Valencia Street Packed with Bikers on Bike to Wherever Day in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — For Bike to Wherever Day on Thursday, people rode their bikes through the city for four miles.

People on bikes were using the new side-running bike lane on Valencia Street, which was very busy.

Bike rider Jeremy Pollack said, “I’m glad to see it done.” “The construction was a pain.”

Pollack often rides his bike through the city with valuable things on it. He likes the bike lane on the side, but he has to watch out for cars ready to turn right. He worries about safety everywhere he rides his bike.

“Definitely with kids, I’m a lot more careful and picky about which routes I’ll take,” he added. “If there isn’t a safe bike path, I won’t go to some places.” When there are kids around.”

Bicyclists and store owners didn’t like the center bike lane on Valencia Street. The family business Puerto Allegre has been owned by William Vigil for almost 60 years. Vigil thinks that the center bike lanes made traffic worse and likes this plan better.

“It just makes things go around a little easier,” he said. “Before the middle lane, it was a little congested because the fact that when cars would jam up and someone would double park, you couldn’t get around them.”

After going door-to-door last year, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency decided in November to go back to the curbside design. However, some riders say they will miss the old style.

Bike rider Sandy Ryza said, “I really liked the center bike lane.” “I thought I could go really fast and see around me.”

By running bike lanes on the sides, the goal was to find the best way to help businesses, drivers, and cyclists. Pollack is aware that his idea won’t be well received, but he hopes that one day there will be a bike path that is completely safe.

“I think a car-free Valencia Street and have Mission Street for buses, Valencia Street for bikes and Guerrero Street for cars,” he said. “That would be the best solution.”