After 173 pedestrian deaths in New York last year, the city implemented Vision Zero, a wide ranging list of actions and laws to eliminate pedestrian deaths in the city, including greater enforcement of traffic laws against cars. This past week, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a new speed limit for city streets: 25 mph.
You just gasped. Could you even imagine. A citywide 25 mph speed limit.
As of last April, San Francisco also has its own Vision Zero Plan. SF seems to be trying to build itself out of a problem, though. The plan consists of 24 projects that are mostly about signal improvements, curb extensions, turn restrictions, and bike lanes. In July, Supervisor Eric Mar asked for a study on reducing speed limits in San Francisco, but I haven’t heard anything about it since.
This is the United Kingdom Department of Transportation finding that helps explain why a 25 mph speed limit (and strict enforcement) would be monumental to reducing pedestrian deaths:
Vehicle Speed Odds of Pedestrian Death, Source 1 Odds of Pedestrian Death, Source 2
20mph 5% 5%
30mph 45% 37%
40mph 85% 83%
San Francisco had 21 pedestrian deaths last year. This is a city where cars commonly drive up to 45 mph down residential streets, treating our street network like urban highways. My God, the joy of being a pedestrian in SOMA. Or Hayes Valley. Or Lower Pacific Heights. Or along Guerrero or Dolores. Or Divisadero and the Panhandle.
A citywide 25 mph speed limit might have a huge impact on pedestrian safety, but I also feel like it would completely change the feel of a city. Imagine SOMA if all cars went 25 mph. It’d be a totally different neighborhood.
I’m very curious to see how this all goes in NY.
