San Francisco's streets became safer than ever for kids in 2022
2022 was a year of victory for iconic public spaces and safe streets in San Francisco. And it happened because of YOU! Your support has built a movement for kid-safe streets: New public spaces, full of human life and joy, that transform the way we all get around the city.
When we started KidSafe SF less than 2 years ago, we had three big goals:
Permanently protect the car-free JFK Promenade
Create a permanent Great Highway Park
Make our Slow Streets permanent and expand the network
We’re so proud to close 2022 with massive victories on all three of these fronts.
Voters declare JFK Promenade here to stay
In April 2022, the Board of Supervisors passed legislation to make JFK Promenade permanently car-free. Then in November, voters passed Prop J by 63% to 37% and rejected Prop I by 65% to 35%, finally ending a 40+ year battle for the soul of Golden Gate Park.
Our Safe Parks for All campaign led the way to this decisive victory at the ballot to protect San Francisco’s newest iconic public space. Kids, seniors, and families for generations to come will get to enjoy the peace, safety, and joy of JFK Promenade, knowing that it will never be given back to dangerous traffic. San Franciscans and visitors from around the world will experience the joy of a roadway-turned-promenade and imagine reclaiming more public urban space for people.
Weekend Great Walkway extended to 2025
We’re delighted that the Great Highway will remain a weekend park, from Friday at noon through Monday at 6AM, for the next three years. The Board of Supervisors passed Supervisor Gordon Mar’s legislation to establish these hours and direct the city to study the future of the space on December 6, 2022, by a vote of 9-2.
We’re looking forward to working with our allies at Friends of Great Highway Park, Supervisor-elect Joel Engardio, and city agencies to ensure that the Great Highway becomes a 24/7 park at the end of this three-year period.
A permanent Slow Streets program is a reality
San Francisco now has 16 permanent Slow Streets, including Slow Lake. We’re especially pleased that the SFMTA Board of Directors established metrics for Slow Streets that are safe for kids: 1,000 vehicles/day and 15mph, in line with our recommendations.
Thank you to all our supporters
Iconic victories don’t come from one person or group alone. We want to thank the broad coalition of partners that supported these campaigns, including the Church of 8 Wheels, WalkSF, the SF Bicycle Coalition, and Friends of the Great Highway Park; our elected officials who have stepped up to lead on these issues, including Mayor London Breed, Senator Scott Wiener, and many supporters on the Board of Supervisors; and so many dedicated city employees led by Parks and Recreation General Manager Phil Ginsburg and SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin.
And most of all, thank you to all of the volunteers who showed up to rallies, knocked doors, talked to neighbors, and worked so hard to secure these wins.
Your passion and dedication to this cause is powering a new movement for vibrant public space and safe streets in San Francisco.
The next step in our mission at KidSafe SF is to bring a promenade to every neighborhood, and a network of slow and car-free streets across San Francisco so that every kid can safely bike to school, the park, and everyday activities.
We can’t wait to work with you in 2023 and beyond to bring plazas, promenades and greenways to all corners of the city.
Let’s accelerate this healthier, happier future together.
