If you bike in Bayview, you may have noticed the one-block gap in the bike network on Evans Avenue. But a proposal by the SFMTA seeks to change that by adding a westbound bike lane on Evans from Newhall Street to Third Street.

The plans will remove nine parking spots on the north side of Evans, but the agency believes the benefits will be worth the cost.

"The bike and pedestrian improvements on Evans will increase safety, comfort and connectivity for people biking and walking in the area," said SFMTA public relations officer Ben Jose. "To more efficiently use public dollars, we coordinated this project to be timed with a Public Works repaving of the corridor."

The changes to Evans will include continental crosswalks and improved pedestrian markings on Evans and Newhall, as well as improved "daylighting," or visibility of cyclists and pedestrians, along Evans from Jennings Street to Third Street. The existing right turn lane from Evans onto Third Street will not be modified.

The plans would also remove turn pockets at the intersection of Evans and Jennings, to accommodate bike lanes on the eastbound and westbound approaches to the intersection. SFMTA planners expect that intersection, which is near Heron's Head Park and the Speakeasy brewery, to be reconfigured in 2019 as part of the off-site improvement package for the Hunters Point Shipyard megaproject.

Those long-term plans are important, but cycling advocates are pleased that the SFMTA plans to close the existing gap now.

"It's really important that City planners do more to ensure that people have safe, welcoming streets on which to bike in every single San Francisco neighborhood," said Chris Cassidy, communications director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. "Closing this gap in the network of bike lanes and connecting more neighborhoods in southeastern San Francisco is vital to extending residents more healthy and affordable transportation."

We've heard rumors of additional bike infrastructure in the works for the area, including eastbound and westbound buffered bike lanes from Keith Street to Hunters Point Boulevard, but Jose told us, "SFMTA does not have plans to do this in the immediate future."