A Disappointment for Twin Peaks

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

After two hours of public comment and countless asks for the SFMTA to prioritize more car-free space than proposed, the SFMTA unanimously approved the Twin Peaks for All project earlier this week. While we’re happy to see any car-free space moving forward, many of our members did not feel this was a win.

Charlie, a District 8 resident, shared why the space we’ve come to love over the past year is so important: “There’s an entirely new experience at Twin Peaks… it’s bringing together San Franciscans. It’s an entirely new, stunning experience, think about what you can give us as a San Francisco coming out of this pandemic. Think about what you can give future generations.”

Sophia, who learned to love biking in the pandemic, talked about what the space gave us: “I’m a woman who started cycling during the pandemic because I feel comfortable in separate spaces from cars. Having park spaces like Twin Peaks for people has created a community space… bringing countless families and women to our open spaces.” It’s no surprise that most who called into the meeting were disappointed to see the project move forward with less than half the car-free space we had previously.

In a survey conducted by the SFMTA last year, the option to keep the Portola Drive gate closed to cars was the most favored. It had almost twice the amount of support as the second-most voted option. Keeping the Portola Drive gate closed to cars not only provided the most car-free space at Twin Peaks, it also ensured that the project would provide direct access to the Christmas Tree Point parking lot from Burnett Avenue for those who could not bike or walk up the hill. And yet, even with everything lined up, the SFMTA moved forward with the option to open Portola Drive to cars and keep Burnett Avenue closed.

Map showing a blue line representing vehicle access from the Burnett gate up to the entrance of Christmas Tree Point parking lot 24 hours day. A green line indicates pedestrians and bikes only from the Portola Gate to the entrance to Christmas Tree Point. A green line indicates the east side of the figure eight is reserved for pedestrians and biking.

The number one option preferred, the Burnett Avenue option.

Map showing a blue line indicating two-way vehicle access from Portola Drive gate (at Panorama Drive) to Christmas Tree Point from noon to midnight daily. A green line indicates pedestrian and bicycle only from the Burnett Gate to Christmas Tree Point at all times. A green line indicates the east side of the figure eight is reserved for pedestrians and biking.

The Portola Drive option recommended by the SFMTA.

Though this proposal adds car-free space that we did not have pre-pandemic, we are disheartened and recognize that this project is far from visionary. This is a small first step, and we will push the City to seriously consider how to expand car-free space in this landmark park in the near future. Your people power is what will get us there. Sign up today to stay up to date on the campaign and learn more about how you can get involved.

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We’re Hiring: Deputy Director, Organizational Development

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

UPDATE: Thank you for your interest in working for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. This hiring process is closed and we are no longer accepting applications for the community organizer position. If you have questions, please contact info@sfbike.org.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is transforming our streets and neighborhoods into safe, just, and livable places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. We’re seeking a passionate, highly motivated Deputy Director to lead our organizational development and culture.

The Deputy Director, Organizational Development will help the SF Bicycle Coalition to achieve its mission and the goals set forth in its strategic plan by providing leadership in the areas of organizational development including strategic operations planning, systems development, and organizational culture, while also providing supervision to multiple additional organizational departments. This position supervises other Director-level and operational staff. The Deputy Director has leadership responsibility for finance, human resources, office and facilities management, contract management, and risk management. 

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and acknowledges the role biking culture and transportation has played in disproportionate access and resources to underserved communities — including people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, and LGBTQ+ people. We believe that these communities must be centered as leaders in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities.

APPLY HERE

Primary responsibilities include: 

Organizational Leadership

  • Lead the development of organization-wide planning and systems;
  • Develop the organization, its values and culture, and its commitment to anti-racism, in partnership with the Executive Director; and
  • Support the Executive Director’s role in board development, including preparing the board of directors for monthly meetings and reporting on the organization’s progress toward achieving strategic plan goals and objectives.

