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MTA tells Port Commission city bike plan would nearly double bike lanes but implementation awaits court action
Summary
MTA staff presented the 2009 Bicycle Plan to the Port Commission, which proposes expanding San Francisco's network to about 80 miles of bike lanes and greatly increasing shared-lane markings; implementation remains stalled by a court injunction, and port projects touching waterfront streets were noted.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency presented an update on the city's 2009 Bicycle Plan to the Port Commission on Sept. 22, describing network expansion goals and near-term projects that touch port property.
Acting Deputy Director for Planning Timothy Papandreou said the plan aims to roughly double San Francisco's bicycle lane mileage from about 45 miles today toward nearly 80 miles, and to expand shared-lane markings and bicycle parking. "We're proposing roughly doubling that to almost 80 miles of bike lanes," Papandreou said, outlining goals including completing a connected network, increasing high-quality bicycle parking and expanding safety education and enforcement.
Papandreou emphasized that implementation remains on hold where a court injunction halts installation of facilities; the MTA and its partners have identified a set of near-term projects that will affect Port property if and when the injunction is lifted, including Illinois Street, Cargo Way, Townsend Street and a Howard Street westbound bike lane tied to the Transbay terminal schedule.
In public comment, Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition endorsed the plan and highlighted the port's role in hosting key segments of the bayfront bike network. Commissioners asked about bike-sharing pilots; MTA staff said bike sharing is a priority and that the port and ferry building are logical pilot sites once legal constraints are resolved.
The presentation provided technical cross-sections of proposed treatments (on-street bike lanes, lanes adjacent to parking, and off-street shared paths) and emphasized that establishing a continuous network is the central determinant for increasing ridership. MTA staff presented data cited in the meeting: roughly 130,000 daily bicycle trips in the city and significant recent growth in ridership, reinforcing the agency's case for expanding the network.
The commission heard no formal action on the plan itself; the presentation served to inform port staff and commissioners about projects that may require port concurrence and coordination with the MTA as design work proceeds and as legal constraints are resolved.
