Want a Protected Bike Lane on Polk Street? Let the SFBC Know

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is asking members what kind of improvements they'd like to see to enhance safety and the public realm on Polk Street.

The SFBC writes in its newsletter this week that it "is building off the SFMTA's ThinkBike event in 2011, and developing concepts for an improved Polk Street." The organization's new survey asks members to weigh in on ideas like the vision for a protected bikeway in its Connecting the City campaign.

Polk, a key commercial corridor and connection to the waterfront, has received more attention lately as the city eyes improving bike access to the America's Cup yacht races, which will be held over the next two summers. One much-needed improvement is a northbound contra-flow bike lane connecting to Market Street. Currently, the southernmost block between Market and Grove Street only permits one-way traffic.

"Polk Street connects thousands of San Franciscans to work, school, the waterfront and thriving commercial corridors from Market Street to the Bay," writes the SFBC, noting that "a separated bikeway, calmed traffic and improved intersections" on the street would make it safer "for the large numbers of people walking and biking to the local businesses, shops and restaurants."