A new contra-flow bike lane separated by paint and plastic posts has appeared at the northern end of Van Ness Avenue, providing a safer link between the ped/bike paths that run through Fort Mason and Fisherman’s Wharf.

The bike lane apparently replaced a lane of car parking on that stretch. I spotted the bike lane last weekend, but I don’t know when it was installed — I couldn’t find any information about it online. With the location being at Fort Mason, the project may have been led by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

What a refreshing change to stumble upon, and a nice complement to the redesign and two-way traffic conversion of nearby Jefferson Street.

Upon visiting areas heavy with tourists, it’s interesting to reflect on how strongly residents and merchants often cling to the current design of our streets, while tourists passing through likely have no idea the street was ever any different. Visitors rolling down this bike lane on rental bikes may just assume that such a level of safe accommodation for bicycling is normal in San Francisco. If only.

Update: Commenters on this article report that the bike lane appears to have been installed for the America’s Cup races this summer.