Say hello to the newest version of the most-fought-over bike lane in S.F.

San Francisco launched a new protected bike lane on Valencia Street, addressing safety concerns from its predecessor. This lane, which stretches from Market to 23rd Street, features a design that separates cyclists from cars using parklets and loading zones. The community will celebrate its opening with a rally and group ride on "Bike to Wherever Day. " While bike advocates like Claire Amable support the new design, they stress the need to enhance connections to southern neighborhoods, particularly the stretch from 23rd to Cesar Chavez, which remains unprotected. The return of left turns at critical intersections has sparked controversy, as studies indicate that a significant portion of pedestrian injuries involve left-turning vehicles.

Street safety advocates fear these turns could lead to increased accidents, despite SFMTA's assurance of separate traffic signals for cyclists and cars. The SFMTA conducted extensive outreach to develop this plan, involving local businesses and residents in the design process. As the city moves forward, the focus remains on ensuring cyclist safety and completing the bike lane corridor.