PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 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

Kids will help paint ‘daylighting’ at intersections tomorrow morning to make streets safer

SFMTA to paint all intersections citywide by the end of 2026, and are starting in school zones

WHEN: Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 8:45AM – 9:15AM

WHERE: The intersection of Grove and Clayton Streets, near New Traditions Elementary School in the Panhandle

WHAT: Students and parents from New Traditions Elementary School will join Zoe the Zebra, neighbors, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and the SFMTA Paint Shop in painting ‘daylighting’ in the school zone.

• 8:30AM – 8:45AM: Kids paint one curb with Zoe the Zebra
• 8:45AM – 9:15AM: Kids, parents, and neighbors paint a second curb with Zoe the Zebra
• 9:30AM: SFMTA paint crew paint additional nearby school zone curbs

The new state ‘daylighting’ law makes it illegal for drivers to park within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk at the corners where their vehicle is facing the crosswalk. 

By ensuring everyone has clear sightlines at intersections, daylighting reduces crashes by 30%. Because kids are shorter, daylighting is especially important to ensure drivers see them stepping into the crosswalk.

In support of the new state ‘daylighting’ law, the SFMTA has committed to paint daylighting zones at intersections citywide so drivers know not to park there – and they’re starting with schools. The agency plans to complete painting daylighting in all school zones by the end of 2025, and all intersections by the end of 2026.

VISUALS:   

• Kids in aprons using paintbrushes to paint the curb red for daylighting
• Zoe the Zebra, Walk SF’s mascot for safe intersections 
• Homemade signs celebrating safer intersections and emphasizing the need to keep children and students safe 
• Elementary school students and family members painting curbs red with the guidance of SFMTA Paint Shop workers 

ATTENDING: 

• Myrna Melgar, District 7 Supervisor and Chair of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority
• Viktoriya Wise, SFMTA Director of Streets
• Jodie Medeiros, executive director, Walk San Francisco
• Families with young children from the New Traditions Elementary School community 

BACKGROUND: 

Every day, an average of three people are hit walking in San Francisco. The vast majority of these crashes happen in the intersection. 

One of the best ways to make sure people are safe at intersections is called ‘daylighting.’ Daylighting prevents parking at certain parts of the intersection to ensure clear sightlines for drivers and pedestrians. 

When there aren’t clear sightlines, it is very dangerous. Pedestrians are forced to step into the crosswalk without being able to see if it’s safe to do so. Daylighting helps drivers, too – and not just with seeing pedestrians, but also being able to see approaching vehicles.

Daylighting reduces traffic crashes by 30%. Learn more about daylighting. 

In 2024, 42 people were killed in traffic crashes in San Francisco, the highest number since 2007. More than 500 were severely injured in traffic crashes.

Walk SF strongly supports the SFMTA’s commitment to paint every intersection by the end of 2026 so drivers know to not park in daylighting zones – and our city streets are made significantly safer. 

As vehicles get significantly bigger and taller, daylighting is even more crucial to prevent crashes. The average American passenger vehicle is now 8 inches taller than it was three decades ago. SUVs and trucks are now the dominant type of vehicle, making up almost 75% of the market share. This means that it’s more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians when cars are parked all the way to the intersection. This is especially true for children, who are smaller and more easily obscured by obstructions. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

#ILoveSafeIntersections #VisionZeroSF @walksf 

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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.