As bicycling rates have skyrocketed, two South of Market streets have become especially busy with people biking: Howard and Folsom. In response, we’ve prioritized advocacy around these streets so they get bike infrastructure needed to support the high ridership rates.
After the tragic death of Amelie Le Moullac in 2013 on Folsom, huge outcry and advocacy led to a lane reduction on Folsom. This created space to then widen the bike lane and put in a designated buffer zone between the bike and adjacent motor vehicle lane. The project also included intersection improvements to decrease the risk of right turn hooks delineate better space for people biking.
Last week, we celebrated a new stretch of wider bike lanes with a small buffer zone on Howard from 6th to 10th Street. This project was one of 24 the City has committed to complete by February 2016 on High Injury Corridors as part of Vision Zero. But it’s still is not enough, nor are the changes to Folsom. We will continue to work for fully protected bike lanes on both streets.