Walk San Francisco

News from Walk SF’s Feb newsletter

member intern — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:18:19 +0000

The House just passed a transportation bill that slashed funds for biking and walking — and actually repealed Safe Routes to School. Thanks to everyone who spoke up — Representatives received thousands of calls. But the bill still squeaked by; now the fight moves to the Senate. Stay tuned.
More from the February Walk SF newsletter:

An Open Letter to Mayor Lee from Walk SF:

How Mayor Lee Can Make Smart Investments in Safer Streets in 2012

At Walk San Francisco’s member bash last month, Mayor Ed Lee celebrated making San Francisco the first big city in the state to help kids walk to school by creating 15-mph zones at 60 schools, out of 180 to come.

“We will, in our lifetimes, get to zero pedestrian deaths,” declared the Mayor, calling for “experimenting out of the box with every possible idea to make streets safer.”

The mayor set a bold vision for San Francisco, and an “out of the box” approach may be just what we need to reach it. But to stand by his commitment, Mayor Lee must provide the leadership our city needs to make smart, immediate investments to improve pedestrian safety in 2012.

Read on for Walk SF’s 5 Steps to a Better City

Thanks for Stepping Up!

elizabeth — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:02:03 +0000

Thanks to everyone to attended the “Stepping Up” event at the City Club — what a great night!

STEPPING UP: A Benefit for Walk San Francisco

Josh — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:25:34 +0000

On Thursday, January 26, Albert G. Stoll and the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association will be hosting a benefit for Walk San Francisco.

Enjoy a sparkling reception with wine, hors d’oeuvres, live music, a silent auction, and remarks from special guests California State Senator Mark Leno and San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim as you help Walk San Francisco make San Francisco’s streets safer and more inviting for everyone:

STEPPING UP: A Benefit for Walk San Francisco
Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
City Club of San Francisco
155 Sansome
10th Floor
San Francisco, CA

Donate Now and Double Your Impact!

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:36:01 +0000

Thanks to generous donors, any gift you make before Dec. 31 will be doubled! Please take a minute to help Walk SF meet this matching challenge. And keep reading for more on what’s ahead in 2012.

Please support Walk SF to:

Help establish 180 new school zones throughout San Francisco by next summer — and keep up the pressure to make sure the new safer speeds are enforced. This will keep kids safe and calm traffic all over the city!
Win the city’s first-ever Pedestrian Action Plan. Most of the worst crashes happen on just 7% of city streets. We need a Pedestrian Action Plan that fixes these dangerous high-speed roads first, to transform the city and dramatically reduce the risk you face when you walk.

You deserve to be able to walk in safety and comfort every day. Your year-end donation to Walk SF helps make that possible.

Never given to Walk SF? Now is the time to give! Donate before December 31st and receive a $10 Sports Basement gift certificate!

Walk SF Member Meeting & Greeting, Thurs 12/8

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:17:41 +0000

Don’t miss this opportunity to get together with Walk SF members and special guest speakers:

Mayor Ed Lee
Supervisor John Avalos
Supervisor Scott Wiener

Celebrate how you’ve helped change the city this year, and find out what’s ahead in 2012.
Enjoy delicious food and drinks provided by the Beach Chalet brewery and Bi Rite Market, and win raffle prizes from Monk’s Kettle restaurant, Public Bikes, Sports Basement, City Carshare, and more!

Thurs Dec 8, 6 – 8 pm
SPUR penthouse, 4th floor
654 Mission St at New Montgomery
Free for Walk SF members
Not a member yet? Join now or at the door.
RSVP TODAY

Join us to celebrate Walk SF’s work to make San Francisco’s streets safer for you and your family every day. See you there!

Improve Fell & Oak, Saturday 12/3

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:23:19 +0000

Do you live or walk or work near Fell and Oak?

Fell and Oak are wide, fast, dangerous streets that can feel like freeways cutting through the city. New plans for separated bikeways present an opportunity to narrow the streets and calm traffic, for example by removing a travel lane.

