San Francisco's popular bar and live music venue, Amado's, announced its closure on Saturday, citing the negative impact of the controversial center-running bike lane on Valencia Street. Owner David Quinby expressed his frustration in a letter reviewed by The Standard, stating that the installation of the bike lane led to an 80% decrease in sales and created difficulties for musicians due to a lack of parking.

According to Quinby's letter, the removal of parking spaces along Valencia Street, once a vibrant mixed-use corridor, resulted in musicians receiving parking tickets or having their vehicles towed when they dropped off their gear to perform at Amado's. The mounting challenges posed by the bike lane led to a significant decline in sales for the establishment.

A photograph of Amado's at 998 Valencia St. displayed a prominently placed sign declaring, "This bike lane is killing small businesses and our vibrant community," capturing the frustration Quinby and other local business owners feel.

Quinby further revealed that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) demanded the closure of Amado's parklet on Valencia Street as part of the bike lane project, citing pedestrian safety concerns. Transit advocates have also raised objections to the center-running bike lane, arguing that cars and trucks often obstruct it, endangering cyclists.

Amidst skepticism expressed by some Reddit users regarding Quinby's assertion that the bike lane's impact led to the bar's closure, it is important to note that Amado's faced additional hardships earlier this year. During Pride weekend in June, the venue experienced a major flood that forced the closure of its basement live music venue, significantly reducing revenue, as stated in an Instagram post on September 8.

It remains unclear to what degree the bike lane's presence versus the flood's impact contributed to Amado's suffering an 80% drop in sales. In response to Quinby's accusation, SFMTA spokesperson Stephen Chun emphasized that the bike lane was implemented with the aim of improving safety for residents and patrons of businesses on Valencia Street. Chun further highlighted the agency's commitment to the overall prosperity of the culturally significant corridor.

The SFMTA assured that it has taken steps to accommodate small businesses by adjusting parking regulations on Valencia Street, specifically between 15th and 23rd streets. By designating certain hours as loading zones, the agency aims to provide more parking availability during the day.

As Amado's bids farewell to its loyal patrons, the controversy surrounding the Valencia Street bike lane raises larger questions about finding a balance between promoting safety, supporting local businesses, and ensuring the vibrancy of San Francisco's diverse neighborhoods.