More pedestrians have died in San Francisco in 2019 than last year even as city officials have stated a goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero.
So far, there have been 18 pedestrians killed compared to 13 through this point last year.
"It's a completely, totally different scenario on our streets, and it was already getting really bad," said Marta Lindsey, a spokeswoman for Walk SF, "It's a public health crisis."
The rise of Uber and Lyft are one factor that Lindsey cited as making the city more dangerous for people on foot.
Speed cameras and legislation allowing the city to set speed limits lower than state rules currently allow could improve safety according to a spokeswoman for the city's Municipal Transportation Agency.
"2019 has been a very challenging year for us," SFMTA spokeswoman Erica Kato said. "However, the numbers are still trending downward from 2014," which was when officials launched the Vision Zero program with goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2024.