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San Francisco Still Among Most Dangerous For Pedestrians

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-drive-like-my-brother dept.

dkatana writes: The city of San Francisco averages 200 injuries per year and 30 deaths. This is almost double the number of Barcelona, Catalonia, which has about the same population. The city started a Vision Zero program, aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminate pedestrian deaths by 2024. But after a year-long Vision Zero education push called Safe Streets SF, whose key message is that pedestrians always have the right of way, the results have been modest. Now a series of banners on light poles in the South of Market neighborhood with the message: 'Slow down! We live here!' are trying to convince drivers to respect people on foot.

7 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Right Of Way by myrdos2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    whose key message is that pedestrians always have the right of way

    What? Should that be "they always have the right of way if on a crosswalk"? Because otherwise I think I can explain your pedestrian death rate...

    1. Re:Right Of Way by gfxguy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even Missouri gets that right. ... That means that any pedestrian-involved accidents are automatically the vehicle driver's fault, including any applicable criminal charges.

      The problem here is you think that's getting it "right."

      Virtually everywhere else, if a pedestrian is hit on a roadway and they're NOT in the crosswalk, if they aren't killed then THEY'RE the ones getting a ticket for jay-walking.

      And THAT is "right." And I say this as someone who prefers walking when possible.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:Right Of Way by tlambert · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The crime of jaywalking didn't exist until cars came along. Streets were once shared spaces for everyone.

      And then someone figured out that things with large amounts of momentum required long stopping distances, and that you were an idiot if you stepped out in front of them, and expected the laws of physics to bend to your whim.

      And then someone else came up with traffic signals and road markings, which made it safe for pedestrians and cars to share the street again ...so long as everyone, including the pedestrians, obeyed the signals and road markings.

      And then "jaywalking" ... not obeying the signals and road markings in a way dangerous to those sharing the road with you ... became a crime.

      And everyone lived happily every after! Except the people who were jaywaking: they got splatted like birds flying into the path of a 747 (something that also can't stop on a dime, even if the birds happen to be members of an endangered species).

  2. Don't know about SF... by Derekloffin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...But if it is anything like my home town, a concurrent campaign of 'hey, you there walking, actually exercise a little caution' would be probably a good idea too. A few too many people on both sides of this equation acting like they are the only thing moving out there.

  3. Nope by Ryanrule · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Peds SHOULD NOT have the right of way. people can stop on a dime. cars cannot. you dont make the oil tanker yield to the dinghy.

  4. Re:Population/Area has to be a factor by gweilo8888 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yep, but once again this statistic falls very, VERY firmly in favor of a less-dense San Francisco. You get about 18 million visitors per year (http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/article/record-breaking-economic-impact-2014) versus 27 million annually for Barcelona (http://www.thelocal.es/20150705/barcelona-struggles-with-rising-tide-of-tourists). That's 1.5 tourists in Barca for every one in SanFran, another big reason why Barcelona is by far the more densely-populated city.

  5. Re:Have an awareness raising conversation by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If only we force people to engage in a diverse, non-confrontational conversation

    I know you are trying to be funny, but this is exactly what SF is failing to do. All of their effort is focused on changing driver behavior, when much of the effort should be on pedestrian behavior. When pedestrians step into traffic without even looking, the metal in my bumper isn't going to care that they "always have the right of way".

    Another problem is that driving in SF can can very confusing, draining driver attention. Try to make a left turn onto Market Street on a busy day. Some streets should just be shut down and turn into pedestrian malls, such as Grant Street through Chinatown, since all the tourists are already oblivious to the cars.