SF’s first raised bike lane to begin Monday

Construction of San Francisco’s first raised bike lane will get underway Monday, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency officials said.

Workers with the SFMTA and San Francisco Public Works will create the lane on two blocks of eastbound Market Street between Gough and 12th streets, SFMTA officials said.

Construction will raise the height of an existing lane on which more than 3,000 inbound bike trips are made each weekday, according to SFMTA officials.

The officials said the raised lane will improve safety and comfort for cyclists who use it. The height of the lane will be lower than the sidewalk, but will deter cars from driving on the lane, SFMTA officials said.

The raised lane will also encourage bicyclists to ride in the bike lane rather than on the sidewalk, according to SFMTA officials.