Mayor Lurie announced on April 10 that Waymo will be allowed to operate on Market Street. The mayor’s decree upends, overnight, more than a decade of intensive public input and collaboration that led to car-free Market.
This is a dangerous and disruptive change to car-free Market Street, which, since it was implemented, has improved Muni travel times by 14% and reduced traffic collisions on one of San Francisco’s most dangerous streets by 40%. In making this decision, there was also no real analysis of the safety impacts, nor whether the move would actually help bring back business and foot traffic to the corridor.
We know that businesses on Market Street are struggling, and downtown is in need of reinvention. People who bike also want to see Market Street become the thriving, bustling commercial and cultural corridor that San Francisco deserves. For that to happen, people need reasons to walk around, linger, people watch — and in doing so, spend money. There are many ways to get to Market Street right now, including by car. People need more reasons to go.
To be clear, our opposition isn’t about Waymo or AVs per se — it’s about opening a Pandora’s box that will unleash irreversible harm. The announcement has already led to lawsuits and demands from Uber, Lyft, and others to also be permitted to drive on Market. The rules of supply and demand would dictate that we’ll see a flood of robo-taxis on Market. It will slow Muni, which has seen valuable gains in speed and efficiency on this street. And, no matter how safe Waymos are individually, more car traffic will make the street more dangerous for vulnerable road users.
35,000 people ride a bike each month on Market Street. Adding Waymos, or any cars, to the street would effectively eliminate the use of Market Street as an all-ages-and-abilities route for people on bikes east of 10th Street, undermining the city’s newly passed Biking and Rolling Plan.
Car-free Market Street has made SF’s Main Street safer for everyone. Historically Market Street was one of the most dangerous streets in San Francisco, especially for people walking and biking. Five out of ten of our City’s most dangerous intersections were on Market Street. Even today, Market Street is still on the city’s High Injury Network, the 12% of streets where 68% of traffic crashes occur.
We cannot go back to car-choked Market Street. Join us, Walk SF, SF Transit Riders, KidSafe SF, the SF Taxi Workers Alliance, and other street safety advocates in pushing the Mayor to reverse course and not allow any more cars on Market Street.
Currently, the City is collecting data on autonomous vehicle incidents and will be using this data to influence Waymo’s deployment on Market Street. If you experience an incident with an AV report it in the 311 app or using the online portal. Including photos and the time and location of the incident is most effective.
Join our coalition to defend Car-Free Market by signing up for our campaign updates below.
