San Francisco Cyclists: Careful at Divisadero and Fell

Two collisions involving bicyclists were reported at the same San Francisco intersection about 24 hours apart this week along a corridor that is notoriously dangerous for cyclists, a police captain said today.

Both accidents, which also involved cars, happened at Fell and Divisadero streets, said police Capt. John Feeney from the department’s Park Station.

In the first collision, reported at 7:03 p.m. Tuesday, the bicyclist complained of pain and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

The next day, at about 6:30 p.m., a second bicyclist was hit and taken to the hospital, according to police. That bicyclist’s condition was not immediately available.

Fell Street is popular with bicyclists, but a number of cyclists have been injured along the stretch of Fell that connects “the Wiggle,” a zig-zagging bike route that begins behind the Church Street Safeway, to the Panhandle.

“It’s a major issue,” not just on Fell Street but “throughout the district, quite honestly,” Feeney said.

He said that even before this week’s accidents occurred, he had already planned to meet privately next week with members of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition at Fell and Divisadero streets.

Feeney said that although enforcement efforts in the area have been stepped up, “We can’t cite our way into more traffic safety, we need to have an education component.”

He encouraged increased awareness levels for drivers, as well as for bicyclists and pedestrians.

“There are common courtesies here that people just aren’t doing,” he said.

No matter who is at fault, he said, “It’s usually the bicyclist or pedestrian that loses.”

Dan McMenamin, Bay City News