This is the archival website for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). It is not kept up to date. Please visit the SFMTA website for current information. San Francisco Continues to Increase Bicycling Numbers |
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Release date: 7/23/10 *** Press Release ***The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in San Francisco including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today announced that after a record-breaking year for Bike to Work Day, the momentum continues with more than 600 cyclists counted in the post-Bike to Work Day Market Street monitoring. This is an increase of 32 percent over last year. “I am proud that San Francisco continues to be a leader in promoting bicycling as a healthy and an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The increase in bicycling on an average day that tells us we are moving in the right direction.” “Everyday bicycling is what our Bike Program staff are striving to improve,” said Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Executive Director/CEO of the SFMTA. “We are committed to doing the work needed to keep the number of bicyclists growing in the years ahead.” "Thanks to the new separated bike lanes on Market Street, people are riding their bikes to work and to shop downtown in record numbers,” said Renee Rivera, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC). “At the SFBC we are hearing from our members that they feel more confident and safe bicycling on Market Street with the improvements the SFMTA has made to the street in the past year, and with so many more people out biking on Market Street." On July 1 SFMTA Bike Program staff gauged, as they have over the past two years, the volume of bicycling after Bike to Work Day. From 8 to 9 a.m. at the intersection of Van Ness and Market, they counted all of the eastbound traffic. A total of 602 bicycles were counted, compared to 331 automobiles. Bicycles made up 61 percent of the total vehicles headed eastbound, while automobiles came in at 34 percent (transit and taxis accounted for the remaining 5 percent of the vehicles). In 2009 bicycles accounted for 54 percent of the vehicles and automobiles for 41 percent. On May 13, this year’s Bike to Work Day, the SFMTA counted a total of 1,038 bicycles, compared to 307 automobiles. Bicycles made up 75 percent of the total vehicles headed eastbound, while automobiles came in at 22 percent (transit and taxis accounted for the remaining 3 percent of the vehicles). In 2009 bicycles accounted for 66 percent of the vehicles and automobiles for 32 percent. The 2009 to 2010 growth of bicycles on Bike to Work Day was 34 percent. These numbers indicate that the growth in Bike to Work Day participation closely matches growth in everyday cycling on Market Street. Since the Superior Court modified the 2006 injunction on the Bike Plan last November to allow a limited number of bike lane projects and other improvements, the SFMTA has completed nine new bike lane projects, installed 1,600 shared roadway markings, installed 402 sidewalk bike racks and five on-street “bike corrals”, and created a green bikeway on Market Street that is fully separated from motor vehicle traffic. |
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