Good morning!
Just a couple quick items about upcoming changes to Mission streets, and a peek at upcoming stuff to do.
Alert: For the next month or so, a two-block stretch of 18th Street between Valencia and Guerrero Streets is closed for repairs on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to San Francisco Public Works.ย Buses will continue to operate, and the road will be opened in the evenings and on weekends. Updates for this and other projects can be found here.
Despite a resoundingly rejection by community members, an unpopular proposal to shift bicycles to a two-way lane in the middle of Valencia Street is on track for approval by the Municipal Transportation Agencyโs board of directors next week.ย The plan will remove dozens of parking spaces from Valencia Street to clear the way for additional loading zones, ban most left turns between 15th and 23rd streets, and move bicycles from the edges of the roadway to the center.
Many cyclists fear that sequestering bicycles between two-way traffic is unsafe, though others hope it will at least improve the street’s chaotic conditions. While it’s not clear why the SFMTA abandoned its earlier plan for curbside bike lanes protected by parked cars, the current plan seems driven by increased loading and pick-ups by delivery drivers. โIs this my first choice? Absolutely not,โ said Amandeep (Deep) Jawa, a cyclist and Valencia Street resident of nearly 20 years. But Jawa, who bikes with his young daughter, said he will still support the plan as he is โdesperate for improvementsโ โ and tired of nothing changing.ย
There’s lots of stuff to do coming up–poetry, parties, and paintings. (We’ve also got a reminder about those under-attended community meetings of the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board; the D9 meeting will be on April 11.) And if your idea of a good time includes checking out a longstanding neighborhood argument, the Mission Greenway is holding a community celebration Saturday from 4-7p.m. on the controversial Parcel 36.
More soon,
Sara
The Latest News
Limited car access on 18th Street between Valencia and Doloresย
A two-block stretch of 18th Street is closed for repairs on weekdays for the next month.
Center bikeway on Valencia likely to pass despite little support
Many bicyclists seem resigned to the change, though it wasn’t anyone’s favorite option.
Stuff to do: Poetry month, greenway gathering, park pop-up
It’s finally sunny, and poetry is everywhere–along with art, talks, and a party at a controversial neighborhood spot.