SFMTA will be hosting a community meeting on Wednesday evening at the Mission Police Station, to discuss transit, safety, and accessibility concerns along 17th Street, specifically between Church and Sanchez streets.
As we’ve previously reported, 17th Street’s Muni tracks have become a safety hazard for bicyclists, whose tires become lodged in the grooves, causing them to fall. A number of videos have circulated showing cyclists attempting to maneuver around double-parked cars, then crashing on the tracks.
SFMTA has come under fire for the issues posed by the tracks, the poor pavement quality, and the lack of curb ramps, particularly at the intersection of 17th and Church streets.
Because this stretch of 17th Street encompasses Muni tracks, street parking, two lanes of traffic, pedestrian crosswalks, and a designated city bike route, there will be no lack of talking points at Wednesday’s open house.
Potential solutions to be discussed by the SFMTA include:
- shifting the designated bike route to another street
- adding a protected bike lane
- removing street parking
- removing the streetcar tracks
- making 17th Street one-way
- increasing enforcement of double-parking
- installing new curb ramps for safer pedestrian crossing
“People living and biking this stretch of 17th Street have asked the city to address conditions there for years," said Chris Cassidy of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, which will have representatives in attendance at the meeting. "We're committed to making sure the city hears from these folks, and that planners deliver solutions that meet their needs.”
Last week, we reached out to District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy to see if he or one of his aides would be in attendance at the meeting. We did not receive a response.
But if you're a neighbor, a driver, or regularly bike this stretch of 17th Street, you're encouraged to attend Wednesday's meeting and share your input.
