SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – A new study has found that car collisions on San Francisco's slow streets have dropped significantly since the program was implemented, further fueling supporters who want the streets to remain closed.
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A new crash analysis of 14 San Francisco slow streets revealed that collisions have dropped 61% since the city installed the streets early in the pandemic. The program was introduced as a way to create more space while social distancing and has become widely popular among those who want to make San Francisco more pedestrian friendly.
During a meeting on Tuesday, San Francisco's MTA Board discussed making 15 slow streets permanent.
"It's a fantastic place to take my kid and go for a walk everyday and see other kids and dogs and meet people in the neighborhood. It's a fantastic third space," a San Francisco resident told KCBS Radio.
Leighton said he enjoys walking with his one-year-old son along Sanchez Street in Noe Valley, an area that has seen a 50% reduction in car crashes since the slow street opened. He hopes San Francisco decides to keep it as a predominantly pedestrian street, but admitted that the city does not need to create more slow streets than it already has.
"For what I utilize it's great," Leighton said. "I don't think they need more in Noe Valley, but I think in general designing the city more for people and less for cars is great."
Some San Franciscans are still opposed to the slow streets, saying the closed areas make traffic congestion worse along neighboring streets.
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