The introduction of red lanes on Ocean Avenue will squeeze vehicles into one lane. While small businesses are all for safe and efficient public transport, we do not want to make it even harder for people to shop and dine on Ocean Avenue.

The community has already supported many SFMTA changes to Ocean Avenue such as longer platforms, fewer left turns, stop consolidation, parking changes. The street conditions have changed and SFMTA should reevaluate the red lanes with new input from the community. We must help our small businesses survive. 

Please also send an email to the decision makers. Subject: Please stop transit-only red lanes on Ocean Avenue. To: julie.kirschbaum@sfmta.com, ChenStaff@sfgov.org, melgarstaff@sfgov.org. 

Small businesses depend on visibility, customer access, parking, deliveries, and foot traffic. Red lanes will choke sales for small businesses because fewer customers will brave the congestion. A decline in customers will lead to closures, loss of jobs, and a less vibrant Ocean Avenue. Many business owners attended a meeting with the SF Muni team on December 18th to voice their concerns.

Small businesses want solutions to faster and safer public transportation that are more effective than red lanes. For example, the city can: 

a) enforce the existing 20 MPH speed limit by issuing speeding tickets; 

b) add traffic signals for left-turns or further reduce the number of left turns;

c) add preemptive green lights so that trains do not wait at red lights.

Please sign this petition to urge the City to stop the installation of transit-only red lanes. Let's support small businesses and the thriving spirit of Ocean Avenue for today and future generations.