We must slow our streets

The Slow Our Streets campaign

Since launching the Slow Our Streets campaign in 2020 with the support of our members, we have:

1. Collected speed data across the city to show the scale of the problem.

We surveyed more than 47 blocks across the city in every Supervisorial District in 2022 with the help of 50+ volunteers and community groups. What we learned is featured in our groundbreaking report on dangerous speeds.

2. Successfully pushed the City to commit to creating a comprehensive speed management plan.

In 2021, with the help of our members, the 35+ groups in the Vision Zero Coalition, and Families for Safe Streets, we got the City to commit to create a comprehensive speed plan. Now we’re pushing for the City to go farther with its plan, which we feel falls short given the threat we all face.

3. Supported state legislation to allow lower speed limits and speed safety cameras.

Other cities in the United States have already embraced speed safety cameras, such as New York City’s program around all public schools. Speed safety cameras dramatically shift driver behavior, and can reduce the number of severe and fatal crashes by as much as 51%. Right now, we are pushing Governor Newsom to sign AB 645, which would allow San Francisco and five other cities to pilot speed cameras.

Walk SF also worked on the successful passage of Assembly Bill 43 in 2021, which means San Francisco can now lower speed limits by 5 MPH on many types of streets. Now we’re advocating for the City to max out legal authority in lowering speeds.

4. Lifting up stories about the true toll of dangerous speeds in the media and with city leaders.

Especially through our work with San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets, we are telling the stories of those who have been directly affected by dangerous speeds in a variety of ways.

5. Building a diverse, neighborhood-by-neighborhood movement to Slow Our Streets.

We know that so much of what happens – or doesn’t happen – with traffic safety is a matter of political will. We need to build the strength of our movement through community organizing and new partnerships. We’re bringing extra focus to neighborhoods like the Bayview and Excelsior, where many streets have speed limits above 25 MPH, high crash rates, and haven’t seen the traffic safety improvements they deserve.

6. Win big changes to bring down speeds on the most dangerous streets.

As the City moves forward with safety improvements on streets with the highest crash rates, we must push for designs that meet the highest standards for preventing speeding and protecting pedestrians.

And of course we must keep advocating for more permanent spaces where we can all enjoy walking without fear of dangerous speeds, whether its car-free spaces like JFK Promenade or car-lite spaces like Slow Streets.

How you can help Slow Our Streets

Your financial support will give Walk SF the capacity to organize across the city and push at City Hall to #SlowOurStreets.

There are big opportunities to bring down dangerous speeds in 2023. We can seize them with your help.

Questions? Contact Marta Lindsey at marta@walksf.org.