By Thomas K. Pendergast

When the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) asked Sunset District residents for ideas to improve traffic safety in the Inner Sunset, the resulting post-it notes lining the walls of the SF County Fair Building on Nov. 18 provided a diverse collection of opinions.

So it came as no shock that a post-it consensus on what is best was not forthcoming.

The Inner Sunset Transportation Study is expected to identify traffic safety improvements in the general areas of Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, plus Irving, Judah and Kirkham streets to the south.

The SFCTA is looking for solutions that are quick to implement; conceptual designs for new projects which would include new signal timing or signage, and “bold concepts” with the potential for vehicle restrictions on commercial corridors.

It plans to publish the findings next spring.

If SFCTA is looking for “bold concepts,” then they certainly asked the right folks.

Someone, for example, suggested converting Lincoln Way into a “slow street” and closing it down to traffic entirely on the weekends.

Closing down Irving Street between Ninth and 10th avenues to build a “pedestrian plaza,” was another idea.

“If the closed brewery building, sitting next to the parking lot between Eighth and Ninth avenues, were to be torn down, then those lots could be merged and a four-story parking garage could be built there,” was another suggestion.

A more simple and direct message posted said: “Cars are essential. Abolish the MTA.”

Yet another post-it expanded on that idea.

“Abolish the MTA! Bikes are not more important than people’s livelihoods. Close MLK to cars (send cars underground). Have cyclists walk their bikes between Eighth and 10th, Judah to Lincoln.

But the award for the ultimate minimalist post-it statement goes to whomever simply posted “WAYMO vehicles stink!”

A demand was made to open up JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park again.

Another demanded reversing the recently passed Proposition K and opening the Upper Great Highway to motor vehicles on weekdays.

Comments amplified the battle royal – bicycle lanes versus parking spots.

One called for more bike lanes, while another demanded fewer bike lanes, more lanes for cars and more parking spaces.

“Bike lanes please! Also, there could be some bike parking on the west side of Irving between Fourth and Eighth,” said one note.

“Ticket cyclists who don’t obey laws and almost mow down pedestrians,” countered another. “There are plenty of accommodations for bikes. If there is a need for more bike lanes – make it fair for drivers.”

“Double-parked cars on Irving force me to cross Muni tracks on my bicycle,” another complained. “Enforcement of vehicles illegally parked in bike lanes.”

“Double parked cars make it impossible to get off Muni train,” another groused.

“Do not take away car parking to facilitate more bike lanes and bike/scooter rental areas,” another demanded. “We’re merchants on Ninth and Irving – customers complain about lack of parking. Need more public parking lots like the one on Eighth Avenue between Irving and Judah.”

A more analytical approach to bike stations called for full financial transparency.

“Pre-eminent signage showing the fair market lease rate of bike rack space; the amount the bike company pays; the amount the City subsidizes the bike company,” the writer requested.

Kirkham Street also got attention.

“Lose the roundabout on Kirkham,” said one.

“Please remove the strange ‘slow’ yield reduction of two-way traffic into one single lane, not clear and very dangerous,” posted another. “Remove the Kirkham ‘1 Lane’ bridge as no one know how to use them and it has caused cars to go into bike lanes and I almost got hit.”

“Please help traffic at Seventh and Kirkham – too much and getting dangerous for pedestrians.”

Judah Street and the business parklets on it did not escape attention.

“Remove parklets on Judah. They block parking and bikes and cars,” said one note. “More bulbouts on Judah west of Ninth Avenue – cars don’t slow down for pedestrians in crosswalk.”

“Safety for pedestrians at many intersections, particularly Seventh and Judah. Cars routinely are dangerous when making left turns.”

One note showed parking meters have a fan.

“Parking meter hours should go to until 10 p.m. They should also not be free on Sundays,” wrote one supporter. “More parking meters and longer hours, later in the p.m. and all weekends to maintain turnover and availability.”

Seventh Avenue got its fair share of complaints as well.

“Crossing Seventh Avenue: Each block further south is increasingly dangerous for pedestrians,” someone posted. “Seventh and Lawton is ridiculous. I’ve almost been hit there more times than I can count. Improve road and safety along Seventh Avenue up to Clarendon.”

The coup-de-grace, however, came from the nominee for the most nihilistic post-it on the wall that night: “Don’t want any of these options – where can we voice that?”