PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2025

CONTACT: Jodie Medeiros, Executive Director, Walk San Francisco, (415) 596-1580 (cell), jodie@walksf.org; Marta Lindsey, Communications Director, Walk San Francisco, (617) 833-7654 (cell), marta@walksf.org

Temporary memorial will be placed on City Hall steps for people killed in traffic crashes this year

Advocates to hand-deliver a signed letter to Mayor Lurie’s office demanding a new Vision Zero policy, which expired 137 days ago 

Special hearing on Vision Zero called by Supervisor Melgar

WHEN: Monday, May 19, 12:30 PM

WHERE: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102

WHAT: Walk San Francisco (Walk SF), San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets, Senior & Disability Action, and residents who care about safe streets will protest the fact that San Francisco’s Vision Zero policy expired last year. 

A temporary memorial will be built on the steps of City Hall, with ten pairs of white painted ‘ghost shoes’ to honor the ten people who have been killed in traffic crashes so far this year. Six of the ten were pedestrians. 

Advocates will also hand-deliver a letter to Mayor Lurie demanding the City adopt a new Vision Zero policy by July 30. 

• 12:30 – 1:00PM: Temporary memorial and protestors with handmade signs on the steps of City Hall.
• 1:00 – 1:30PM: Advocates hand-delivering a letter to Mayor Lurie’s office demanding a new Vision Zero policy.
• 1:30PM: Vision Zero hearing at the Land Use Committee of the Board of Supervisors. The SFMTA, the SFPD, the SF Department of Public Health, and the Department of Public Works will all present and respond to questions from Supervisors. This hearing was called by District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar.

WHO:

• Jodie Medeiros, executive director, Walk San Francisco
• Erik Greenfrost, executive director, Senior & Disability Action
• Susan George, a transportation advocate and medical doctor, who has treated many crash victims in her career 
• Victims of traffic violence

VISUALS:   

• Ten pairs of shoes, painted white, will be placed on the steps to remember the ten people who have died this year in traffic crashes. 
• A ‘ghost’ walker painted white will be on display to honor the five senior pedestrians who have been killed this year. 
• A large group of people holding handmade signs in support of safe streets. 
• Advocates walking through the halls of City Hall and into Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office to hand-deliver a letter. 

BACKGROUND

24 people were killed while walking in San Francisco in 2024, the highest number since 2007. A total of 42 people were killed in traffic crashes in San Francisco in 2024, the highest number in a decade.

Vision Zero is a data-driven, preventative, and interagency approach and commitment to end severe and fatal traffic crashes. San Francisco adopted a Vision Zero policy in 2014. 

While the City has made important progress in redesigning streets to improve safety in support of Vision Zero, severe and fatal crash numbers have yet to go down.

The past decade has also brought additional and significant challenges: increased traffic from delivery trucks and rideshare services; larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicles; and a rise in dangerous and aggressive driving behaviors.

San Francisco’s Vision Zero policy expired last year (137 days ago), and the last interagency action plan for Vision Zero is from 2021. Since the policy expired, six pedestrians have died in traffic crashes on San Francisco’s streets, including five seniors. 

Walk SF is asking Mayor Lurie to act quickly to adopt a new Vision Zero policy and aggressive action plan with the funding, accountability, and focus needed to succeed.

SOCIAL MEDIA

#VisionZeroSF @walksf @bayareafss

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Walk San Francisco (‘Walk SF’) advocates for safe streets for everyone who walks, which is everyone. Since our founding in 1998, Walk SF has been leading the way to make San Francisco a pedestrian-first city where people of every age and ability can walk safely. Learn more.

San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets is a group of people who have been directly affected by traffic crashes, including crash survivors and people whose loved ones have been killed or injured in traffic crashes. Learn more.