Urgent Action Item San Francisco: Tell SFMTA to Preserve Slow Streets

The SFMTA Board will vote Tuesday/tomorrow, Dec. 6, on the future of the Slow Streets program. In November, an overwhelming majority of voters made it clear through the passage of Prop. J and the defeat of Prop. I that they want more slow and safe streets and they want an end to the near-total use of the asphalt between buildings for motorized traffic. Nevertheless, some vocal motorists remain opposed to the Slow Streets program, and it is in danger of getting rolled back. And for anyone who doubts that's the case:

From an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle in support of continuing the program:

However, the COVID "experiment" is set to expire in a few months if the directors don't vote to extend it. Readers may note that Oakland, which pioneered the idea, abandoned its Slow Streets program in February. The same thing could happen in San Francisco.

Advocates have set up a page to help readers call in and make their wishes known during the meeting. Advocates also want the city to make good on a promised Slow Streets network - to facilitate not only neighborhood spaces, but to create connected slow streets that provide safe paths for cycling across the entire city. "There's excellent precedent in Portland's Greenways for what it would take to connect the network, and it would be nice to see this aspect of the Slow Streets discussion getting some attention," wrote advocate Luke Spray in an email to Streetsblog. Read more about that on the People's Slow Streets Fact Sheet or check out their vision map.

Email the SFMTA board. And attend the meeting, Tuesday, December 6, at 3 p.m. City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA, Room 400, Floor 4. Or join online (sfgovtv.org/sfmtaLIVE).