It has been two months since the completion of the new parking-protected bike lanes along Seventh and Eighth streets. Given that many bike projects take years to go from planning to construction, these protected bike lanes were completed in record time, thanks to the urgency outlined in Mayor Ed Lee’s Executive Directive on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety.

With concrete islands, vertical posts and high-visibility green paint, these lanes are far from the paint-only treatments we’ve seen elsewhere. Users of the street are adjusting to the new design, with people driving staying out of the bike lane and transit riders boarding from the new islands. Still, these two streets are unique in a number of ways and we are learning as we go about how best to use the streets to make sure that they work for everyone.

We’ll be doing special streetside outreach along Seventh and Eighth streets in the coming weeks to pass on some of the things that we’ve learned. Will you join us?

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Even though most are adjusting well, we know there is room for improvement. Here are a few of the things that we’ve learned that will make the lanes better for everyone:

• There’s more to come! More near-term improvements are on their way, including protected bike lanes on Eighth Street at Market.
• Respect our transit riders. Transit boarding islands mean that pedestrians will be crossing the bikeway. People biking should slow down,look both ways and yield to pedestrians if a bus is on- or off-boarding.
• Not all loading is created equal. Paratransit vehicles, accessible taxis and other vehicles with passengers with disabilities are allowed to access to the curb. The bike lane is designed so that there is plenty of room for bikes to slow down and pass in these cases.
• Feedback is important. We are looking to our members to share their experiences biking here. If you have thoughts about the designs, shoot me an email at charles@sfbike.org.
• We are all still adjusting. There is still some confusion about how to properly use this new infrastructure. It is important that we all be patient as all users learn how to navigate these redesigned streets.

To continue outreach on the new design, we’ll be out in the streets talking to all users about the new designs. We’re looking for volunteers to pass out material to people driving, biking and taking Muni about the new infrastructure and how to use it safely. Will you join us on one of the dates below?

Seventh and Eighth Streetside Outreach
Meet at 8th and Stevenson streets
Tuesday, June 20 from 7:30 – 9:00 am
Tuesday, June 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 22 from 7:30 – 9:00 am