40% Fewer Motorists Block Green-Painted Fell Street Bike Lane in SFMTA Study

Bike lane on block of Fell Street painted green in August 2010

Forty percent fewer motorists blocked the Fell street bike lane near the Arco service station once the city painted the lane green, according to a study conducted by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Of all the motorists waiting to enter the gas station before the green paint was applied, 25% blocked the bike lane. After the green, 15% of all the motorists queuing up for gas obstructed the bike lane. The change represents 40% fewer motorists in the way of westbound bicyclists. As one traffic engineer observed, "In the greater context of it, that's a pretty effective drop in blocking of the bicycle lane for something as 'simple' as coloring it."

In June of this year the SFMTA removed several parking spaces along Fell near the entry and exit of the Arco station to create a curb-side queue for motorists waiting to purchase gas. In August the SFMTA painted the city's second green bike lane to encourage safer passage for cyclists. Anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of the interventions has been mixed. Removing the parking spaces opened up a long stretch of Fell and improved visibility for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Several bicyclists have observed greater ease traveling between Scott and Divisadero, but many others describe the traffic improvements as minimal and intermittent. No one would be hard-pressed to find instances of motorists partially or fully blocking the bike lanes, green or not. Every Friday during the evening commute, the grassroots group Fix Fell stages a protest on Fell with the intent of doing so every week until the city closes the Arco entry and exit. Now the SFMTA has presented data that, in effect, reflects both views: a 40% reduction is a considerable improvement, but much of the problem remains.

In the months ahead, more motorists may keep the green lane clear as they notice others doing so, but a cumulative effect it is difficult to predict. Little traffic enforcement has been observed on Fell near Arco -- at least none to keep drivers out of the bike lane. SFMTA interns informed motorists of the changes on Fell this summer, but the outreach has been discontinued. The only other major traffic design changes being discussed for Fell Street are the removal of the Arco curb cuts, the installation of a separated bikeway, or cycle track, from Scott to Stanyan streets, and the possibility of returning Fell to a two-way street.

The SFMTA study of this one block of Fell adds more data and local experience with the positive impact green bike lanes can bring to public safety and traffic flow. Market Street features the only other location of green-painted lanes in the city. The SFMTA plans to extend the green stripe on Market all the way to the Embarcadero, but not as quickly as the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has urged, as reported in Streetsblog.

A minor note: The description of the study of the Fell green bike lane on the SFMTA website (scroll to mid-page) inaccurately reports 10% fewer motorists blocking the bike lane since it was painted green. The mistake reflects a misreading of the 25% and 15% findings mentioned in the first paragraph above. The relevant equation, for those inclined, is 1-(15/25) x 100.

1:15 pm Tuesday update: The SFMTA description of the study has now been updated.

Thanks to BIKE NOPA reader "S.N." for alerting me to the SFMTA report.

SFMTA Takes the Message to Fell Street Motorists at Arco Entry; Similar Effort Needed at Exit

This week the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) sent interns to advise motorists about the new traffic configuration on Fell Street near the Divisadero intersection and the Arco service station. As first reported by Streetsblog, two interns talked with drivers who were awaiting their turns at the gas pumps -- and blocking the bike lane or sidewalk in the process. The staffers pointed out that the curbside "parking lane" is now clear from 7am to 7pm daily to allow drivers to line up.

After developing the new traffic design and getting it approved through a public hearing process, the SFMTA initially hoped drivers would figure out for themselves that a new curbside queue had been created to keep them from blocking traffic or bicycles. But without any signage or pavement markings to alert them to the change, few if any drivers waited along the curb. Instead, most straddled the bike lane much as before. Tuesday and Thursday of this week the interns distributed a flyer (see photo) to direct drivers to the curb.

SFMTA stands to get a much better reading of the new design's effectiveness once drivers start using the queue. The agency will conduct a study of the experimental design before painting the bike lane solid green and will follow that with an evaluation of the impact of the colored stripe on driver and cyclist behavior.

The Fell Street exit from Arco appears to require a similar intervention as drivers frequently ignore the signs and pavement markings that direct them to use the new curbside Left Turn Only lane. Instead, motorists block the sidewalk, the turning lane, and often the bike lane while waiting to slip into the westbound traffic lane (see video from Friday, July 9th).

Correction, July 14th: Arco customers may legally exit the station and enter the westbound Fell traffic lane, even while crossing a solid white lane. The California Vehicle Code does not prohibit the action, and SFMTA has confirmed this conclusion. (See July 14th post).

Motorists may yet adopt the new configuration and reduce risks for all users of Fell Street. However, the weakest aspects of the design are those that accommodate the entry and exit to Arco. Closing these and permitting access to Arco only from Divisadero would result in far safer passage for pedestrians and cyclists along Fell, but the ripple effect would likely disrupt and slow northbound vehicles on Divisadero, including the #24 bus.

Share the Path, Love the Panhandle

Once proposed as an extension of Interstate 80 to cut through Golden Gate Park, the Panhandle Park today calms the city as an oasis between the busy Oak and Fell corridors. Pedestrians, bicyclists, parents with strollers, dog walkers, sun-seekers, tai chi enthusiasts, neighbors and lucky tourists enjoy this leafy flourish every day.

A scan through yelp reviews of the Panhandle Park and path remind us how cherished this strip of park and asphalt is to so many San Franciscans. Bicyclists revere the path as a haven on their daily commute. Lauren W. posted her praise a year ago: "I didn't love the panhandle until I got my bike." Another cyclist extolled the eight block ride in the Panhandle as a huge respite from negotiating the traffic (often speeding) on Fell and Oak.

Sometimes cyclists enjoy the rush of spinning fast on the Panhandle Path as one of the extremely few opportunities in the city to be free of car and bus traffic -- sometimes so much they lose sight that they're travelling a SHARED, MULTIPLE USE PATH with peds having as much right to walk or jog there. The much greater problem are the roadies envisioning themselves as Alberto Contador owning the Tour de France on our humble Panhandle Path.

Streetsblog.com recently highlighted a traffic calming visual* used in London to temper cycle speed on pathways shared with pedestrians. Might this lead to vertigo attacks, infants grabbing the edge of their strollers, and some cyclists actually SLOWING DOWN?

I'm embarrassed that a few cyclists suggest walkers should keep to their own dedicated path on the south side of the Panhandle. That bumpy, cracked, never-maintained strip of aged asphalt should never be wished on anyone who wants a decent, safe walk. It's not suitable for strollers or anyone a little unsure of their footing. Better to suggest that Rec & Park give the southside route a makeover or that a parallel walking path accompany the current shared use strip.

In the meantime, be mindful of others, enjoy the century-old Eucalyptus trees, the cyclists, the peds, the strollers, the picnickers and optimistic sun seekers.

* photo courtesy of Daily Mail UK