San Francisco Sun

San Francisco has celebrated a decade of the Vision Zero Policy, a road safety initiative aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and reducing severe injuries. Mayor London Breed and City officials gathered at City Hall to reflect on the progress made over the past ten years and discuss future plans to enhance street safety in the city.

Mayor Breed emphasized the importance of the Vision Zero efforts, stating, “Our efforts are about saving lives and preventing injuries on our streets, but they are also about making our City a more livable, vibrant city that supports people who are walking, biking, and driving to get around safely. We will keep working to make this a city of livable, thriving neighborhoods for all.”

City Attorney David Chiu, a co-author of the resolution that launched Vision Zero, expressed his commitment to continuing the work of making streets safer, saying, “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but we have more work to do and must recommit ourselves to that effort.”

SFMTA Director of Transportation, Jeffrey Tumlin, acknowledged the city's achievements in street safety, stating, “San Francisco is a national leader in advancing Vision Zero, and the improvements we’ve made to street safety have made us one of the safest larger cities in the U.S. for pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Among the strategies outlined by Mayor Breed to enhance street safety are measures to ensure transportation benefits are distributed equally, support economic recovery, and build a network of safe routes for all residents. The Mayor also directed SFMTA to implement actions such as a Daylighting Plan, No Right on Red Policy, and targeted enforcement to improve street safety.

Various community groups, including Walk SF, KidSafe SF, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, expressed their support for the renewed commitment to Vision Zero. Jodie Medeiros, Executive Director of Walk SF, emphasized the need for bold action to create safer streets, while Chris White of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition called for a visionary approach to save lives and enhance the city's vibrancy.

San Francisco's progress in street safety over the past decade has positioned the city as a national leader. With numerous initiatives and projects implemented, San Francisco has become one of the safest cities for pedestrians and bicyclists in the United States. The city's dedication to Vision Zero has resulted in significant reductions in traffic-related fatalities and injuries, paving the way for a safer and more accessible urban environment.