This week on Valencia, we invite you to explore the corridor’s new bikeway and join us as we celebrate small businesses.
As we celebrate Small Business Week, we’re excited to share a great way you can now bike and roll to locally owned businesses along the Valencia corridor.
Whether you’re arriving by bike, Muni, walking or driving, there’s no better time to come explore all that Valencia has to offer.
Tomorrow, May 8, kicks off the first of Valencia LIVE! events between 16th and 19th streets (you can RSVP here). The night markets are being held every second Thursday of the month, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., from May through October.
These free, all-ages street fairs will feature:
- Happenings, happy hours and deals at local businesses
- The American Indian Cultural District IndigenizeSF Craft Market
- Local food and delicious drinks
- Live music in the street
SFMTA staff will be joining the celebration tomorrow with a giveaways table. We’ll also have a short ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome the new bike lanes to the neighborhood. Come say hi!
Cyclists try out the new side-running bike lanes as we wrap up remaining work on Valencia.
Ready to roll
Crews are done painting stripes and installing buffer zones on Valencia. While there are still a few finishing touches left, the new side-running bikeway is open and we’re excited to welcome cyclists back. The timing couldn’t be better with National Bike Month now underway.
These side-running bike lanes return the street to a more familiar design after we tried a center-running pilot last year. The layout considers many competing needs for street space – including from those who bike, run businesses and drive on the corridor. The final design:
- Creates protected bike lanes that separate people biking from vehicle traffic
- Allows businesses to continue operating parklets
- Maintains as much parking as possible
We took to the new lanes for a test ride last week so you can see for yourself! Check out the video below.
However you get there, Valencia’s small businesses are worth the trip
We had a chance to speak with a few local merchants who’ve seen the corridor transform – and appreciate the many ways people can access its lively small businesses.
Valencia Street is a crucial part of the city’s bikeway system. As one of the flattest streets in San Francisco, it’s perfectly suited for biking. It’s also home to some of the city’s most unique small businesses.
Sean Quigley, founder of Paxton Gate, has seen the neighborhood evolve. His curiosity shop has been a fixture of Valencia Street since 1999 – the same year we installed the original, unprotected bike lanes on the corridor. “I think Valencia Street is special because it’s said that it’s the longest stretch of independent businesses in America,” Quigley said.
Although Quigley understands the need for different types of travel on the corridor, he noted the important role bikes play: “I ride my bike most of the time or walk to work. It seems to me like someone going down a side-protected bike lane on a bike is probably going to see and be aware of the businesses more than vehicles driving by."
Maynor Boteo, executive chef of Tacolicious on Valencia Street, commented on the allure of exploring the neighborhood by foot: “You can find anything on Valencia Street – shoes, food, bars and all that stuff. And it’s always been a place that you want to walk … the trees, the lights at night.”
Closing up a few items on the corridor
As we ring in the next chapter on Valencia, we’ll complete just a few more pieces of touch-up work to finalize the new street design. We expect to finish by Memorial Day weekend. These include:
- Installing remaining green paint and thermoplastic for bike lanes
- Installing protected corners at intersections
- Addressing remaining color curbs, parking meters and safe hit post needs
- Side street crosswalks, color curbs and meters
- Reintroducing left turns at three intersections (anticipated mid/late June)
Please use caution when traveling on the corridor as people adjust to the new design. There may be brief times when cyclists must share the vehicle lane while crews complete work on some blocks.
As we reach this significant milestone, we want to thank the many businesses, residents, cyclists and others who shared their feedback and helped to shape the new design for Valencia Street.
We’re looking forward to joining community members on Valencia tomorrow. We hope you’ll stop by to celebrate the corridor’s new chapter and block party.
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