SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Faded striping and wide-open lanes are making for a confusing — and occasionally hair-raising — trek on John F. Kennedy Drive for motorists and cyclists alike.

What exists now between Stanyan Street and 25th Avenue is a yellow center line and a white line showing the edge of the traffic lane, but both are so faded that drivers can get confused, cyclist T.J. Mitchell said.

“A lot of cars will pass others on the right, which is very dangerous for cyclists,” Mitchell said. “Right now it’s a free-for-all.”

The City secured a $173,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in 2006 to restripe the Golden Gate Park thoroughfare and add bike lanes, signs and pedestrian improvements, according to Dan Mauer, capital program manager with The City’s Recreation and Park Department.

However, that plan has been in limbo since June 2006, when a state Superior Court judge ruled the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s bike plan — which includes the JFK work — needed more environmental review and blocked any bike-related changes on city streets, according to Andrew Thornley, program manager with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

San Francisco repaved JFK Drive in late 2006 and painted new stripes with a temporary paint, figuring the court injunction would soon be lifted. However, it now looks like the injunction could remain in place until spring or summer 2009, according to MTA spokesman Judson True.

The City Attorney’s Office sought an exemption for the JFK project, which was approved separately from the MTA bike plan, but its efforts have been denied, Mauer said.

Now, Rec and Park and the MTA are looking at another round of temporary striping, which would include diagonal lines in nonvehicle areas to keep motorists from being tempted to drive in them, True said.

“We have to identify a funding source,” Mauer said, though the project’s costs are yet to be known. The existing stripes cost $7,500.

“We’ll ask the MTA, Rec and Park and the Concourse Authority — or possibly use some of the grant,” he said. “But using it for temporary work is troublesome.”

bwinegarner@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:06 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "In-line skating event concerns roll forth"

Examiner Reader said:
Mr Miles (the founder of the California Outdoor Rollerskating Association) has been into his own self agrandisment for many years, all in the claim of what **HE** does for inline skating. Now his true colors show. A significant event that is not under his control is planned and he is saying how evil it is. If he was running it, there would be press releases (like his usual) extoling the virture of HIS work.

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8:47 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 6, 2008 re: "Planting meters may save jobs"

Examiner Reader said:
No meters in the park! Can't we preserve at least one place in SF where time doesn't equal money, where we don't have to watch the clock and can just relax for a while?

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12:19 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Planting meters may save jobs"

On the Q.T. said:
Regarding Meters in Golden Gate Park: It's predicted that the meters in G.G. Park will generate $250,000. What would be easier? Digging all those holes and nickel and diming families, or cutting $250,000 in the City's wasteful overtime spending?

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8:17 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008 re: "Car-free Saturdays near"

Examiner Reader said:
Those involved also agreed not to debate the issue again for five years, according to Andrew Thornley, program manager with the bicycle coalition. Andy, I assume you have now stopped smoking, or at least while you are enjoy Healthy Saturdays in the park right? Oh wait, smoking is already not allowed in the park...you will have to use a patch if you plan to enjoy your Saturdays riding in GG park.

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12:47 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 21, 2008 re: "Car-free Saturdays near"

Examiner Reader said:
This city is heading in the wrong direction when a small vocal group of people can dictate their needs over others. I live near the park and every Sunday I deal with the lack of parking in my neighborhood because of the park closure on Sunday. But that was okay because it only happened on one day of the weekend. It seemed fair. Those wanting to drive into the park with their children, picnic supplies, etc could do so on Saturday. Well I guess that's gone. Thanks for being greedy and assuming your way is the "right" way. And we should all bend to it. Just think about it. Why is one way (closing both days) fair?

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4:14 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Alleged embezzlement may cost ex-CFO house"

Examiner Reader said:
is that ALL he may lose??

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6:51 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"

Examiner Reader said:
I also live across the street from the park, 10 minutes on foot from Speedway Meadow,and I also am hearing for the first time about the concert. Depending on wind direction, persistent noise from events is disturbing, definitely NOT "inaudible." Worse, though, the neighborhood traffic and bad behavior is terrible: exactly as the previous poster describes. If people behave so badly in the day, what are they going to be like at night?!? And parking is a serious issue. If the concerts don't end until 10pm, residents can't even go out for the day to avoid them, because there will be no place to park when we come back. I enjoy events in the park, but the bigger they get, the worse they get.

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11:38 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"

Examiner Reader said:
I live across the street from the park in the vicinity of the Polo Fields and this is the first I've heard of any concert. I certainly was not part of any "outreach" if there was any. When these events take place the people who live nearby are subjected to noise, trash and property destruction. People scream and yell coming and going, throw crap on the street and trample lawns and flowers; after one of these events a newly planted (and expensive) tree was vandalized beyond saving. You can't go anywhere in your car because you will have no place to park upon your return. They will say they contacted neighborhood organizations and got their blessing but the majority of residents on both sides of the park do not belong to them. Is the PAR getting something out of this because the residents of the neighborhood certainly are not.

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