Planning and Policy Development

  • Help lead the creation and implementation of the organization’s next strategic plan in 2022.
  • Design and implement planning processes that support strategic and operations planning and organization development, including annual project planning and emergency planning; 
  • Develop and implement SF Bicycle Coalition’s ongoing anti-racism goals, policies, and initiatives in partnership with the Board and staff;

Human Resources (HR) and Risk Management

  • Manage the HR function and HR policy development. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and written policy; 
  • Oversee risk management, contract management and documentation
  • Ensure compliance with all state and federal laws regarding lobbying, including updating systems to track compliance and training;

Finance 

  • Develop fiscal strategies and budgets within agreed-upon parameters in consultation with the Executive Director;
  • Oversee financial management and the development of financial policies and procedures. This includes the analysis of financial statements and reports;

Office Management & Information Technology (IT)

  • Oversee office management and IT systems to support smooth functioning of SF Bicycle Coalition systems and space;

 

Strong candidates will possess as many of the following qualifications as possible: 

We recognize that this position encompasses a number of different responsibility areas. We are committed to train and support our staff to strengthen their abilities in each area and we encourage applications from people who may not have all of the qualifications listed below.

  • A deep commitment to the SF Bicycle Coalition’s mission;
  • Interest in and passion for transportation equity, justice, and antiracism;
  • Substantial executive or senior management experience in the areas of human resources, finance and/or information technology management, including people management experience;
  • Demonstrated ability to articulate and implement compelling strategies for organization development that take account of organizational culture and collaboration;
  • Proven track record of success in organization-wide planning and system development;
  • Demonstrated ability to be analytical, persuasive, and work in partnership with a dynamic leadership and staff;
  • Experience developing evaluation systems, including creation of dashboards;
  • High level of organization and time management skills;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; 
  • Experience working within diverse teams and communities.
  • Experience developing and managing budgets in excess of $2 million;
  • A strong track record of managing complex projects, including holding teams accountable for delivering desired outcomes;
  • Ability to analyze and plan for organizational technology needs, including budgeting and resources allocation;
  • Familiarity with Salesforce or comparable cloud-based CRM; and
  • Familiarity with Google Apps suite. 

Reports to: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Program Director, Membership Director, Operations Director, Technology Strategist, Development Manager

Salary and Benefits: The annual salary for this exempt position is between $95,000 and $105,000, depending upon depth of experience. Full-time benefits include excellent medical, vision and dental insurance with no employee contribution, as well as three weeks of Paid Time Off, two weeks of sick leave, a telecommuting stipend and a flexible work arrangement policy.

Hours: Full-time. Flexibility to work nights and weekends; this position may require working approximately two weekday evenings and one weekend day monthly.

 

About the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to transform San Francisco’s streets and neighborhoods into safe, just and livable places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. Our work is guided by our five-year strategic plan and the core values of Transportation Justice, Sustainability, People Power and Joy. The organization’s culture reflects its grassroots origins and professional advocacy in equal measures. Our active membership of over 10,000 represents San Franciscans of all ages and backgrounds from all neighborhoods who are working towards safe, sustainable and more affordable ways to move around our city. The SF Bicycle Coalition is the largest city-based bicycle advocacy group in the nation and one of the largest member-driven groups in San Francisco.

Meet Jessica and Anthony, champions of Slow Streets

Posted on by Janice Li

Photo: Peter Hartlaub on Twitter

When you look at it, Slow Streets might not seem like much. City crews install barricades held down by sandbags along a corridor with signs that read “ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC.” Yet, nearly a year since its first implementation, Slow Streets have transformed the way we look at our streets. They’ve become places of play and communal spaces we share and care for collectively. We love the way our San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members have championed Slow Streets, and there are no better stewards than Jessica Jenkins and Anthony Ryan.

“I live on Haight Street and was thrilled when Page Street, one block over, became a Slow Street,” said Jessica. When she learned that the City was backlogged trying to install barricades and signs, she took action herself. “I’m into tactical urbanism, so I made a sign stencil and pumped out several spray-painted foam board signs and used my cargo bike to haul a series of large plants to intersections. It became part of my daily pandemic routine to check up on each intersection, water plants, and replace broken pots and missing signs.”

Page Street quickly became one of the most celebrated Slow Streets in the city. From cello concerts to public art, neighbors like Jessica are turning these spaces into much more than streets. One artist who’s added his talents to Page Street is Jessica’s partner, Anthony Ryan. “I’ve contributed artworks and other additions myself to illustrate and celebrate the new uses residents have found while using the street,” he shares.

