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Ban private cars? Or finish the protected bike lanes on Valencia? It seems, to some degree, both are now on the table.
SFMTA, meanwhile, is planning to finish the protected bike lanes on Valencia over the next two years: 19th St to Cesar Chavez will get built in the spring of this year, with the remaining 15th to 19th getting done sometime in 2021.
Valencia bikeway timeline - chart from SFMTA
But maybe Heinicke's proposal to ban cars from Valencia would be a faster, safer, and all-around more desirable option?
Certainly, the cautions that Nolte brings up don't make much sense. For example, he writes that "There is no public transit on Valencia."
BART and two major bus lines run down Mission a block away. There's also the nearby J Church Muni line and bus lines that cross Valencia. As to the car access the businesses bring up, there's a slew of adjoining alleys and cross streets up and down Valencia, not to mention private parking lots, so people who choose to drive would still be more than able to access the shops. Motorists also have nearby Guerrero and Dolores, with 12 lanes between them.
A drop-off island on the first part of Valencia's new protected bike lane segment. Photo: Paul ValdezA drop-off island on that's part of Valencia's protected bike lane segment from Market to 15. Photo: Paul Valdez
Nolte's right about this much: Valencia is different. Market Street has so many taxis and buses and delivery vehicles that, despite the ban on private cars, protected bike lanes are essential and are part of the overall Better Market Street plan. But on Valencia banning cars could be viable instead of protected bike lanes.
What do you think? Is a car-free Valencia Street all the way from Market to Mission plausible? How about a car-free section from 15th to Cesar Chavez, with protected bike lanes (and cars still permitted) on the remainder? Tell us your thoughts below.
Mayor Thao Tweets "It's time to reach a critical juncture where tragedies don’t catalyze improvements." But when and how will we know if the city has really reached that point and is serious about safety for all road users?