Valencia bike lane: Effective or disaster? District 9 candidates weigh in.

Jackie Fielder

Co-director at Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist. Tenant

I live around the corner from the bike lane’s most dangerous intersection, where a driver killed an elderly pedestrian making a (prohibited) left-hand turn and, just recently, a car rammed into El Buen Sabor’s corner pillar.

Valencia is featured on Vision Zero’s High Injury Network, so I think the center bike line is a good step in the right direction, but needs some serious work.

It’s clear SFMTA needs to be with the community in the room — cyclists, pedestrians, neighbors, public housing residents, and small-business owners to solicit feedback and come up with a new design to satisfy everyone’s concerns…Read more

Endorsed by: City College Board President Alan Wong, Former D9 Supervisor David Campos, Former Mayor Art Agnos, City College Trustee Vick Chung, D3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin. More here.

Jaime Gutierrez

 Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni; Tenant

As a daily bike rider, I do not support the Valencia center bike lane. It is dangerous, and not intuitive for bike riders, pedestrians or cars.  A life was taken already! (Editor’s note: The accident involved an 80-year-old woman and a driver. It does not appear to be connected to the bike lane.) How many lives were lost in the previous design? 

A true bike “route” could be created on Capp Street so bikes would not feel the threat of fast-moving cars while they are leisurely enjoying a ride through the neighborhood. A city-wide bike route could be established so…Read more

Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200…More here

Roberto Hernandez

CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA). Homeowner.

I’ve long been an advocate for cycling in San Francisco: I participated in some of the earliest Critical Mass rides, I worked on the first bike lane on Valencia Street, and I helped arrange for more than 2,000 bicycles to be donated to kids during the pandemic. 

But the Valencia center bike lane is a disaster, and SFMTA’s top-down approach to its implementation disregarded the needs of our community. As District 9 supervisor, I’d champion a community-driven task force to create a ‘bike master plan’ that ensures we prioritize safe, sustainable bike lanes citywide that benefit commuters, pedestrians, and…Read more

Endorsed by: State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener, BART Director Bevan Dufty…More here

Michael Petrelis

AIDS and LGBTQ activist

Petrelis declined to respond.

Endorsed by: Not seeking endorsements and I see much of the Endorsement Industrial Complex as corrupt, rife with payola and favor-trading, and for gotcha responses.

Stephen Torres

Nightlife worker in addition to LGBTQ activism, journalism and events. Tenant.

This week saw the latest in a string of multiple crashes, near misses and, sadly, deaths. It is hard to see how the center bike lane has improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists or drivers. It has created a high-risk environment for the corridor and the economic impacts are also endangering businesses. It has limited accessibility for those who are dependent on autos, including first responders, seniors and families. I grew up in a transportation family, and I believe that we need more streets dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, but we must do so with a comprehensive vision informed by the…Read More

Endorsed by: Mark Leno, Former State Senator, Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, District 9…More here

Julian Bermudez

Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance. Tenant

No, I do not support the center bike line. Primarily, because local businesses, residents, and even bikers do not like how it is structured, how it affects business and the flow of traffic. As a local who’s driven on Valencia before the bike lane, I agree with the local businesses and residents in the Valencia Street area.

My plan for Valencia Street is to move the bike lane to Capp Street and return to its original state (2 lanes with a center turning lane), with added infrastructure for bike lanes on the side. This also comes with making Shotwell Street…Read More

h brown

Retired special education teacher. Tenant

 hate the Valencia Bike Lane Design!

Two things particularly trouble me.

First, the Center Bike Lane forces cars to make a much tighter right turn at every single intersection.

I pick up trash and clean storm drains and the like every day.

My dog goes with me, and it’s gotten more dangerous.

Second reason is that they did not complete it from “4 Barrels” to 14th, and daily parents on bikes bearing kids on back going to school are in danger.”

Trevor Chandler

Public school teacher at SFUSD since 2023. Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app. Tenant

The data has shown the center bike lane is not the correct answer for Valencia Street small businesses or cyclists, it’s time to change course. I am most optimistic about the “floating parklet” option that would allow for both a protected bike lane and the preservation of parking for Valencia Street customers.

Any bike lane on Valencia must have sturdier bollards than the plastic ones currently being used, and be capable of preventing vehicles from entering the bike lane and injuring cyclists.

By creating safe streets we can increase foot traffic to Valencia, and support our community and small businesses.

Endorsed by: Latino LGBTQ political organization HONOR PAC, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, Supreme Court Marriage Equality Lead Plaintiff Jim Obergefell…More here