Street art by Anthony Ryan

Scenes on Page Street (Photo: Ira Kaplan)

The impact that Slow Streets has had on our city is drastic, especially in comparison to bike safety projects that require more time and money. For members like Jessica, this new process of opening streets to people rather than cars has brought hope for what can be done faster in the years to come. “Building a complete bike network block-by-block has been excruciatingly slow and expensive,” said Jessica. “Within a few months, Slow Streets massively improved that network and opened up safer biking throughout the city. There’s still a lot of work to do until kids in Bayview, Tenderloin, Excelsior, can safely roll to GGP and Ocean Beach, but I believe it can happen in months instead of decades with Slow Streets.”

After Slow Streets launched last April, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) conducted surveys to see how this new program was doing. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with 86% of local residents wanting to see their corridors become a permanent Slow Street. That’s why your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is thrilled that the SFMTA has announced Page, Sanchez and Shotwell streets are the first three being considered for permanence.

As corridors become permanent, barricades and sandbags won’t cut it. Anthony recommends more permanent infrastructure with barriers installed at key intersections. “The City needs to address the lack of barriers at major cross streets where they are most needed, like Page and Masonic or Page and Divisadero.” He adds that left-turn restrictions would go a long way to making sure those corridors are safe, especially for biking. The City can go beyond design too. “SFMTA should work with interested nonprofits to create an art program that would commission artists to create works that celebrate Slow Streets and make them more inviting,” he says.

If you’re like Jessica and Anthony, join our campaign to make Slow Streets an even more successful program as we fight to make sure these transformative spaces become permanent. As the program looks to expand in the coming months, we’ll need your help to win approvals and be stewards of our Slow Streets. Join the campaign today.

Sign up for Slow Streets updates

Membership Intern

Posted on by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition works to promote bicycling for everyday transportation. Our member-based grassroots organization is considered one of the largest, most active and effective advocacy groups in the country. For over 45 years, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has a proven track record of winning better bicycling improvements.

Position description

Members are key to the success of our organization. We have over 10,000 active members who help support our organization all year around. The Membership Intern will learn firsthand about the backbone of our advocacy organization–our members–by organizing people around transportation issues in their neighborhood while building San Francisco’s bicycle community. You will gain hands-on professional development and valuable experience in communications, outreach and event planning for a thriving nonprofit organization. We will challenge you with a fast-paced, quick-turnaround experience on a hard-working team. This internship is eligible for remote applicants. 

What you’ll learn:

  • How to leverage our members and their needs in order to support and grow a nonprofit
  • Membership logistics including database management, copy editing, constituent outreach & engagement and metrics 

Responsibilities and duties include (but are not limited to):

  • Assist the Membership and Development team in preparation for our member-driven events
  • Represent the SF Bicycle Coalition Bicycle at in-person and virtual events, fairs, trainings as needed
  • Organize and manage mass mailings
  • Assist in management of our Salesforce database
  • Provide data analysis for our growing membership base
  • Write and edit social media, newsletter and website marketing for membership and volunteer opportunities

Required skills or abilities:

  • Have interest and/or experience in operational logistics
  • Possess a willingness and desire to assist in statistical analysis
  • Maintain strong organizational/multi-tasking skills, attention to detail and have an ability to meet deadlines on time
  • Be a self-starter able to take initiative on individual projects
  • Have excellent and persuasive written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to get around the city to attend meetings and/or perform outreach
  • Comfortable riding a bike in an urban environment
  • Passion for making San Francisco a better city for living and biking

Desired skills or abilities:

  • Experience with Salesforce or other databases, Google Apps (Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc.) and/or mass mailing applications helpful but not required
  • Experience with statistical software and/or logistics

Required dates for this internship include:

  • Intern Orientation Day – June 10, 2021

Benefits:

  • One year’s free membership to the SF Bicycle Coalition
  • Firsthand experience in one of the country’s oldest and largest bicycle advocacy organizations
  • A behind-the-scenes view of a bustling nonprofit organization
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities, including:
    • Networking with SF Bicycle Coalition staff and professionals in a variety of fields, including but not limited to urban planning, transportation and nonprofits
    • Training on and experience with nonprofit industry standard software (Salesforce, Basecamp, etc.)
  • Indoor bike parking provided (tbd)

This internship offers a flexible schedule with a 10-15 hour/week minimum commitment. This is chiefly a Monday through Friday internship, with occasional evenings and weekends. Interns are expected to make a four-month commitment, which may be extended. We are happy to work with any academic requirements the intern may have to help them earn course credit for their efforts.

