Editors: This story was originally published in Issue 158 of our quarterly Tube Times magazine, one of many perks of membership in the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
With ocean views, endless dining options and beautiful parks to the north and south, what could make the Richmond District even better? More and better biking, of course!
We are working with members like you on some exciting projects that will make the Richmond more comfortable for people riding bicycles and walking to local stores, schools and parks. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and SF Planning Department collaborated with then- Supervisor Eric Mar to set the groundwork for improvements that make it easier and more enjoyable for people to bike and walk.
ARGUELLO BOULEVARD
Get ready to roll out the green carpet on Arguello Boulevard from Golden Gate Park to the Presidio. Coming this February, a spacious buffered bike lane will connect two world-class parks, with safety islands at McAllister Street, Golden Gate Avenue and Cabrillo Street that will make crossing the street more comfortable. Thanks to the leadership of Supervisor Mar, the SFMTA led an extensive public planning process to gather input from residents, our members and local businesses. We made sure that Arguello Boulevard will be safe and enjoyable for everyone, and will offer a welcoming green connection for people biking between the parks.
“NEIGHBORWAYS”
Imagine your Richmond neighborhood with calm streets where people walking and biking are given priority. The SFMTA is committed to this vision through their Inner Richmond Neighborway project, focused on Eighth and 23rd Avenues. Public outreach for Eighth Avenue started in the fall, and outreach for 23rd Avenue will kick off later this year. The goal for these north-south corridors is calm and easy-to ride streets with reduced speeds and auto traffic volumes, providing another connection between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. This winter you can look forward to giving your feedback on the first round of designs on Eighth Avenue.
We will keep you posted about ways to get involved in improving both corridors for people walking and biking at facebook.com/sfbike and twitter.com/sfbike.
GOLDEN GATE PARK
Last year, Mayor Ed Lee’s Executive Directive identified Golden Gate Park as a top priority for improving road safety to support the City’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic deaths in San Francisco by 2024. As a first step in that process, the SFMTA installed speed humps on JFK Drive west of Transverse to address chronic speeding. What’s the next step in building a park for people? The City is conducting a traffic circulation study and held an open house in December to hear your experiences of getting around the park. Your SF Bicycle Coalition will continue to advocate alongside our members for more open streets for people and less speeding as the study continues. Get the latest at sfbike.org/ggp.
A HOLISTIC STRATEGY FOR THE RICHMOND
The Richmond District Strategy is a collaboration between Supervisor Mar’s Office and the San Francisco Planning Department that provides a big-picture view of the District’s current and future needs, including housing, parks and transportation. SF Planning conducted a survey to inform the strategy in 2015 and received over 1,400 responses. Of the respondents, 28 percent bike and 86 percent walk to the local shops, and residents of the district show a strong desire for more transportation choices aside from personal vehicles. At an open house in December, SF Bicycle Coalition members came out to discuss the findings around street safety and areas for improvement. Members are excited to build momentum for a Richmond that prioritizes sustainable, active transportation.
For every improvement towards livable streets in the Richmond, SF Bicycle Coalition members deserve credit for turning out, speaking up and empowering us to advocate for your vision: A network of physically protected bike lanes that make every corner of our city accessible and fun to bike. We could not to do this work without you and are grateful every single day for your support.
The Tube Times is published quarterly as one of the many benefits to members of the SF Bicycle Coalition. For a complete list of membership benefits, or to join/renew today, click here.
