Eyes on the Street: Parking Enforcement Needed in Fell Street Bike Lane

Since the Fell Street buffered bike lane was partially implemented in November, drivers have continued to block it. Mostly, they seem to be customers using Bank of America’s sidewalk ATM and truck drivers from Ted and Al’s Towing.

The SFMTA and SFPD don’t seem to provide much enforcement against the practice, even though it endangers people on bikes by forcing them into the buffer zone. While the installation of the curbside buffered bike lane has improved the situation overall (before, bicycle riders would be forced into moving traffic), the lane is meant to be protected from motor vehicles, and until hazards like this illegal parking and the queue at the Arco gas station are fixed, they will remain a deterrent for many San Franciscans.

The SFMTA has said concrete planters will be installed along the Fell lane in the coming months, which should more effectively signal to drivers that they don’t belong in the bike lane at all.

We’ve put in a request with the SFMTA about when work on the project will resume, but have yet to hear back.