PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2019
CONTACT: Jodie Medeiros, Executive Director, Walk SF, jodie@walksf.org, 415-596-1580 (cell)
Marta Lindsey, Communications Manager, Walk SF, marta@walksf.org, 617-833-7654 (cell)
Deadly crash on Market marks 15th person killed while walking or biking – a doubling of deaths from a year ago
We are devastated to learn of yet another person lost on our streets to traffic violence; a pedestrian was killed at 5th and Market last night. Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family. Walk San Francisco and members of the San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets stand ready to support the victim’s family and friends however possible.
This death marks the 15th person killed while walking or biking in San Francisco so far this year. This number is more than double as it was the same time last year.
These tragic unnecessary deaths must stop. Our City needs to do whatever it takes to make us all safe on our streets. This could be any of us, killed while simply going about our daily lives.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends,” said Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk San Francisco. “Why do known dangerous streets like Market Street, where a half million people walk each day, continue to be so dangerous? It’s unconscionable. The City is failing all of us.”
We call on Mayor Breed to make traffic safety the priority it needs to be for every agency in the City that has committed to Vision Zero especially the SF Police Department, SFMTA, Department of Public Health, and SF Public Works.
Walk San Francisco, Supervisor Matt Haney, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition recently asked city leaders to declare a state of emergency for traffic safety after two horrific crashes in July. Supervisor Haney introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors to declare a state of emergency for traffic safety that was quickly co-sponsored by Board President Norman Yee. (The Board of Supervisors is currently on recess.) We see San Francisco declaring a state of emergency for traffic safety as a necessary step to both acknowledge the crisis on our streets and support unprecedented levels of action.
“For the sake of everyone who walks and bikes, for everyone of every age and ability, we need fundamental changes to our streets now,” said Medeiros. “San Francisco must become a city where dangerous driving is simply not tolerated, on any street, at any time. These are our neighbors, our loved ones, our community.”
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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 at walksf.org.
San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets is made up of survivors and families whose loved ones have been killed or severely injured by preventable crashes on our streets. Learn more at walksf.org/familiesforsafestreets.