»In which we paint inside the lines

from the San Francisco Bicycle Program:

This project includes several improvements to what bicyclists commonly refer to as “The Wiggle,” a portion of Bicycle Route 30 that “wiggles” between Market Street and The Panhandle along Duboce Avenue , Steiner, Waller, Pierce, Haight, Scott, and Fell Streets. This route helps bicyclists avoid streets in the area with steep grades. The proposed project will stripe a northbound bike lane on the east side of Scott Street between Haight Street and Oak Street . On Scott Street between Oak and Fell Streets, a northbound left-turn bike lane will be striped for bicyclists turning left into the existing Fell Street bike lane. Refer to the striping drawing for details of Scott Street (Fell to Oak). A bike box will be added for northbound bicyclists at the intersection of Scott and Oak Streets to help position bicyclists in front of the queue of motor vehicles waiting at a red light. A bike box is a striped area for bicycles located behind a crosswalk but ahead of a motor vehicle stop bar. Bike boxes will allow bicyclists to wait in front of a queue of motor vehicles and position themselves for turning movements. In this location, a bike box will help bicyclists access the left-turn bike lane on the block of Scott Street between Oak and Fell Streets. San Francisco has installed one bike box on eastbound 14th Street approaching Folsom Street, as shown in the photos below. MTA Bike Program staff is currently examining the feasibility of adding a bicycle-only traffic signal at this intersection to provide bicyclists with a head-start phase in front of motor vehicle traffic.

Other proposed improvements include shared use lane markings and enhanced route signage along several portions of “The Wiggle,” and a widened westbound lane on Haight Street between Pierce and Scott Streets to allow bicyclists and motorists to travel more comfortably in a shared lane.

This project was approved by the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT) on January 12, 2006 . The project will be heard by the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee next, prior to going before the full Board of Supervisors.