Amazed Every Day That a Child Doesn’t Die: One Street Is a Microcosm of S.F.’s Traffic Problem
A family crosses Cortland Avenue at Folsom Street in San Francisco, where residents are concerned about traffic becoming unsafe for pedestrians.
TL;DR
- Cortland Avenue in San Francisco, intended as a walkable retail street, is now a dangerous shortcut for speeding cars.
- Residents and local officials are concerned about the high speeds and stop sign violations, especially near schools.
- Recent safety measures include a double yellow center line, delineator posts in crosswalks, and increased police traffic stops.
- Community members advocate for reduced parking and car traffic to create a pedestrian-only thoroughfare.
- A past Halloween event where the street was closed to traffic demonstrated its potential as a car-free promenade.
- There's a persistent anxiety among residents, with some neighbors implementing their own safety measures like using orange flags for crossing.
- Challenges remain in implementing more robust safety features like bike lanes due to space constraints and potential trade-offs with parking.
- The core issue is the tension between the street's design encouraging speed and its function as a community hub.