Check out this recent report on the economic effect that bike lanes have on businesses.
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A better way to the Ballpark and Caltrain

Updated February, 2007

Bike Lanes and Sidewalks on Townsend Street Campaign in Motion!

We've made big strides in getting support for the Townsend campaign (including Adobe, Borders and many more), but we still need your help! Here are some ways:

1. Do you live or work on Townsend or know someone who does? We need the support of business owners and merchants on Townsend Street. We can even come do a presentation for your employer.
2. Do you take Caltrain to/from 4th and Townsend? We're looking for a few afternoon commuters to get petition signatures from fellow riders.
3. Simply sign our online petition!
4. Contact the Soma Committee at somac@sfbike.org to get involved or if you have questions.

Full details and diagrams can be found on the MTA Bicycle Program site.

More information about the Townsend St. project featured in the Feb-March, 2007 Tube Times! (PDF)

A better way to Caltrain, the Ball Park and the Embarcadero

See our visualization: Before / After

Townsend Street serves as a major artery for bicyclists heading to Giants Games at Pacific Bell Park, commuting to and from the South Bay on Caltrain and enjoying the beauty of The Embarcadero. With increased development in the South of Market and Mission Bay neighborhoods and the new opening of the Caltrain bikestation, bike travel along this corridor will only increase. Separate space for bikes leads to more predictable riding and is particularly important for streets like Townsend, which features mixed bike/car/truck/bus use. As part of the City's Bike Plan Update, design concepts have been developed to stripe bike lanes along Townsend Street from 8th to 2nd Streets. Townsend Street is plenty wide to accommodate sidewalks and bike lanes without removing traffic lanes.

A Better Street for Business on Townsend Street

See our visualization: Before / After

Townsend street and the entire SOMA area are changing quickly. Not only have more people come to the area to set up businesses, live and work, but people are using our streets as expressways to their own neighborhoods, without benefiting our neighborhood.

Let's improve Townsend Street for all, not just for people passing through.

Let's make Townsend Street a place people travel to, not through.

Here are some simple proposals for making Townsend a better street for all businesses:

Overview of our proposal for making Townsend a better street for all businesses:

• Proposal: Sidewalks the length of Townsend on both sides.
• Effects: A more pleasant environment for people to walk to your business or facility from their car, bus, Muni or Caltrain. Increase walking on Townsend Street and draw more customers to your business who can easily window shop while walking.

• Proposal: Parking Improvements from 5th to 7th Street to encourage parking turnover and safer vehicle entry/exit.
• Effects: Increased parking availability near your business. Parking space vacancies.

• Proposal: Stripe bike lanes the length of Townsend between 8th and 2nd Streets.
• Effects: In addition to creating a predictable place to see bike riders and keep them out of the way of vehicle traffic, studies show bike lanes improve street safety for all street users.

To get involved or for more information: