In 1993, in response to growing interest in bicycling, the city of San Francisco, through its Bicycle Program within the Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT), designed a city-wide bicycle route network and comprehensive route signing system consisting of 3,100 new signs. The goal of the program was “to promote bicycle use by making the public more aware of the bicycle as a legitimate transportation mode” and to designate the safest, most direct, and flattest routes for bicyclists between major destinations. A customized bicycle route sign was designed and approved by the California Traffic Control Device Committee (CCTCDC). The signs include a white bicycle and route number on a green oval, and a graphic of the Golden Gate Bridge. The addition of color to the Bridge distinguishes “bicycle arterials” from local neighborhood routes. A route numbering system (with an included provision for anticipated network expansion) was based on the Federal Highway System . This system uses odd numbers for routes going in a north-south direction and even numbers for routes going east-west. Loops and spurs have three digit route numbers. Signs were placed in the sight line of the bicyclist at a standard height of seven feet whenever possible. An extension was created to attach bike route signage to existing STOP signs.
The project was originally estimated for completion within two years, but due to limited staffing at the Traffic Sign Division as well as other impediments, the city was unable to meet this goal. Following installation, the routes were surveyed to check that each made sense. Throughout the process, the city applied for a number of encroachment permits to install signs on State Highways and dealt with staff review and commission approval processes for internal jurisdictions, including Golden Gate Park, the Port of San Francisco, and the National Park Service.
The project was funded in part through an $85,000 state grant the city received in 1993. Installation of the 3,100 signs cost $24,000 with a unit price of $8.00 per three-color 12” x 18” sign. Each sign has a life expectancy of seven years. Yearly maintenance costs for the system are approximately $60,000.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rbikes/documents/route_network.pdf
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