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Cyclists stopped in bike boxes are easily seen by motorists, improving safety at intersections. Examples of bike boxes can be found on 14th Street at Folsom Street, on Scott Street at Oak Street, and at five locations along Market Street.
What is a Bike Box?
The bike box is an
intersection safety
design measure
used to prevent
bicycle/car
collisions by
improving visibility and positioning. It is
essentially a
car-only advance
stop line with additional treatments to
allow and encourage
people on bikes to move
to the front of the queue at
selected signalized intersections. The area in front of the
advance stop line is a green box
with a white bicycle symbol inside that
serves as a bike-only waiting area during
the red traffic signal phase. Bicycle lanes
approach the box so that cyclists can access it
when vehicles are present.
Why are Bike Boxes being installed?
Bike boxes are being installed to prioritize
bicyclists’ movement at the intersection. At a
red light, cyclists are more visible to motorists
by being in front of them, which can help to
reduce turning conflicts otherwise associated
with jockeying for position. Furthermore, bike
boxes provide a space for cyclists to wait that
is relatively free of vehicle exhaust fumes and
can increase pedestrian safety by improving
visibility and decreasing vehicle and bicycle
encroachment at crosswalks.
What motorists should know
When the traffic signal is red, motorists must
stop behind the white stop line behind the
green bike box. Don’t stop on top of the bike
box. Keep it clear for cyclists to use. No right
turns on red at these intersections!
When the light turns green, motorists and
cyclists may move through the intersection as
usual, with cyclists going first. Motorists turning right on green should signal and watch for
cyclists to the right.
What bicyclists should know
When a traffic signal is red, enter the bike box
from the approaching bike lane. Stop before
the crosswalk.
When the light is green, proceed as normal.
Be aware of right-turning motorists, especially
while in crosswalk and intersection.
Further Information
If you have any questions, comments or feedback
about our bike boxes, please contact the SFMTA
at sustainable.streets@sfmta.com. The following handouts contain the information included above:
Bike Box Handout (PDF)
Bike Box Handout (accessible PDF)
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