I would agree this street between Minnesota Ave and Cliff is dangerous. I cross it several times a day and have learned that it can be a drag strip and has been this way for decades. I like this solution;
Several neighbors, including Zach DeBoer and Joe Batcheller, shared support for the idea of implementing a “road diet” to bring 14th Street from a four-lane road to a two-lane road with a turn lane in the middle (similar to 26th Street between Cliff and Minnesota Avenues.)
I would go a step further and put protected* bike lanes on either side of the street. I would also put more decorative mediums in the center lane (flower beds, etc.). If we are going to do it, do it right. The city is ‘considering’ a test of the lanes, but I think the council should just make the change in ordinance and require the city to re-stripe it within 6 months then work on the other upgrades the next year. I would also explore building a decorative pedestrian bridge over 14th at Phillips Avenue. Think functional but like the Arc of Dreams, you could do an RFP for a functional sculpture and get local sponsorships to help pay for it.
*protected bike lanes have an elevated medium between the bike lane and vehicle lane for extra protection.
I understand your idea of protected bike lanes however how do you remove the snow in the winter? the trucks would plow all the snow onto the bike lane and there wouldn’t be a good way to remove it. I’m all for creative and beautification projects however we still have to think about winter. we can’t just keep adding more and more obstacles for the plow trucks that end up being destroyed and damaging equipment.
and yes I am an avid biker and have been for many years in multiple cities much larger than SF.
Great point Carl, maybe it is something that is only done in warmer climates? But I have also seen different ways to do it so it wouldn’t affect plowing the road, but would shove all the snow in the bike lane. Even a foot wide yellow line would be fine.
I think we could make it into the ’14th Street Boulevard’ it would be pretty awesome and welcoming to tourists when coming DTSF. I have always said we have a donut problem DTSF, the hole is fine, it’s the donut around the hole that needs some work.
Carl – Minneapolis has some of the best bike infrastructure in the country and they live in a similar if not worst winter climate. The comment you made about the snow ending up in the bike lane is very similar to where the snow is put now… on the adjacent pedestrian sidewalk. Should we also think twice about incorporating a sidewalk in future design concepts? Just because items require maintenance doesn’t mean they can’t exist. Take some pride in your community sir.
I say we make the street curvy with a rotary every two blocks, and what about some of those ribbons at the intersections to “help” pedestrians and cyclists?
AND, 14th is actually the main artery of the city. 14th is where they say downtown begins, and that convenience store at 14th and Minnesota, well, just about anything can happen there. Because to the west of 14th is the Pettigrew Hood, to its north is the yuppie play land, to its south is the land of wealth, Pendars and McKennans, and to the east is the land of working class survival. If you make it through 14th, with a nostalgic moment at Sunshine, then you truly have seen the city or are near it. Even the ‘Pickers’ knew this when they graced our town with an espisode about 10 plus years ago where they stopped at Mr. Irish’s collection just off of 14th.
Point of clarification…my position is that, based on the traffic counts, 14th St. could be a good candidate for a road diet and should be evaluated. More information is needed. Piloting a temporary road diet, similar to Main Ave. would be a great next step.
Just have Police there at opportune times issuing Exhibition Driving tickets. Their insurance rate rise could keep them off the road and 2nd offense could be a 1 year license revocation. Lanes, round abouts, circles, etc would be expensive and construction detours.
You may as well construct another overhead 14 th Street over the entire length because as soon as FAB is done with it the only thing allowed on it will be bicycles and walkers.
I say we put in an E-Scooter express lane.
No bicycles allowed.