These changes will occur along the three blocks of Fell and Oak Street between Scott and Baker Street. The SFMTA has three options with some analysis of the benefits and trade-offs of each option – you can read more here.

Drop by SFMTA’s Open House this Saturday any time between 10am and 2pm to learn more and weigh in:

Fell and Oak: SFMTA Open House
Saturday December 3, 10 am – 2 pm
350 Masonic Ave, at Golden Gate

Drive safely or face consequences, says DA with Walk SF

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:29:50 +0000

ABC news video

On Tuesday, District Attorney George Gascón held a press conference with Walk SF and the SF Bicycle Coalition to urge motorists to take responsibility, drive safely, and avoid crashes like the ones that caused several recent pedestrian fatalities.

From today’s San Francisco Chronicle:

Gascon promised that his office will “prosecute these cases aggressively, if appropriate, ” but urged drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike to be more careful.

Elizabeth Stampe, executive director of Walk SF agreed: “The holiday season is a time of sharing — and we should be sharing our streets,” she said.

Leah Shahum, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition added “It really takes vigilance on everyone’s part.”

But while the speakers urged everyone to be more cautious, it was clear that the message was mainly directed at motorists. Stampe called on the San Francisco Police Department to step up enforcement, particularly of speeding and failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians, a campaign Gascon said he also supports.

“A lot of responsibility lies with folks piloting what can be 4,000-pound vehicles,” Stampe said. “So while were asking everyone to watch out, we’re reminding drivers that we have a lot of responsibility when we drive. It can be up to you to determine whether people survive a walk through the city.”

Walk SF will continue to work with the District Attorney to make sure people who endanger others with dangerous driving face a penalty.

You can find more stories from the event on Walk SF’s “In the News” page.

Fall Newsletter: 42 school zones and counting!

elizabeth — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:49:08 +0000

Walk SF’s fall newsletter is hot off the e-presses!

Save the date for Walk SF’s Member Meeting and Greeting, Thursday Dec. 8 at 6pm at SPUR. RSVP here

Not a member yet? Don’t miss out! Join Walk SF now.

In this edition:

Prop B passes!

Josh — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:34:07 +0000

Thanks to everyone who fulfilled their civic duty yesterday!

Prop B, which Walk SF supported, passed yesterday with more than the the two-thirds of the vote that it needed.

Prop B authorizes over $70 million for pedestrian safety improvements including wider sidewalks, “road diets” to calm traffic, new curb ramps for wheelchairs and strollers, ... Read More

Vote Yes on B for Safer Streets

elizabeth — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:32:34 +0000

Yes on B! Prop B includes over $70 million for pedestrian safety improvements: wider sidewalks, “road diets” to calm traffic, new curb ramps for wheelchairs and strollers, and more.

Why a bond? These improvements are exactly the kind of permanent infrastructure investments that are an appropriate use of bond funding. Prop B will make our streets better for the long term. Walk SF also supports dedicated, ongoing additional funding, of course, but this up-front investment is needed now to make our streets safer and more walkable. Safety shouldn’t wait.

Read the San Francisco Chronicle story on Prop B, with a quote from Walk SF executive director Elizabeth Stampe.

Walk SF’s ballot argument for Prop B:
The City’s dangerous streets put children, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and seniors at risk. Every year, 800 people are hit by cars in San Francisco. Seniors are four times as likely as others to be killed this way.

Prop B will make the investment we need in safer streets for everyone.

The poor condition of San Francisco’s streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks is a serious problem. Prop B will help fix the most dangerous streets to make them walkable, improve sidewalks and crosswalks, and repair and strengthen stairways and bridges.

Safe, walkable streets help you travel easily and arrive on time. They help neighbors know each other and keep neighborhoods safe from crime. They reduce carbon emissions from driving and support local businesses with foot traffic.

Prop B is a smart investment in the safe, sustainable transportation San Francisco needs. Vote Yes on B.

- Walk San Francisco

More info at the Department of Public Works website. To join the campaign: Like Prop B on Facebook

Be sure to vote on Tuesday November 8!