To Apply:

Write a compelling cover letter and resume, and submit using the form link provided below. Be sure to mention where you saw the internship advertised. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. People of color and women are strongly encouraged to apply. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political orientation.

WE ARE NO LONGER HIRING FOR THIS POSITION

D6 Youth Exploring Community Alternatives for Traffic Safety

Posted on by Claire Amable

When I was a kid growing up in the Tenderloin, I learned very early on that my neighborhood was different from other neighborhoods in San Francisco. It wasn’t until I was in high school where I learned that what I meant by ‘different’ was disinvested in. I went to schools across the city where I was exposed to things my neighborhood didn’t have —  things like healthy grocery stores, open space, and a surplus of school options. 

There are roughly 3,500 children growing up in the Tenderloin today that see these same disparities as they travel across the city for resources that are scarce in their own community. Now, my five-year old niece is one of those kids.  When we go to Golden Gate Park she always asks me why there are no big parks near her home in the Tenderloin. Children in the Tenderloin deserve access to a healthy community where they can thrive as much as any child in other parts of SF and our city leaders should look to them for those solutions. 

Unfortunately, we know that youth often don’t have a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions. So, when we kicked-off our campaign to develop alternatives to traffic enforcement, we needed to lean into this community and hear from the Tenderloin’s youngest leaders. Young people have ideas and solutions to the challenges they’re facing, and we’ve seen numerous examples of young people leading campaigns that create good for entire communities.

In early February, we partnered with the SF Youth Commission — a body of 17 youth leaders appointed by District Supervisors and the Mayor to advise city leaders on policies related to young people and to explore community alternatives for traffic safety. The focus group was facilitated by two of their members: District 5 representative Nora Hylton and District 6 representative Gabbie Listana. Over an hour on Zoom, youth from Westbay Filipino Center, United Playaz, YBIKE, and other youth organizations shared their traffic safety concerns and ideas they’d like to see implemented in the Tenderloin.

Tenderloin Community Benefit District’s (TLCBD) Safe Passage program was an example of a community-based alternative to traffic safety. It was created in 2008 by a group of mothers who came together to find new ways to keep their children safe while walking through the neighborhood. More than ten years later, Safe Passage has become a coalition of mothers, youth, seniors, volunteers and community based organizations who work to make people in the neighborhood feel and be safe through education, visibility, and engagement. 

Commissioner Listana, currently in seventh grade, said, “Speeding is my biggest traffic safety issue.” In the discussion about community alternatives, Commissioner Listana shared, “Growing up in the Tenderloin, I was part of TLCBD’s Safe Passage program and I love how the program builds trust within the community through volunteers from the community.”

The voices of our youth are powerful, and as adults it is our job to make space for young people to be involved in creating our future.  As we wrap up our community engagement process, we’ll be speaking with more youth in the community about what traffic safety alternatives they think will work in their neighborhood. 

If you’re someone who lives or works in the Tenderloin, take our survey today. We’ll be presenting our findings in the coming months — sign up for updates to keep up with our Tenderloin Community Alternatives to Policing in traffic enforcement campaign.

Sign Up for TLCAP Updates!

When will San Francisco get to Vision Zero?

Posted on by Janice Li

It’s been seven years since San Francisco became a Vision Zero city, when our City leaders made the commitment to end all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on our streets by 2024. Now with three years left to meet that goal, we know that dozens of people are still killed on our streets every single year. So what’s not working?

Next week, your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition will be hosting City planners from the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to present on Vision Zero. We know that continuing the status quo is not enough, so this is your chance to engage with City planners directly about how we can make our streets more safe for biking and walking.

RSVP Today

Community Presentation on Vision Zero
Monday, March 1 from 5:00-6:00pm
Register on Zoom here

Every two years, the SFMTA updates its Vision Zero Action Strategy, which details specific steps they plan to take in order to eliminate traffic fatalities and reduce severe injuries. City planners look to get your feedback and thoughts at this meeting on their current priorities and what new ideas you have as they update their strategy.

This past year, we’ve had to rethink what our streets should look like; creative programs like Slow Streets and Shared Spaces have opened up corridors throughout the city in ways we couldn’t have imagined before. Your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition wants to bring that energy to tackling Vision Zero, so we hope you bring your ideas and urgency to making our streets safe for everyone. RSVP today!

