San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets receives award
Turning grief into action, to end traffic violence
When Julie Mitchell stepped onstage last month to accept a Golden Wheel award on behalf of San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets, she represented a remarkable, powerful, and growing advocacy effort for safe streets.
Julie lost her son Dylan when he was hit by a truck while biking in 2013. She helped launch the local Safe Streets group two years ago, with the support of the original Families for Safe Streets chapter in New York City, as well as Walk San Francisco. 
San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets brings together people who have personally survived a severe traffic crash, or whose loved ones have been killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash. Together, members work to prevent crashes from taking the same toll on more families.
Already, San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets has made a huge difference in winning safe streets for all. Since 2016, the group has:
- Held the first World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in both San Francisco and San Jose to remember those lost to traffic violence and urge action by decision-makers.
- Worked with the City of San Francisco to develop and launch a Fatality Response Team, so that first responders and city agencies have a more coordinated and compassionate response to those who have lost loved ones in traffic violence.
- Gained a sponsor for California’s first-ever automated speed enforcement bill, AB 342. Though the bill ultimately didn’t make it out of the Assembly Transportation Committee, it got further than many expected, and this effort will continue. Families for Safe Streets sees automated speed enforcement as an essential tool to achieve Vision Zero: ending all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Julie Mitchell, Alvin Lester, Jenny Yu, and the Quiroz family co-founded SF Bay Area Families for Safe Streets; they, together with other members, are pictured above at the 2018 Golden Wheel awards.
Learn more:
- The San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets Facebook page will help you learn more about members’ stories and be inspired by their strength.
- About San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets
- About Families for Safe Streets chapters across North America
Support San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets:
- Make a tax-deductible donation to support the important work of this group.
Photo credits: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
