San Francisco restaurant owner stages hunger strike to protest Valencia bike lane blamed for business closures

San Francisco restaurant owner Eiad Eltawil is on a 30-day hunger strike to protest a new bike lane he says is destroying local businesses. Over a dozen businesses have closed since the bike lane opened 8 months ago.

Eltawil is sleeping in a parklet outside his restaurant and only drinking water until May 7th. He put up a sign calling the bike lane "unfair, racist" policies by the city.

To build the 1.9-mile Valencia bike lane, the city removed 71 parking spots. Business owners say customers can't find parking and are canceling reservations.

In February, Eltawil and two other business owners filed claims against the city, demanding the bike lane be removed and they be compensated for economic losses.

The bike lane was intended to improve bicycle safety, but merchant associations say accidents have increased and the lane is unsafe. They want it removed immediately.