Let’s walk South Van Ness together to identify safety issues

South Van Ness is one of the City’s most notoriously dangerous streets when it comes to traffic safety.

South Van Ness is especially treacherous for the thousands of seniors living nearby at the Bethany Center, Abel Gonzalez Apartments, and Casa Adelante who must cross this four-lane street with fast-moving traffic coming on and off the highway. In 2019, 69-year-old Pilsoo Seong was tragically killed when crossing at 19th Street.

South Van Ness will finally get a suite of safety fixes as part of the SFMTA’s ‘Vision Zero Quick Build’ program. The Quick Build program uses tools like paint, posts, signs, and signals to bring improvements to life in a matter of months.

We want South Van Ness to get the strongest possible safety fixes. Will you join us on a ‘walk audit’ to identify the street’s biggest safety needs? Sign up now!

SFMTA is considering a number of street safety changes for South Van Ness, including: a traffic lane reduction to reduce crossing distances and calm traffic; traffic signal changes to reduce opportunities for speeding; and better curb management to improve loading and reduce double-parking.

We need community members like you to join us in developing recommendations for SFMTA. Sign up now!

Sign up for any (or all) of three upcoming walk audits we’re organizing:

• Saturday, September 11 – 10:30-11:30AM – Meet at 24th Street. and S. Van Ness, and we will walk 3-4 blocks north toward 20th Street.
• Tuesday, September 14 – 5:00-6:00PM – Meet at 20th Street. and S. Van Ness, and we will walk 3-4 blocks north toward 16th Street.
• Thursday, September 16 – 12:00-1:00PM – Meet at 17th Street. and S. Van Ness, and we will walk 3 blocks north toward 14th Street.

Can’t make it, but want to share your feedback? Fill out the SFMTA’s survey in English or in Spanish.

Interested in co-hosting a session for your group in the Mission or want to have a session in Spanish? Reach out to Brian Haagsman at Brian@walksf.org.

Do you walk in the Mission? Check out the District 9 traffic safety report card.

Banner image: Ken Lund via Flickr Creative Commons