74 Miles of 'Slow Streets' in Oakland

Suddenly, cars aren't the first priority on 10 percent of the roadway in Oakland, California.

1 minute read

April 12, 2020, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Telegraph Avenue

Oakland Department of Transportation / Telegraph Avenue Progress Report

[Headline and story updated on April 13, 2020 to better describe the "Oakland Slow Streets" program.]

"Cars will soon be banned from 74 miles of Oakland's residential streets during the coronavirus-inpsired [sic] shelter-in-place, a move bicycle advocates wish would happen in other cities," report Allie Rasmus and Lisa Fernandez.

"The emergency measure, called 'Oakland Slow Streets,' will banish motorized vehicles from 10% of the roadway space in Oakland," according to the article. 

Update: cars will not be entirely banished from the streets. Rather, cars will be required to travel at no faster than 10 mph while giving priority to pedestrians and people on bikes, according ot additional information reported by Roger Rudick.

The Oakland Slow Streets program moves Oakland far into the lead of the national trend of cities blocking cars from streets to allow more space for pedestrians and people on bikes. Minneapolis previously opened 18 miles of streets.

Rachel Swan provides additional coverage of the Oakland Slow Streets program in a paywalled article for the San Francisco Chronicle.


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