Avalos’ Eyes on the Street: SFPD Blocks Crosswalk During Traffic Stop

Photo: John Avalos/Facebook

Supervisor John Avalos posted the above photo on Facebook with the following explanation:

Ironic traffic stop on Mission and Ocean. Police vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection blocking the cross walk and sending the 49 bus into the next lane. We have a ways to go to coordinate our pedestrian safety effort.

Indeed. Avalos, the chair of the SF County Transportation Authority Board, posted this on the same day he joined Mayor Ed Lee and other city leaders at a press conference announcing the five-year WalkFirst plan. The same day, a Board of Supervisors committee held a hearing on Vision Zero, the city’s goal of ending traffic deaths within ten years. It’s worth noting Avalos launched the Vision Zero campaign at City Hall along with Supervisors Jane Kim and Norman Yee.

If SFPD is going to lead in those efforts, as Chief Greg Suhr has pledged to do, the department’s officers are going to need to start with some basic awareness of how they can stop contributing to the problem.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

SFPD Chief Suhr Misses the Point of the “Bike Yield Law”

|
SF Police Department Chief Greg Suhr doesn’t seem to grasp the point of the “Bike Yield Law” proposed by Supervisor John Avalos. “Stop signs are pretty simple. They say ‘stop,'” Suhr told KQED today. “They don’t say ‘yield,’ they don’t say ‘slow down.'” Suhr added that anyone who violates the letter of the stop sign law “will be […]

Majority of Supes Back the “Bike Yield Law” to Be Introduced Tomorrow

|
The “Bike Yield Law” proposed by Supervisor John Avalos is poised to be approved by the Board of Supervisors. The ordinance urges the SFPD to let bicycle riders safely treat stop signs as yield signs. Avalos plans to introduce the ordinance tomorrow, and it has support from six supervisors — the majority needed to vote it into law. It’s unclear if it has support from SFPD […]

Bike the Early Vote with John Avalos

|
From SFBC: Show the power of the Bike Vote by joining the SF Bicycle Coalition’s #1 choice for mayor, John Avalos, when you vote early on Thursday. Rock the Bike will provide the pedal-powered sound system and entertainment, and Team Avalos will watch your bike while you vote. Come down on your lunch break in […]