Raised Bikeway Demonstration Project

Project Introduction

This demonstration project will allow the SFMTA to hear from the public and determine how this tool can be best applied here in the city.

This project is also a key component of the SFMTA’s commitment to Vision Zero and is one of the agency’s 24 expedited safety projects completed within 24 months. It will increase safety and comfort for all by increasing separation and providing better guidance on where different road users should be.

The Raised Bikeway Demonstration Project on eastbound Market Street from Gough to 12th streets tests four slightly different raised bikeway designs to help the SFMTA gather general guidance on how to best implement raised bikeways in the future.

The three main goals of this demonstration project are to:

Gather information on how raised bikeways make biking feel safer and easier
Evaluate design elements such as the design of the curb, and the height and slope of the bikeway
Raise awareness of raised bikeways and other innovative safety treatments being implemented across the city

Please see the Market Street Raised Bikeway Demonstration Project Evaluation Report for a detailed description of the evaluation process and findings.

DESIGN DETAILS

FOUR SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DESIGNS WERE INSTALLED:

A. Wide Mountable Curb:

1 foot wide mountable/beveled curb (shallower)
Bikeway raised 2-3 inches above roadway and 4-5 inches below sidewalk level
Bikeway is 6 feet wide

B. Mountable Curb:

6 inch wide mountable/beveled curb (steeper)
Bikeway raised 2-3 inches above roadway and 4-5 inches below sidewalk level
Bikeway is 6 ½ feet wide

C. Mountable Curb Near Sidewalk Level:

6 inch wide mountable/beveled curb (steeper)
Bikeway raised 3 inches above roadway and 2 inches below from sidewalk level
Bikeway is 6 ½ feet wide
Detectable warning tiles on sidewalk adjacent to bikeway

D. Vertical Curb:

6 inch wide 90 degree (vertical) curb
Bikeway raised 2-3 inches above roadway and 4 inches below sidewalk level
Bikeway is 6 ½ feet wide

PROJECT EVALUATION

From Winter 2015 through Spring 2016, the SFMTA conducted a multi-pronged evaluation of how the Raised Bikeway is working. Through this process, we heard from a variety of stakeholders and road users. The evaluation included:

An Online Survey
Outreach to local businesses
Guided tours and interviews with key stakeholders
An on-site outreach event
Video observation

For more details on the evaluation strategy, please visit the evaluation overview (PDF).

VISION ZERO

Every year, 30 people are killed and 200 more are seriously injured while travelling on city streets. These deaths and injuries are unacceptable and preventable, and San Francisco is committed to eliminating them.

By adopting a policy called Vision Zero in 2014, the City and County of San Francisco is committed to building better and safer streets, educating the public on traffic safety, enforcing traffic laws, and prioritizing resources to implement effective initiatives that save lives. Vision Zero aims to eliminate all traffic deaths in San Francisco by 2024 and the SFMTA is prioritizing efforts on the corridors that have the highest number of serious and fatal collision, including Market Street.

The Raised Bikeway Demonstration Project is in support of Vision Zero and will help implement a new tool for the City to enhance safety in areas with a disproportionate amount of traffic collisions.