20 MPH coming to seven streets, a key step to #SlowOurStreets

What’s the most effective way to prevent severe and fatal crashes on our streets?

Bring down speed.

Speed plays a huge role in the severity of traffic crashes – and whether they happen in the first place. On busy streets with lots of people walking, speeds need to be slow in order to support safety. Cities around the world are embracing this in support of climate, air pollution, health, and safety goals (Paris recently made its entire city center 20 MPH). And it’s working to save lives.

This is why, with the support of our members, Walk SF and San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets put everything we had into passing Assembly Bill 43 in 2021. This new law means San Francisco has the authority to set speed limits based on safety, rather than an antiquated rule.

We are thrilled that Mayor London Breed and SFMTA are taking this new authority and running with it! By spring, seven streets will have 20 MPH speed limits:

• 24th Street, from Diamond to Chattanooga and from Valencia to San Bruno Avenue
• Fillmore Street, from Chestnut to Union and from Jackson to McAllister
• Haight Street, from Stanyan to Central and from Webster to Steiner
• Polk Street, from Filbert Street to Sutter Street
• Ocean Avenue, from Geneva to Victoria Street and from Junipero Serra Boulevard to 19th Avenue
• San Bruno Avenue, from Silver Avenue to Paul Avenue
• Valencia Street, from Cesar Chavez to Market

We applaud the City for starting to tackle speed – and also need them to expand and speed up this work. Deadly speeds are on the rise, and too many people will be hurt and killed if more isn’t done.

These streets getting lower speed limits is an important start toward a more aggressive, comprehensive approach on speed by the city. But it’s just one step. We’re eager to see many, many more. That’s what our #SlowOurStreets campaign is all about in 2022.

A big thanks to all our members – your support launched Walk SF’s #SlowOurStreets campaign, and gives Walk SF the ability to work both locally and on state legislation. 

Our gratitude also goes out to members of San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets and other chapters of Families for Safe Streets, who have been incredible advocates for AB 43 every step of the way. Families for Safe Streets members have either lost a loved one to a traffic crash or survived a crash themselves.