injuring cyclists.
We need to make sure our legislators on the Senate Transportation Committee understand how dangerous the intersection is for bikes and pedestrians, and also how AB 23 will be a key step towards preventing the turns that continue to injure cyclists. Please take some time today to call or fax State Senator Leland Yee asking him to support AB 23. Senator Yee represents San Francisco in Sacramento. We are his contituents!
Your message to Senator Yee can be in your own words, but here are some possible talking points:
- I am writing to ask you to support AB 23, the bill that will allow for camera enforcement of automobiles making the illegal right turn at the Market Octavia intersection.
- Despite physical improvements to the intersection, car drivers continue to make the dangerous illegal turn, and cyclists continue to be seriously injured.
- I urge you to support AB 23, which will be a critical step towards preventing the collisions that continue to occur with such disastrous results.
- Thank you for your support of pedestrian and bicycle safety on San Francisco's main street.
- Describe yourself and your experiences at the Market Octavia intersection.
Send a fax to Senator Yee at:
Senator Leland Yee
State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-327-2186
Call Senator Yee at: (916) 651-4008.
** UPDATE: AB 23 did not pass during this legislative session and we will be continuing work to fix Market and Octavia in the coming legislative session. Contact Marc.
January, 2008: Enforcement Cameras for Market and Octavia Pass State Assembly
Legislation to improve the dangerous intersection at Market and Octavia, (Assembly Bill 23), passed overwhelmingly Thursday, January 24, at the State Assembly.
December, 2007: New barrier island installed to discourage illegal right turns
Above: the old soft hit posts. Below: the new barrier island
In response to protests by the SFBC, the dangerous Market and Octavia intersection has finally received the attention it's needed.
A brand new barrier island was built last Thursday, replacing the worn out and beat-up soft hit posts installed earlier this year to deter drivers from making the notorious illegal right turn onto Highway 101 — an action that has resulted in a series of horrendous bicycle/automobile collisions. Thanks to Supervisor Bevan Dufty for initiating this change — which the SFBC has been advocating for — and for his continued work to make the intersection safer.
The new barrier island is not the whole remedy for this dangerous intersection, however, and we continue to push for further improvements, such as traffic calming, colored bike lanes and increased law enforcement. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma plans to introduce legislation in January for cameras to be installed at the intersection to automatically cite drivers in the act of making the illegal turn. To sign up for updates on Market/Octavia, email us. Further improvements will need your support in January!
July 2007: Intersection improvement mandated by the Board of Supes
The Octavia Boulevard concept meant to create a safe space for all modes, but the freeway ramp has yet to be tamed.
The Board of Supervisors approved the construction of a raised median to prevent eastbound drivers on Market Street from making illegal right-hand turns onto the Central Freeway onramp at Octavia (SF Examiner story).
Now that the Central Freeway over Market Street has been torn down and replaced with the lovely new Octavia Boulevard and a new Central Freeway ramp, the City has a monster on its main street, and cyclists and pedestrians, even historic Muni streetcars, are getting beat up and terrorized, sometimes badly injured. The heavily-travelled eastbound bike route, heading downtown along Market, has become a perilous journey as it crosses Octavia, as scofflaw motorists ignore the "No Turn" signs and catch cyclists in a lethal "right hook" as they make the forbidden right-hand turn onto the freeway.
When the Board of Supervisors banned the right turn onto the freeway, they urged DPT (now MTA) to use colored bike lane pavement across the freeway to let motorists know "bikes go here".
Even before Octavia Boulevard and the new Central Freeway opened, neighbors, City Planning staff, and advocates for safe transportation predicted that eastbound car traffic zooming from Market Street onto the freeway ramp would endanger pedestrians and bicyclists on the city's most significant street for walking, biking and transit (learn more about the history of the forbidden right turn onto the freeway from this June 2003 Planning Dept. memo). The Board of Supervisors agreed and prohibited right turns from Market onto the freeway ramp, reverting to the original design for the intersection (here's the August 2004 Board of Supervisors resolution banning the turn). This shouldn't be a hardship for drivers, who can enter the freeway from Duboce St. — 2 blocks up Market St. — or from Gough St. — 2 blocks down Market St. And of course, the freeway ramp was always intended to handle cars entering from the newly constructed Octavia Blvd., not from Market St.
Click the image above and watch the free-for-all on Market St as motorists steal the illegal turn and knock down at least one cyclist (thanks, Greg Rodgers and Frank Chan)
Supervisor Bevan Dufty has taken several steps to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The SFBC calls on the city to finish making the safety enhancements it should have made even before the freeway ramp opened in September 2005: better signage and markings to help motorists do the right thing, better enforcement (including traffic cameras) to discourage and punish motorists who do the wrong thing, and better pavement treatments to tell everyone that "Bikes Go Here", such as a raised crosswalk/bike lane, colored bike lane pavement, or densely-strung sharrows across the Octavia-Freeway intersection. Read our letter to MTA Chief Nat Ford and learn more about what we think should be done right now to make this intersection safer for everyone who uses it.
A series of sharrows or raised bikeway/walkway could clearly denote the bike lane and deter motorists from making an illegal right turn onto the freeway ramp (click for enlargements).
BeyondChron (3/14/07): When is San Francisco going to join so much of the civilized world in using colored pavement for bike lanes? It's time to get serious about True Green Streets in SF!
For more information, please contact:
Andy Thornley
SFBC Program Director
431-2453 ext.307
andy@sfbike.org
