About Masonic Avenue
Masonic Avenue is the north/south arterial road closest to the geographic center of San Francisco, California, USA. Approximately 1.5 miles long in total, it features a multiple lane arterial section which runs for approximately 1 mile between Pine/Bush Streets at the north and Haight Street at the south (continuing into Ashbury Heights as an ordinary 2 lane residential street). The arterial section is the focus of this site; it is a vital boulevard not only for auto traffic between downtown and the central and southwest areas of the city, but also the 43 Muni bus, Bicycle Route 55, and local pedestrian traffic including neighbors, students at the half-dozen schools and universities on this corridor, and shoppers at businesses such as Trader Joe's, Albertson's and Best Buy. For various views of the street and the design challenges it poses, click on The Street, above.
About this site
This site represents a 100% grass-roots effort begun by a resident of Masonic Avenue, to re-engineer what is clearly an outdated and poorly planned urban corridor for 21st century use.
The goal of this site is not to provide anyone's personal "solution" to the problems posed by the current condition of the street - instead, this site can be considered a success if more stakeholders of Masonic Avenue, and in particular other residents on and near the street, begin to discuss the things that matter to them about this street and surrouding neighborhood, so that as various municipal powers consider what to do with Masonic Avenue, the choices made are well thought-out and reflect the wishes of those of us who use the street most.
About the creator of this site
Hi, I'm Mark Christiansen. My wife and I have owned a home on Masonic Avenue for eight years. I'm a bay area native and have lived in San Francisco since 1992; for most of that time, I've lived near the Masonic corridor.
If I don't love Masonic Avenue as-is, how did I come to own a home there? My theory is that the street chose us. I've always treasured this area of town for its central location, neighborly feel and safe, quiet environs, and my wife and I found a lovely home where we could start a family. Nowadays, I can see plenty of things about the street that I think should change, so maybe I was called to help bring about these changes - who knows?
My family and I make every kind of use of Masonic Avenue. Like many San Franciscans, one of the main reasons we like living in the city is that I can live so much of my life on foot, on public transportation, and on a bicycle. We also have kids in our family, and although they require chauffering, when possible, we love going car-free on a weekend day, or going on an outing (or even to school) with the help of a bicycle trailer.
Now right there, I seem crazy - “he lives on Masonic Avenue and puts his kids in a bicycle trailer.” But the truth is that if one is careful about choosing routes, San Francisco is a fantastic city for cycling; even my wife, who is more worried about this topic than most, enjoys these outings. The only street we avoid riding is our own, and it's also the only street where you'll see me cycling on the sidewalk (which is illegal, for good reason, and which I hate - but which can be an absolute necessity on Masonic Avenue, particularly at rush hour).
So part of the reason I'd like to see Masonic Avenue change is to get cyclists like myself off of the sidewalk (I, at least, take it slow...)!
So, my point: I’m a resident, a motorist, a pedestrian, and a cyclist on this street and I can envision it better serving everyone who uses it. By no means do I have the answer, but from having lived here and considered that change is even possible, I can at least point to some of the things that I think are wrong, and where I think people needlessly assume it has to be like that. True, real change will take money, commitment from bureaucratic city organizations, and time.
But most of all, change will require a grass-roots feeling in our neighborhood that we can make this a better street.