Mayor London Breed announced a series of street safety initiatives as San Francisco marked a decade of its Vision Zero policy, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths, according to a city press release. During a City Hall event, Breed and city officials outlined their commitment to improving street safety over the next ten years, including reviewing existing policies and developing new strategies to ensure streets cater safely to cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

In remembrance of a recent tragedy in West Portal that shook the community, Breed emphasized Vision Zero's focus on life-saving measures and injury prevention. "We will always need space for all modes of transportation—buses, cars, bikes, walking—and we need to make sure those spaces are safe for people to travel and to be together," Breed mentioned on X. The mayor announced a visit to West Portal is scheduled for next week, to assess the changes needed to enhance safety in the area. This visit underscores the city's broader approach, which includes citywide daylighting at intersections, enforcement of parking violations, and implementing no right on red at targeted junctions.

Today we came together to recognize the work we’ve done on Vision Zero and where we need to go. Today we also came together as a community in light of the tragedy in West Portal that devastated our city a little over a week ago. pic.twitter.com/ruMsVi9kSt

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) March 28, 2024

As part of the visionary approach, Breed directed the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to implement three new actions: to present a daylighting plan policy, to devise a no right on red policy, and to conduct targeted enforcement of traffic violations. These measures are part of a broader strategy to create a network of safe routes and center public spaces as community focal points. Among the successes of the Vision Zero policy since its inception in 2014 are establishing 33 quick-build street safety projects and installing various traffic-calming and pedestrian safety devices.

Looking ahead, the mayor has vowed to continue pushing for changes that build upon the considerable progress made by the SFMTA and city departments. "These efforts to make our streets safer are only the start of what we need to do," said Breed, signaling a commitment to a more holistic transformation of the city's public spaces. 

Public reactions to these initiatives were largely positive, with advocacy groups like Walk SF and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition expressing an eagerness to work with the mayor and city agencies in deploying best practices for street safety. The next steps in Vision Zero aim to further reduce severe injuries and fatalities through the continuous enhancement of street design, enforcement, and community engagement.