A fresh look as we kick off our 25th year
Walk SF is kicking off a yearlong celebration of 25 years of working on behalf of everyone who walks. It’s a time to reflect on the wins our membership has made possible, and look to what’s next. In that spirit, we’ve refreshed our logo!
Out with the old….
In with the new!
We’re excited about the new look because it captures:
1. The heart of the challenge Walk SF exists to solve.
At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple: we should all be able to cross the street without fearing for our lives – especially kids, seniors, and people with disabilities. Yet every day in San Francisco, an average of three people are hit while walking. It shouldn’t be like this.
2. Our focus on solutions.
Did you know that a zebra-striped crosswalk (also known as ‘high-visibility’ or ‘continental’) increases the likelihood of a driver yielding to a pedestrian by 30 – 40%? A zebra-striped crosswalk is one of countless proven ways that our streets can be designed to protect pedestrians. But this absolute basic for pedestrian safety still isn’t yet at all designated ‘high-injury’ intersections!
The reality is that we have to advocate – loudly and consistently – for pedestrians, or solutions simply don’t happen at the pace or scale needed. Every day, Walk SF pushes the City to bring more solutions to our streets – in a layered, cost-effective, preventative way – to make us safer.
3. Our vision for a San Francisco that leads the nation with pedestrian-first streets.
As a compact 7 x 7 mile city with mild weather, walking should be the preferred way of getting around for many trips for most people. That will happen when streets are designed to truly prioritize pedestrians in all parts of the city, with everything from safe intersections to slower speeds to car-free spaces.
Fun Fact: The History of the Zebra-Striped Crosswalk
The zebra-striped crosswalk we know and love today began to be widely used in the early 1950s in the United Kingdom. After rising pedestrian deaths, the government tested a variety of designs and the zebra-striped ones rose to the top. Zebra-striped crosswalks can be seen from greater distances by drivers, plus pedestrians are more visible against the striped background. Most importantly, the crosswalk informs drivers that pedestrians might enter there.
A special thanks to graphic designer Kimberly Schwede for her work on the new logo, which we love!
Photo credit: Transport Research Laboratory
