Transcript
The Official San Francisco
BIKE GUIDE 2nd Edition
- FREE! -
SF BIKE LAWS SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLISTS MUST: Yield to People Walking Whether they’re in a crosswalk or not, ALWAYS yield to people walking. Stop BEHIND the Crosswalk Always stop behind the line at traffic signals and stop signs. Stay on the Street It’s illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk unless you’re younger than 13 years of age. Ride in the Direction of Traffic If you can’t go with the flow, it’s okay to WALK your bike on the sidewalk! Obey Traffic Signs & Traffic Lights Just like other vehicles on the road, obey all street signs and signals. Be Seen Reflectors and a front light are REQUIRED when riding in the dark! Red tail lights are strongly recommended. Avoid Distraction No headphones, calling or texting while riding - it’s the law!
SAFETY TIPS PROTECT YOURSELF: Be Predictable Stay visible and don’t weave in and out of traffic or parked cars. Hand Signal & Look Twice Signal to let others know where you’re going, and always look out. Be Heard Communicate! Ring your bell and/or call out to let drivers, pedestrians and cyclists know you’re there. Protect Your Head Helmets are strongly recommended for all ages and skill levels and are required by law if you’re under 18. Ride Right, Pass Left Pass safely and politely by using a bell and/or your voice to signal when you wish to pass. Leaving the Bike Lane If you need to ride outside of the bike lane to turn or avoid a hazard, use hand signals and be safe. Avoid the Door Zone Bike lane or not, ride far enough away from parked cars to stay clear of opening doors.
FACILITY TYPES BICYCLE PATHS are off-street paved bikeways. They are separated from vehicle traffic but almost always shared with pedestrians.
The Panhandle Bike Path
BICYCLE LANES are marked on-street lanes for bicycle travel. Be aware of driveways, mixing zones, car doors, and vehicles such as taxis or paratransit that may temporarily occupy the lane. Valencia Street Bike Lane
SEPARATED BIKEWAYS are bicycle facilities that are separated from traffic by parked cars, safehit posts, or painted buffer zones. Always be considerate of slower-moving bicyclists.
John F. Kennedy Dr. Separated Bikeway
SHARED LANES are typically wide travel lanes shared by bicyclists and vehicles. They are commonly marked with sharrows and signs. Make sure to stay out of the door zone! The Wiggle Shared Use Lane
FACILITY TYPES Enhanced GREEN BIKE LANES and other green road treatments are meant to guide bicyclists, increase visibility, and alert motorists of bicycle facilities.
Market Street Green Bike Lane
GREENBACK SHARROWS are there to guide bicyclists through intersections. Follow them carefully across turning lanes or through mixing zones. The Wiggle Greenback Sharrow
SHARROWS are placed outside the door zone in shared lanes to show both bicyclists and motorists where bicyclists should ride and assist with wayfinding.
Polk Street Sharrows
DASHED GREEN BICYCLE LANES indicate areas where cars and bicycles merge. Go slow, watch out, and share the road.
Fell Street Mixing Zone
SHARE THE ROAD …with Pedestrians: People on foot always have priority. ...with Buses and Trucks: Never pass these vehicles on the right and keep an eye out for sudden stops. Give trucks and buses a wide berth—they have large blind spots to both sides and the rear.
...with Other Vehicles: Signal with your arms to help drivers know when you are turning or changing lanes.
…with Other Bicyclists: Slower riders use all types of bikeways too, so pass with caution and use a bell or your voice to be heard.
BE AWARE MIXING ZONE Remember, when coming together with vehicles, avoid conflicts by paying attention to: • sharrows • dashed (green or white) lane markings • and most importantly, cars! Communicate with drivers by using hand signals and make eye contact to make sure they are aware of you.
CYCLETRACK & BIKE LANE Watch out for taxis and paratransit vehicles: These special vehicles provide services to those with disabilities and have curb access priority.
LEFT TURNS “TWO-STAGE TURN”
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Wait for the light to turn green before crossing.
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Wait for the light to turn green before crossing.
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Ride carefully next to the crosswalk with the “Walk” signal.
HAND SIGNALS Make others aware of your intentions with these hand signals:
Left
Right
Stop
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Complete your left turn like a motor vehicle, yielding to oncoming cars.
“VEHICULAR STYLE TURN”
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When it is safe, carefully move into the left-hand lane.
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Look and double-check for on-coming cars. Signal with your hands.
ROADWAY OBSTACLES Always cross streetcar and rail tracks while traveling as perpendicular to the track as possible. Be extra cautious with wet or slippery tracks and watch for trains and other motor vehicles.
