New Bike Lane and Signal Make Folsom and Essex a Safer, Saner Intersection

The intersection of Folsom and Essex streets is now safer and saner for everyone.

Last week, we installed a curbside bike lane and bike signal on eastbound on Folsom, between 2nd and 1st streets. That eliminates the need for people on bikes to make a harrowing maneuver to merge across two lanes of heavy vehicle traffic turning right towards a freeway on-ramp. People walking also now have a dedicated signal phase to cross the intersection before right-turning vehicles get a green light.

Bicycle commuters pass through the intersection at Folsom and Essex streets with separate signal phases for bikes and turning cars.

Thanks to a more organized and predictable street, people can now bike through the intersection without being sandwiched between four lanes of vehicle traffic, and it’s much easier for people driving to see where to expect people on bikes.

This is just a start for safety improvements for all types of travel in the South of Market District. We and our partner agencies are investing in more comprehensive safety upgrades with protected bike lanes on this stretch of Folsom as well as 2nd Street, which will see construction start this fall.

These improvements, we hope, will enable more people to bike to destinations like the coming Transbay Transit Center. As SoMa sees unprecedented housing and commercial growth, it’s also poised to see some of the highest bicycle ridership in the city.

Before the improvements, people on bikes had to merge left across two lanes, then ride in a bike lane between four lanes of vehicles.