San Francisco: Bicyclists ignore sidewalk sign

What needs help: Thursday afternoon was a typical one at Van Ness Avenue near Aquatic Park: Northbound bicyclists rode in the street and on the sidewalk.

The problem, says Chronicle Watch reader Bill Carroll, is that people are ignoring the "No Bicycles" sign that's perched on a pole in the sidewalk. "Every day I walk to Aquatic Park (and) every day I and all the other pedestrians are nearly run over by all the bicyclists on the sidewalk," Carroll said in an e-mail. "The 'NO BICYCLES' sign is so small and so high that no one seems to notice. The sign should be larger, lower, and state 'NO BICYCLES ON SIDEWALK.' The bicycles are supposed to be on the street. This is unsafe for everyone. There is virtually no automobile traffic on the street so there is no reason to be on the sidewalk." Carroll's suggestion was forwarded to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which says it's not responsible for the signage, and to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which did not respond but seems to have jurisdiction over the area.

This article appeared on page C - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle