San Francisco's Crosswalk Inequity

Heather Knight reports on a new study from Marcel Maron, who analyzed all of San Francisco's 6,399 intersections and mapped the existence or lack of crosswalks at each one. Maron's results showed  a stark disparity between neighborhoods. "Crosswalk hot spots with clusters of intersections sporting the painted passages are almost entirely located in the northern half of the city, particularly in richer neighborhoods including Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Laurel Heights, Alamo Square, Nob Hill, the Financial District and South Beach." Meanwhile, "Crosswalk cold spots, where pedestrians can walk blocks without encountering a crosswalk, are almost entirely in the southern half of the city."

Overall, 58% of San Francisco’s intersections have crosswalks, but their distribution varies widely. In Pacific Heights, 83% of intersections have them, while in Bayview-Hunters Point, 51% do. In the Mission, which has far more traffic and pedestrians than Pacific Heights, 63% of intersections have crosswalks.

Another study Moran conducted in 2020 analyzed the city's nearly 3,000 bus stops and found a similar disparity in amenities like seating, shelters, and signage between the northern and southern halves of the city. "Also, routes with the longest intervals between buses were the least likely to have seats and shelters — making passengers who have to wait the longest do so in the least comfortable way. This, again, despite San Francisco’s claim to be a transit-first city," notes Knight.

Moran argues that these disparities create a vicious cycle, discouraging people from walking or using transit due to safety and comfort concerns. "And then the city can say better bus stops and crosswalks aren’t necessary because people aren’t using those spaces."