Here's how to park on the new Valencia Street

"First, know that there are fewer spaces than in the past. The side-running bikeway has reduced parking and loading spaces on Valencia by a third, going from about 225 with the center-running bikeway to 146, according to Paul Stanis, manager of the SFMTA Valencia bikeway project. Stanis offered drivers three suggestions: "Don't park in a red zone." "If there's a big rectangle, that usually means you can park there." "You have to pay attention to the signage that's usually on the meter or a sign up on the curb.""

"Watch the color on the curb and on the ground Curb zones are painted in different colors to indicate parking and loading rules. Red means no parking. White = passenger loading Green = short-term parking Yellow = commercial loading Blue = accessible parking No color = it might be fine to park here but... read on"

"While the color codes are consistent across the city, Valencia Street is unique because on Valencia the codes - usually painted on sidewalk curbs - can also be painted on the right edge of the parking space. This means they are on the ground, almost beneath your car, and a couple feet away from the sidewalk. Unfortunately for those looking for a spot, that means that even when you see an unpainted curb, you might not be able to park there."

Parking on Valencia became more difficult after restoration of side-running bike lanes, reducing parking and loading spaces from about 225 to 146. Drivers often encounter apparently empty spaces that are illegal due to curb and ground-painted color codes and meter or curb signage. SFMTA manager Paul Stanis advised avoiding red zones, looking for painted rectangles, and checking signage on meters or curbs. Color-coded curb markings indicate specific uses: red no parking, white passenger loading, green short-term, yellow commercial loading, blue accessible, and unpainted curbs may still be restricted because markings can appear on the right edge of spaces.

Read at Mission Local