Eiad Eltawil, a restaurant owner in San Francisco, is on a hunger strike outside his business, protesting the city’s new bike lane experiment. The project, which includes a two-way protected center bike lane on Valencia Street in the Mission District, has reduced the number of vehicle lanes and removed 71 metered parking spots. Eltawil claims that this has resulted in a decrease in clientele for his restaurant and art store, leading him to take drastic action by committing to a month-long hunger strike.
During his hunger strike, Eltawil will be living outside his art store, consuming only water and passing out flyers to support his protest. He has written his grievances on the structure where he will be staying, accusing the mayor’s office, the MTA, and the Valencia Street Merchants Association of enacting unfair, racist, and Islamaphobic policies on his business. Eltawil hopes that by fasting for 30 days, he will draw the attention of city leaders who may be able to make changes to the bike lanes or else he will be forced to close his restaurant.
Other business owners in the area have also expressed concerns about the impact of the new bike lane on their businesses. Rafik Bouzidi, owner of the city’s only Tunisian restaurant, has noticed a decrease in customers due to the difficulty in finding parking spots. Despite the challenges faced by businesses, the SFMTA has stated that the experiment is a work in progress and they are listening to feedback from parklet operators and working on solutions to protect both businesses and bicyclists in the corridor.
The implementation of the bike lane has not been without issues, as there have been reports of crashes between pedestrians and vehicles along the bike path. In one tragic incident, an 80-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by an SUV driver while crossing the street. These accidents have raised concerns about the safety of the bike lane and its impact on the community. While Eltawil’s protest has garnered mixed reactions from locals, with some supporting his cause and others defending the city’s efforts to promote more bike lanes, it is clear that there are ongoing challenges that need to be addressed.
Eltawil’s hunger strike is a desperate attempt to bring attention to the struggles faced by local business owners due to the new bike lane. He believes that the bike lanes are responsible for causing businesses to suffer and hopes that his protest will lead to changes that benefit the community. With ongoing discussions and collaboration between the SFMTA and affected businesses, there is optimism that solutions can be found to address the concerns and ensure the safety and prosperity of all those impacted by the bike lane experiment on Valencia Street.
