People-protected bike lane protests on Valencia Street get city’s attention

Supervisors react to demand for protected bike lanes

More than 50 protestors wearing yellow shirts that say “Protected Bike Lanes Save Lives” turned out for a May 25 protest. Photo: Bryan Goebel/Human Streets

A series of protests by bike activists who put their bodies on the line to protect cyclists from the dangerous mess of Uber, Lyft and other drivers who frequently violate the bike lanes on Valencia Street is getting the city’s attention.

The two San Francisco supervisors who represent Valencia Street told Human Streets they want the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to study putting in protected bike lanes — to replace the standard door-zone lanes — along the entire stretch.

“I do think we need to do a better job of protecting bicyclists,” said District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy. “I think it would be very interesting to explore the idea of parking-protected bike lanes for that stretch.”

San Francisco recently installed parking-protected bike lanes on 7th and 8th streets. Protected bike lanes are physically separated from auto traffic, using car parking, or other barriers to shield cyclists.

“I’m supportive of protected bike lanes on Valencia Street,” said District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen

If protected bike lanes on Valencia are not a priority for the SFMTA, Ronen said, “then I want to advocate for the resources that it should be a priority because it’s a major bike corridor.”

Valencia Street is the boundary for both districts 8 and 9.

Organizer Maureen Persico welcomes cyclists into the people-protected bike lane on May 25. Photo: Bryan Goebel/Human Streets

On May 25, more than 50 activists wearing yellow t-shirts that say “protected bike lanes save lives” stood in both bike lanes on Valencia Street between 16th and 17th, preventing drivers from violating them, eliciting mostly smiles and high-fives from cyclists.

“San Francisco doesn’t seem to do anything unless enough people make it clear to our government that it’s important,” said organizer Maureen Persico, ringing a cow bell to welcome cyclists into the people-protected bike lane.

Paul Valdez, a Mission resident, bike advocate and one of the organizers of the Ride of Silence, said it’s frustrating to ride on Valencia so he avoids it. He also donned a yellow shirt and witnessed mostly elation from passing cyclists.

“It’s a visual for others to see both people on bikes and people driving that we should coexist and we should be safe and that protected bike lanes will save lives,” said Valdez. “Life is precious.”

Sharon Wong also avoids Valencia when she bikes but was in the line of people protecting the bike lane.

“I want to see more bike infrastructure that’s friendly for everyone, not just the fearless, the most fit people. Everybody needs a safe, healthy way to get around town,” said Wong.

It was the second such protest on Valencia, and the third by bike activists urging the city to install protected bike lanes. A similar demonstration was held on Turk Street.