In general, watch out for: • Pedestrians, in or out of the crosswalk • Streetcars • Buses and trucks • Taxis • Parked cars (doors!) • Paratransit shuttles • Other authorized vehicles • Muni tracks • Grates, plates, trenches • Potholes
TAKE THE LANE You have the right to ride in the center of travel lanes to protect your safety while riding. Take the lane when: • Turning • Avoiding vehicles or roadway hazards • In areas with low visibility • In narrow lanes that cannot accommodate a vehicle and bike side-by-side Look twice and signal before changing lanes! Watch out for doors and follow the sharrows. • Always leave at least three feet between your bike and parked vehicles. • Sharrow markings are placed safely out of the “door zone.” • Watch parked cars and taxis carefully for signs of activity.
BIKE BOXES STOP IN THE BOX!
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Continue straight or turn left using hand signals and yielding to vehicles if necessary.
Move into position ahead of stopped vehicles. Bikes stop here on red Vehicles stop here on red
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At a red light, look for vehicles behind you and use hand signals when entering the bike box.
BAY AREA BIKE SHARE As of Spring 2014, Bay Area Bike Share stations are located in Downtown, SOMA, along the Embarcadero, at Caltrain, and will soon be in the Mission, Castro, and Hayes Valley! Here’s how the system works:
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JOIN Sign up for an annual membership online, or purchase a 24-hr or 3-day pass from any station. RIDE Run an errand, get to a transit stop, or just enjoy the day. Rides up to 30 minutes are free with membership! RETURN After your trip, find a station, return your bike to an open dock, and you’re good to go! REPEAT Enjoy unlimited trips of up to 30 minutes during your membership period!
To learn more about membership and the system, visit www.bayareabikeshare.com
LOCKING YOUR BIKE For short-term parking, use sidewalk racks, or keep an eye out for a bike corral—a set of racks situated within an on-street parking space. Bike Corral
Use a U-Lock to lock the rear wheel and frame to the rack, then use a cable or second U-Lock to secure the front wheel.
Don’t park against railings or trees and make sure to check that no one can lift your bike over the object that it is locked to! For long-term parking, use a cage, locker or sheltered space indoors. Request Bike Parking: Request a rack or corral for your business on the SFMTA website: www.sfmta.com/bikeparking
TRANSIT AND LOCKERS BUS RACKS: Use the bike rack on the front of all Muni buses but keep an eye on your bike. Communicate with the driver and return empty racks to the upright position after removing your bike.
FOLDING BIKES: Folding bikes are allowed at all times on all Muni vehicles EXCEPT for cable cars. If space is available, please use the front rack before bringing a folding bike aboard. BIKE LOCKERS: As of March 2014, electronic bike lockers are available at three SFMTA garages: Sutter/Stockton, 5th/Mission, and Ellis/O’Farrell. Visit www.sfmta.com/bike-lockers for more information.
RIDING IN THE ELEMENTS: RAIN, FOG, NIGHT When it’s foggy or wet (or both), SLOW DOWN! Be careful - BRAKE EARLIER and more gradually! (It’s harder to stop abruptly when roads are wet). PREPARE FOR THE ELEMENTS: • Wear a rain jacket, rain pants, and gloves • Use fenders to minimize water and grime • Use lights when it’s raining, even during the day
WATCH FOR: Oily Streets Puddles Slippery Surfaces: utility covers, streetcar tracks, drain grates, subway vents, construction plates or anything else without a non-skid coating.
HELMETS & ACCESSORIES BE SEEN Use a white front light and red rear light whenever bicycling after dark!
BE HEARD Use a bell to alert others of your presence!
BE SAFE • •
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Always wear a helmet! Ensure that your helmet fits correctly and fasten the chinstrap Replace your helmet after a crash or if signs of damage are evident
ABOUT THE SFMTA The SFMTA plans, builds, operates, regulates and maintains San Francisco’s transportation network, with our partners, to connect communities. The mission of the SFMTA’s Livable Streets subdivision is to create safe and inviting streets and sidewalks for all who walk and use a bicycle by providing innovative bicycle facilities, combined with targeted community outreach and education. sfmta_muni
SFMTA.Muni
Additional Resources 311: sf311.org Safe Routes to School: sfsaferoutestoschool.org San Francisco Bike Coalition: sfbike.org California Bike Coalition: calbike.org 511 Bicycling: bicycling.511.org BikeMapper: bicycling.511.org/maps League of American Bicyclists: bikeleague.org National Bike Registry: nationalbikeregistry.com Safe Bikes Bike Registration: www.safebikes.org
Thanks to NYC DOT for assisting with the SF Bike Guide This project is made possible by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority through a grant of Proposition K Local Transportation Sales Tax Funds.