Twin Peaks is Up for a Vote

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

Twin Peaks has always been a gem of San Francisco’s parks and since early last year, the open streets here have served as an exceptional open space for residents to enjoy during the current public health orders. Now, after months of planning and public outreach, the City’s preferred proposal for permanent open streets on Twin Peaks is up for approvals. Can you send in a letter of support for this open space before it’s heard at the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board meeting next Tuesday, March 2?

I’m in!

At next week’s hearing, the SFMTA will propose to move forward with a closure at the Burnett gate. While this proposal is not as much open space those walking and biking on Twin Peaks have come to love in the last year, this is still a significant win of more permanent open space than what we had before the current health orders.

In the survey the SFMTA conducted at the end of last year, over 52 percent of respondents ranked keeping the Portola gate closed to cars highest of all five options. We recognize the proposal moving forward is still a win for permanent open space atop Twin Peaks and we will continue to advocate for the City to continue to look for opportunities to add additional permanent open spaces in the future.

Map showing a blue line indicating two-way vehicle access from Portola Drive gate (at Panorama Drive) to Christmas Tree Point from noon to midnight daily. A green line indicates pedestrian and bicycle only from the Burnett Gate to Christmas Tree Point at all times. A green line indicates the east side of the figure eight is reserved for pedestrians and biking.

The Portola Drive option recommended by the SFMTA.

Map showing a blue line representing vehicle access from the Burnett gate up to the entrance of Christmas Tree Point parking lot 24 hours day. A green line indicates pedestrians and bikes only from the Portola Gate to the entrance to Christmas Tree Point. A green line indicates the east side of the figure eight is reserved for pedestrians and biking.

The Burnett Avenue option preferred by 52% of respondents.

As we look to the future of the City and what’s to come for the new open spaces and Slow Streets corridors, we must put people first and reimagine the spaces we live, work, and play in. This is where you, our members, come in.

While this current proposal for Twin Peaks isn’t our first choice, solidifying more car-free space on Twin Peaks is still a win for people walking and biking in our city. With your support at the SFMTA board meeting on March 2, we can ensure this space is made permanent and push the City to continue to find ways to prioritize more open space on Twin Peaks in the future.

Write a Letter of Support

Will Slow Streets expand?

Posted on by Janice Li

Photo: SFMTA

Across San Francisco, people are having all-out fun on Slow Streets. From sidewalk concerts to local art, Slow Streets bring joy to our lives and give us space to take things slow. So what’s next for this overwhelmingly successful program?

Sign up for Slow Streets updates

While there are nearly 30 corridors throughout the city, many neighborhoods are still awaiting their first Slow Street. Over the past couple months, planners at the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) have engaged communities through targeted outreach to expand the program. They’ve attended community meetings, held virtual office hours, posted flyers, and conducted surveys. Residents in neighborhoods like the Western Addition, the Bayview, and the Outer Mission were overwhelmingly supportive, with over 80% of respondents in support.

Since the start, we’ve pushed for Slow Streets in South of Market (SoMa), one of our our city’s densest neighborhoods. In October, we convened a group of SoMa-based community organizations to meet with SFMTA’s planners in order to advocate for more open space for families, seniors, and children. We know that Slow Streets can provide that space safely, especially in a neighborhood that has the least park space in the entire city. Given this advocacy, it was no surprise that 96% of survey takers support Slow Streets in SoMa.

We expect that the SFMTA Board will look to approve this next phase of Slow Streets in March, and local residents supporting Slow Streets in their own neighborhoods will make a difference in expanding this program. Beyond expansion, we also want to see Slow Streets become a permanent program, and we’re excited that the SFMTA has committed to exploring permanent options for Sanchez, Page, and Shotwell streets.

Ensuring that Slow Streets can both expand and become permanent takes people power. If you’ve enjoyed Slow Streets throughout the pandemic, join us in advocating for more. Sign up for campaign updates to get involved.

Keeping the Great Highway Calm

Posted on by Kristen Leckie

On February 9, the Board of Supervisors, acting in their role as the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) Board, approved major funding to bring traffic calming to the neighborhood streets surrounding the Great Highway. This is a major win for the amazing open space. With money in hand, the City can continue to address traffic concerns on nearby streets associated with closing the Great Highway to cars and ensure that parallel streets are safe for those walking and biking.

