Slow Lake Design Response
SFMTA has released the proposed design for Lake Street and it would mean the end of Slow Lake Street as we know it.
What you need to know
Proposed design: The design removes the 23 existing “No through traffic” barricades and replaces them with four concrete diverters discourage cut-through traffic from entering via Arguello, Park Presidio, and 25th Avenue. Cars will be able to drive 10 blocks down Lake Street to Park Presidio, enabling dangerous cut-through traffic.
Public process: Public comment is open until June 24th, and this is our best and only opportunity to save Slow Lake and advocate for a better, safer design.
Our view:
While it’s an improvement over the pre-pandemic design, the plan would allow cars to drive 10+ blocks on Lake, encouraging dangerous cut-through traffic.
What makes Slow Lake so successful—as a community space to improve health, shift trips to sustainable modes, and get to local businesses—is a reduction in cut-through traffic, which speeds and drives recklessly on Lake Street.
Speeding and reckless driving is the biggest deterrent for people using Slow Lake—especially kids, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
The proposed design will result in more cut-through traffic and less usage by people, and will be the end of the Slow Lake we know and love.
All of this after the official survey showed more than 80% support from Lake Street residents and promised barriers along Slow Lake.
Our asks:
More traffic diversion. The proposed design removes 22 Slow Street barriers currently on Slow Lake and completely lacks of diverters for two 10+ block stretches. We are asking for additional concrete diverters or the standard slow street diverters—white posts and purple signs in the driving lane—to replace each temporary barricade and for those diverters at every other intersection on Slow Lake. We are also asking for the temporary barricades to remain in place until the permanent diverters can be installed to ensure safety.
Clear signage in the driving lanes. The lack of signs and stenciling on the street—in the driving lanes—is very concerning. It’s confusing for drivers and dangerous for vulnerable people outside cars on Slow Lake. We are asking for Slow Street signage and infrastructure in the driving lanes at every entry point to Slow Lake to avoid serious injuries and fatalities and make it welcoming kids, pedestrians, people with disabilities, and people using bikes.
Extend Slow Lake to Arguello Street and 30th Avenue. Currently, the design excludes three blocks of Lake Street, which provides a “weak link” for people using sustainable transportation to get around our city. We are asking for the Slow Street to be extended to Arguello on the east and 30th on the west.
Help by submitting public comment!
You can help by submitting public comment now—it takes as little as 5 seconds!
Share Your Experience. If you have time, please personalize the email sharing your specific experiences of Slow Lake and how the proposed lack of sufficient diverters will impact you.
Already submitted public comment and want to help more? Check out the page below.
