Demand City leaders fix deadly intersections now.

A four-year-old child was killed in the crosswalk in San Francisco on August 15.

This can never happen again.

We must make it clear that this tragedy is unacceptable – and so is inaction by City leaders.

Demand City leaders fix deadly intersections and make our streets safer NOW. Send a quick email below echoing Walk SF’s three asks.

Ask City leaders to fix our deadly intersections now.

Dear Mayor London Breed, SFMTA Director Tumlin, and the SFMTA Board of Directors,

I write to you with grief and outrage for the tragedy that happened at 4th and King on August 15.

Children – and everyone – should be able to cross the street safely.

Please act with urgency to:

1. Address serious safety issues at the 4th and King Street intersection immediately – and comprehensively.

Removing one of the right turn lanes onto King Street does not go far enough. A separate, pedestrian-only phase in the signal light is needed to protect people walking from drivers turning to get to the 280 freeway entrance.

Speeds on the wide, six-lane King Street must also be addressed. SFMTA needs to design this street prioritizing safety, not as though it’s a freeway on- or off- ramp. The current speed limit of 30 MPH is too high. Adding additional infrastructure such as vertical speed reducers and reducing the number of travel lanes to bring down driver speeds is critical given the high numbers of pedestrians in the area going to and from Muni, Caltrain, and Oracle Park.

2. Bring serious speed-slowing solutions to the 25+ high-injury intersections that, like 4th and King Streets, are at transition points between highways and neighborhood streets.

The City must design streets near freeway entrances/exits so that drivers go slowly and cautiously – not like they’re on an on- or off-ramp. All high-injury intersections that are near freeway entrances/exits need serious solutions like narrowing and reducing lanes and raised crosswalks to protect the most vulnerable on what are, actually, neighborhood streets.

3. Create a detailed, publicly-available plan within 60 days for how the SFMTA will meet its commitment to fix the 900 high-injury intersections that have yet to receive any safety improvements by the end of 2024.

The SFMTA committed to bring baseline pedestrian safety improvements to 900 high-injury intersections by December 2024. This includes high-visibility painted crosswalks, daylighting, and traffic signals that give pedestrians a headstart plus more time to cross.

But we need accountability so this actually happens on-schedule. The SFMTA must create a public plan for how they will, quarter-by-quarter, reach their goal by December 2024. The SFMTA must also add no-turn-on-red, left turn calming, and pedestrian safety zones to every eligible intersection within the 900 simultaneously to really boost crosswalk safety at these intersections, all of which can be implemented with the SFMTA’s ‘Quick Build’ toolkit.

I am looking to you to do all that’s within your power to fix deadly crosswalks across the city.

Sincerely,

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A four-year-old child was killed in the crosswalk in San Francisco on August 15.

This can never happen again.

We must stand together to show that this tragedy is unacceptable – and so is inaction by City leaders. Our streets must be made safe for children and all of us.

When: Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 5:00 – 6:00PM
Where: The plaza next to Caltrain at 4th & King Streets
What: We will create a memorial for the child and rally for change.
Bring: Stuffed animals to add to the memorial, and strollers to show solidarity.

Crossing the street should never be life-or-death.

The 4th & King intersection is incredibly dangerous. This piece by KTVU 2 makes it very clear how vulnerable a person is when crossing here. And there are too many intersections just like this across San Francisco.

So please stand with us on Tuesday for real change on our streets. Spread the word – here’s a flyer you can share.

This is a moment where we must be loud.

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A four-year-old child was killed in the crosswalk in San Francisco on August 15.

This can never happen again.

Ask City leaders to fix our deadly intersections now.

A four-year-old child was killed in the crosswalk in San Francisco on August 15.

This can never happen again.

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