Dozens of neighbors called in to show their support and share their stories of what a people-first Great Highway has meant to them. Janelle Wong, staff member, mother, and long-time member shared why these projects for the Great Highway are so important: “These funding approvals will help us re-envision the Great Highway into a more walkable, bikeable open space for generations to come.”

When we expand our city’s open spaces, we’re creating more than just a place to walk or bike. As seen since last April, the Great Highway has become a community hub for neighbors to come together, create art, and fight for racial justice. Now it’s time to do what we can to ensure the open space stays for generations to come.

The SFCTA worked alongside Supervisor Mar, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Recreation and Parks Department to come up with a comprehensive plan to slow traffic and divert it away from small neighborhood streets. The SFMTA has installed multiple traffic calming improvements since April, but this plan will bring a comprehensive approach to calm the neighborhood streets. It includes:

      • 24 new speed cushions;
      • One additional new speed table;
      • 12 new stop signs spread along Lower Great Highway, La Playa Street, Irving Street,
      • 48th Avenue, 47th Avenue, and 46th Avenue;
      • And six new changeable message signs to help divert traffic away from residential streets to corridors like Sunset Boulevard.

As we look to the future of the Great Highway, we must plan neighborhood-wide and this is a step in the right direction. If you want to stay in the loop on the project, sign up for our mailing list today.

Why the Tenderloin Needs Community Alternatives to Traffic Enforcement

Posted on by Claire Amable

The Tenderloin: One of our city’s smallest and densest neighborhoods is also one of the most diverse —  home to residents with all different means and from all different backgrounds. It’s also where your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has invested a lot of time and energy, because we know that every single street here is on the High-Injury Network, which means that people biking and walking here are more at risk of getting seriously injured by drivers than elsewhere.

Though it’s known as a busy part of San Francisco’s downtown, the Tenderloin is at heart a residential neighborhood that’s home to many working class families. A recent survey conducted by the Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Center shows that over 3,500 children live in the neighborhood, with 70 percent of residents identifying as non-white and many whose primary language is not English. The Tenderloin is also one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, where the average household income is $31,000 —  less than half of the city’s average.

Why do all these stats matter and what does this have to do with biking? The Tenderloin is a neighborhood where a majority of households don’t own cars, so it’s these families, their children, and low-income folks who are most impacted by traffic violence. Our Tenderloin residents deserve better. At the same time, we’ve seen the overall number of tickets written by the SF Police Department (SFPD) decline every year for the past six years, yet the number of traffic fatalities per year have remained just about the same. And even though speeding is one of the top causes of traffic fatalities, the SFPD only issued five speeding citations in the Tenderloin in all of 2019. Traditional traffic enforcement is not improving street safety in this neighborhood.

We’ve seen too many examples locally and nationally where traffic stops have led to the murdering of Black and brown people. This is important to keep in mind when advocating for more traffic enforcement in communities of color locally, which is why we kicked off our Tenderloin Community Alternatives to Police for Traffic Enforcement campaign a few months ago. Our goal is to find ways to create safe streets without relying on police-only approaches and ensure Tenderloin streets are just as comfortable as SF streets in other neighborhoods. Jennifer Siswandi, born and raised in the neighborhood, child of immigrant parents, and avid bike rider says, “My community deserves equitable access to safer streets as much as any other neighborhood in the city.” 

After months of research on community alternatives to police globally, we’re currently undergoing a robust outreach and engagement process with key community stakeholders in the Tenderloin. This process is broken up into two parts: a survey as well as focus groups to hear from people in the community on their traffic safety experience and thoughts about community alternatives. When talking about our survey with Jennifer she said, “There is strong camaraderie and support within community ties that is more supportive than policing. I’d be really interested in seeing a community-based alternative because I’ve been in situations where other residents on the street have backed me up. I feel confident that people in the neighborhood look out for each other.”

Our outreach process will conclude at the end of March and from there we’ll work with community stakeholders to create a pilot project. We’ll be presenting findings from our outreach process in the coming months and encourage those interested in this campaign to sign up below to receive those updates. Lastly, for our members who live and work in the Tenderloin we encourage you to take our survey and share your experiences.

Take the survey today

Sign Up for TLCAP Updates!