SFist: Octavia Boulevard: Recent beneficial changes

James

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:28:51 -0800

I have no car or bike, and only take public trans or walk. Drivers turn onto the freeway, because it makes NO SENSE not to. Google Maps even TELL people to do that. And because Octavia and Dubuce are a mess. I can't believe taxpayers paid over $100 Million for an on-ramp that no one can use, and a traffic-jam creating boulevard design. The freeway-haters made it this way...now look what you have. Why can't there be a GREEN RIGHT ARROW? Just like at Duboce & Market? Or is the real intent to punish drivers, so they Bike to work in San Jose? SF cyclist are a cartel, self-righteous, scoflaws bullies. SF drivers need to take valium, and hang up. Meanwhile us pedestrians are in the crossfire of both. Solutions: * Bike bridge over the ramp * Right-turn lane with Green arrow * Remove ramp, build bridge over Market St.

Jim

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:50:56 -0800

There was a traffic planning reason for prohibiting the right turns from inbound Market - concern over traffic backing up on Market into the Castro. Of course traffic now backs up into the Lower Haight and the Western A, but that was the decision made. (When you tear down a perfectly good retrofitted offramp that used to take traffic over Market, you're going to break some eggs.) The drivers are the menace, not the cars. VW/Audis aren't bad per se. That Audi Unpimp Your Ride campaign, now that's funny. Didn't see any lattes, did see some wacky tobacky. The first white post is called "scratch your VW/Audi A4 real bad" regardless of what hits it. The others are named, in order "scratch your Chevy real bad" "scratch your SUV real bad" "Inky" "Blinky" "Clyde"

Eric Fischer

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:55:19 -0800

A turn lane would be worse because the cars wanting to turn would have to weave across the bicycle lane to get to it, with disastrous results like those on Page Mill Road at the I-280 interchange.

grrrarrrgh

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:44:19 -0800

here's an easy and simple solution. make a turn lane from market street onto the octavia on ramp. the congestion along octavia is pretty horrible. why not make that entire area LESS congested, by adding another option to get onto the freeway? as for those in the neighborhood who don't like that idea... look... you bought/rent a house that used to be a freeway entrance, and it will always be a freeway entrance. nothing is gonna change that. and the pedestrians? the DPT needs to add a crossing light... or they can completely block off the sidewalk. either way, someone is still going to be dumb enough to try and cross when they're not supposed to.

Michael

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 07:53:11 -0800

Every so often, just get a bicycle cop to set up right after the turn to stand along the shoulder, when someone makes the illegal turn, direct them over and write them a ticket for not following the signs.

Ciaran

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:44:47 -0800

Oh, but Audi drivers are such easy targets. Why not pick on them? Extra points for the SUV having bull bars for maximum injury potential.

hapachino

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:32:16 -0800

Dear friends, nice article and pictures, however, maybe you should properly name them. When a Isuzu/whatever SUV runs over a plastic post, you should not call the picture 'This post is named "The scratch my Audi/VW post" '. If you think VWs and Audis are bad while their drivers are drinking lattes, you should look around and see bullets coming out of Chevy Monte Carlos (the other vehicle) and deadly menace coming from illegal turns of SUVs.

Michael

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:58:13 -0800

The plastic post closest to the turn will be torn off within a month. What it should be is a metal pipe (half of it sunk into the cement) with an orange flag on top. (bonus if the flag says "gotcha!!")

TheRobin

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:56:05 -0800

SF Wheelchair User, I have been run off the sidewalk by some crazy-ass wheelchair people in this here town... I agree, bikes on sidewalks suck... but some of these new-fangled wheelie chairs can really get a move on. We need a wheelchair speed limit!

S

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:23:58 -0800

They should install cameras like the "red light ones" and send a cute little card in the mail, with a ticket.

Dorian Grey

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:12:33 -0800

Like bicyclists, we SF wheelchair users have a beef, not only about cars taking illegal rights @ the Mkt/Octv fwy, but bicyclists riding on SF sidewalks.They too often run into us, cut us off at curb ramps, & force us off into other pedestrians or structures. We're crip enuff & bike riders don't seem to give a fuck they're putting us at risk for more injury. SFPD said in writing it would start enforcing the law against bikes ridden on sidewalks. They don't & that suxx! Pls help get the word out???

Rain

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:35:27 -0800

I can't believe those two a-holes STILL made the illegal turn. What part of "No Turn", look at the signs, and hey, it's written on the street, and whoa, there's some white posts blocking the turn, DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND?