San Francisco Cyclists Want Safety Improvements In SoMa After Fatal Crashes
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Bicycling advocates in San Francisco are renewing their call for safety improvements in the South of Market area after a bicyclist was fatally struck by a Muni bus during Friday morning's commute.
The crash, which took place near the intersection of Bryant and 11th streets, marked the fourth time this year that a cyclist was struck and killed in SoMa. All four incidents involved large vehicles. In at least three of the cases, the vehicles were making right turns.
SF Bicycle Advocates Want Safety Improvements On SoMa Streets After Fatal Crash
Bicyclist John Ford told KCBS that he tries to avoid South of Market because it's so dense and dangerous.
"It is tricky. I was actually coming down Mission trying to get to Embarcadero. You just got to be really careful," he said.
According to authorities, the 43-year-old cyclist was struck by the bus as it attempted to make a turn.
Kit Hodge, deputy director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition said the SoMa accidents illustrate a regular pattern of bicyclists being hurt and killed and show long-term standing safety plans need to be implemented.
"There are very few separated green lanes in South of Market Streets right now. Part of the solution to taming the deadly SoMa streets is to add more green lanes so that more people are separated when they're driving and biking so there's less of a chance of collision," Hodge said.
Police were also investigating a second bicycle accident on Friday morning at 10th and Folsom streets involving a bicyclist hurt in a collision with a minivan.
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