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Bicycle Infrastructure

Eyes on the Street: Terry Francois Protected Bike Lane Near Completion

5:10 PM PDT on August 21, 2019

Photos Streetsblog/Rudick

Note: Metropolitan Shuttle, a leader in bus shuttle rentals, regularly sponsors coverage on Streetsblog San Francisco and Streetsblog Los Angeles. Unless noted in the story, Metropolitan Shuttle is not consulted for the content or editorial direction of the sponsored content.

SFMTA workers were putting the finishing touches on San Francisco's newest protected bike infrastructure this afternoon - a two-way cycle track on Terry Francois Blvd., running one-mile from Mariposa to Mission Rock.

The new bike lane is basically open for business
The new bike lane is basically open for business
The new bike lane is basically open for business

The bike lane is basically open for business, although it's still not so easy to get to, given the construction going on all around it. Streetsblog only saw a couple of cyclists this afternoon enjoying the already great facility.

Not many cyclists are able to use this facility yet, due to all the construction around it. But a few have figure it out.
Not many cyclists are able to use this facility yet, due to all the construction around it. But a few have figured it out.
Not many cyclists are able to use this facility yet, due to all the construction around it. But a few have figure it out.
Crews were adding plastic posts at crosswalks and the few driveways along the route
Crews were adding plastic posts at crosswalks and the few driveways along the route.
Crews were adding plastic posts at crosswalks and the few driveways along the route

"This is what our Waterfront can and should look like. Terry Francois is the result of years of planning and collaboration between the city, advocates, and developers," wrote the Bicycle Coalition's Charles Deffarges, in an email to Streetsblog. "We're excited to keep this new route accessible during future Mission Bay construction and connected to the Embarcadero."

Two-way cycle tracks work in places such as this, along the coast, where there are few to no driveways or intersections.

Meanwhile, construction workers were blocking the bike lane in several places (one can hope there will be less of this once it's officially open). And during Streetsblog's ride, the bike lane was also obstructed by the police. In this case, however, we're not too perturbed by it, despite the mess. See pics below:

Get out of the f'ing bike lane! Well, okay. Horses are fine.
Get out of the f'ing bike lane! Well, okay. Horses are fine.
Get out of the f'ing bike lane! Well, okay. Horses are fine.
Cyclists contend with a lot of sh*t when it comes to bike lanes, but usually not literally.
Cyclists contend with a lot of horsesh*t when it comes to bike lanes, but usually not literally.
Cyclists contend with a lot of sh*t when it comes to bike lanes, but usually not literally.

Workers at the site said the bike lane's "soft open" would be as soon as this weekend, although, obviously, it's already available for business. The bike lane is part of the larger Chase Center project, which includes upgrades to the T-Third and surrounding streets. That said, according to SFMTA documents, the cycle tracks were supposed to open last month.

More photos of the new bike lane--and the end of the bike lane just north of Mission Rock--below:

A construction crew working on the sidewalk completely blocked the bike lane. Of course, this is understandable and, one hopes, not a sign of things to come
A construction crew working on the sidewalk completely blocked the bike lane. In this case, this was probably unavoidable and, one hopes, not a sign of things to come.
A construction crew working on the sidewalk completely blocked the bike lane. Of course, this is understandable and, one hopes, not a sign of things to come
Temporary stencil near the end of the lane at Illinois
Temporary markings near the end of the lane at Illinois and Mariposa.
Temporary stencil near the end of the lane at Illinois
Of course, the protected bike lane ends as soon as it gets to the Port's building. Because, of course, it's the Port.
The protected bike lane ends just before it reaches this Port of San Francisco building. A worker at the site said the Port's contribution to the design of the bike lane was to make sure parking losses were avoided.
Of course, the protected bike lane ends as soon as it gets to the Port's building. Because, of course, it's the Port.
These horses asses were using the bike lane--literally.
These horses' asses were blocking the bike lane... Okay, we'll stop now.
These horses asses were using the bike lane--literally.

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