As you may have heard, today the city of San Francisco began implementation of a pilot project to restrict private cars from Market Street. Eastbound private traffic is forced to turn right at 8th and 6th Streets; buses, taxis, and bikes are excluded.
I love the idea, and I think it's a great first step in the plan to improve Market Street. Market is one of the most heavily biked streets in North America. According to recent traffic counts, bikes now outnumber private traffic during rush hours. There are alternative streets that are faster for cars; there's really no reason for private traffic to be using Market Street. Market Street has potential to be a truly great public space; right now, cars are getting in the way.
That said, after riding down Market Street this morning, I can say that this change doesn't really accomplish much for bikers. There's still plenty of private traffic; there are loads of cars turning eastbound onto Market at 3rd, Fremont, and elsewhere, which effectively defeats the purpose in those areas. One of the biggest dangers to bikes - big buses weaving back and forth between the two eastbound lanes - is still quite present. The intersections of 6th and 8th feel even more dangerous than before. And worst of all, I think the taxis feel emboldened: I saw one taking advantage of the emptier street by making an illegal u-turn in the middle of the block (cutting me off in the process).
Perhaps things will improve on Day 2. In the meantime, I'm glad for this change, but only if it represents one step of the larger process. The next steps that I'd like to see:
- Prohibit private traffic right turns onto Market east of 6th Street.
- Prohibit private traffic east of Van Ness.
- Prohibit westbound private traffic.
- Limit MUNI to the middle lanes. This is absolutely key. Someone from the Planning Department told me last week that the MTA insists that they need both lanes in both directions. I find this claim to be absolutely ridiculous. Even during rush hour, that center lane is almost never backed up. With the private traffic gone, the buses move even faster.
- Prohibit taxis from Market Street.
Once all of these steps are implemented, we'll be ready for the radical changes that will come with the 2013 repave of Market Street: one center lane of traffic in each direction, reserved for MUNI; bus-stop medians; a dedicated bike path; wider sidewalks; sidewalk facilities for sitting, meeting, planting, outdoor cafes, art installations, spontaneous dancing, flashmobs, yelling about how Jesus is judging you, etc. Market Street will be great!
Come on San Francisco... let's stop dragging our feet and roll into the future.
