FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Contact:
Jen Nossokoff
(415) 574-0226
Related social media posts: Instagram, Threads, Facebook
Website: KidsNotCars.com
Parents, Advocates, and Community Members Unite to Demand Safer Streets in San Francisco’s Richmond District
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Following a preventable crash that left a kindergartener at McCoppin Elementary hospitalized, parents, neighbors, and community advocates have united to demand urgent action from the City of San Francisco to address street safety in the Richmond District.
Backed by over 140 signatories, including key safe streets advocates, their open letter calls for immediate infrastructure upgrades and stronger enforcement to protect children and vulnerable residents, urging swift, decisive action in response to mounting public outcry.
While the letter raises awareness of these growing safety concerns and the urgent need for action, it also sets the stage for practical, immediate solutions. Some concrete changes the City could begin implementing right away include:
● Reducing Balboa Street to one lane westbound starting at Arguello to slow traffic in residential and school zones.
● Installing roundabouts and other traffic-calming measures on Anza, Balboa, and Cabrillo Streets, focusing on intersections near schools.
● Utilizing non-police enforcement alternatives, such as rotating ticketing cameras, to hold drivers accountable for ignoring stop signs, an issue that has gone notoriously unenforced for years.
The crash that hospitalized the six-year-old boy occurred just half a block from his school while he was riding home on the back of his father’s bike. While the boy has since been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, the incident has sparked a growing call for action.
"This wasn’t just some unfortunate accident—it was a preventable tragedy," said Jen Nossokoff, a spokesperson for the group behind the letter. "The infrastructure failures in our neighborhood have left children and families exposed to unnecessary risks. We need the City to act now to prevent more of these life-threatening incidents."
The letter urges San Francisco’s leaders to put pedestrian and cyclist safety at the forefront of traffic planning. It emphasizes that decades of prioritizing cars over people have led to dangerous streets and avoidable tragedies.
"Reckless driving behavior is rampant—speeding, rolling through stop signs, and aggressive driving are daily occurrences," the letter states. "The City’s delayed response to this crisis is unacceptable. Prevention through infrastructure and policy must be the first line of defense, as these proven strategies are essential in reducing dangerous behavior before it happens. These preventable tragedies will continue until fundamental changes are made."
The letter remains open for additional signatures, and the community is encouraged to show support by signing at KidsNotCars.com.
About the Kids Not Cars campaign:
The Kids Not Cars campaign is a grassroots coalition of parents, community members, and advocates dedicated to ensuring pedestrian and cyclist safety in San Francisco’s Richmond District, and beyond. The group is committed to pushing for infrastructure improvements and policy changes to make the neighborhood safer for everyone.
For more information, please contact:
Jen Nossokoff
(415) 574-0226