The city is seeing more transit use and biking, but driving and congestion are also on the rise.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency recently released its latest assessment of transportation trends in the city, the San Francisco Mobility Trends Report 2018. "Compiled by SFMTA staff, the report assesses which methods of transit SF residents are most likely to use, employing everything from traffic counts to official ridership stats from transit agencies to Census data about bike use," reports Adam Brinklow.
While the report says that transit use and cycling has increased since 2010, particular time frames tell different stories. For example, transit ridership is still down from a peak in 2002, and biking has decreased in recent years, with a more than 24 percent drop since 2015.
In addition, the growth in San Francisco's population has resulted in a 6 percent increase in registered vehicles since 2010 as well as more congestion. The report says that half of the congestion from 2010 to 2016 can be attributed to ride hailing and the other half to population and employment changes.
The increase in transit use in San Francisco distinguishes it from most other U.S. cities where transit ridership is in decline. "However, it’s still clear from the analysis that City Hall has trouble breaking San Franciscans from their reliance on cars. Silicon Valley is only exacerbating the situation," notes Brinklow.
FULL STORY: Despite everything, San Franciscans are driving more
A Bikeshare Showdown Between Uber and Lyft
Lyft may soon not be the sole bikeshare operation in San Francisco as the city looks to expand the system and open the market up to other companies.
Bus-Only Lanes in San Francisco Show Impressive Results
Bus lanes along a primary transit corridor have sped up travel times and point to the potential for major citywide improvements.
In Cities, Transit Isn’t Just for Commuting
A closer look at commuting and ridership shows the differences between urban and suburban transit patterns.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service