SFMTA Upgrades Embarcadero Bike Lanes to Green Status

The SFMTA painted the Embarcadero bike lanes green yesterday, which will hopefully help signal to drivers that it's not a parking lane. The SFMTA Livable Streets team wrote on its Facebook page that the Port of SF helped get the paint on the ground in time for the Fourth of July and America's Cup later this month.

Update 6:50 p.m.: In a press release, the SFMTA said "the new green bike lanes are next-generation bikeways that offer a convenient, comfortable and safe place for people from ages 8 to 80 to ride a bike."

"With more people traveling to and along the Embarcadero," said SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin in a statement, "the SFMTA is excited to welcome them with great transit options and new green bike lanes that create a safe and comfortable space for not only those who bike, but for all residents and visitors in our city."

The green paint is certainly a step up -- don't get me wrong -- but these bike lanes are still unprotected and squeezed in the door zone between parked cars and moving cars. So if we're expecting to see parents and kids riding the lanes, I'm not going to hold my breath.