Speed humps, raised crosswalk installed in Golden Gate Park

Nine new speed humps and a raised crosswalk have been installed on John F. Kennedy Drive in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, officials from the mayor’s office said Friday.

“Our city’s parks, especially our beloved Golden Gate Park, should be a safe place for families and visitors to enjoy,” Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement.

The City and County of San Francisco adopted Vision Zero as a policy in 2014, referring to a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2024.

“The completion of the new speed humps will decrease vehicular speeding and help us uphold our commitment to Vision Zero and eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2024. With more than 13 million visitors each year, we need to make sure the park’s streets are safe for everyone,” Lee said.

The speed humps were installed west of Transverse Drive, a frequent starting point for parades and running events, and continue west to the Chain of Lakes and the Great Highway. Other recent safety improvements include new speed limit signs and more speed enforcement by police, city spokeswoman Ellen Canale said.

“City safety data shows that along JFK Drive, people regularly drive well over the speed limit by day, and even faster at night. Golden Gate Park was built for people to enjoy being in, not to speed through,” San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin said in a statement.

“We’re pleased to be working with Rec & Park to help make the park safer and more enjoyable. Throughout the city, we have been using speed humps to great success in residential neighborhoods, reducing the number of vehicles traveling between 35 and 40 mph by 73 percent,” Reiskin said.

JFK Drive is on the city’s high-injury network, where 12 percent of San Francisco streets see 70 percent of the city’s severe and fatal traffic collisions, Canale said.

In June, San Francisco cyclist Heather Miller was killed on JFK Drive near 30th Avenue in a hit-and-run by a driver who was speeding in a stolen car.

“It’s important that all visitors and travelers can walk, bike, drive and play safely,” San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said in a statement.

“I want to thank the mayor for his leadership, and the SFMTA and San Francisco Public Works for their partnership in making this park a safer experience for all,” Ginsburg said.

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