No More Deaths on SoMa Streets

Update: We’ve learned that the man hit while biking on Bryant and Division has been identified as 78-year-old Cheng Jin Lai. Our hearts go out to Lai’s friends and family during this incredibly difficult time.

We are deeply saddened to hear that another person was hit and killed while biking on SoMa streets today. We are still awaiting details of the crash. What we do know is that this person was hit and killed by a Muni bus at the poorly designed and high-speed intersection of Bryant and Division Streets. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the person who was killed today.

Today’s victim was the fourth person this year to lose their life while biking on SoMa’s fast moving and deadly streets. In each of these deadly crashes, the rider was hit by a large vehicle.

In addition to the fatal crash on Bryant and Division, there was also a serious crash on Folsom at 10th Street today, where a person biking was hit by a large van.  We are also awaiting further details of this crash. SoMa high-speed streets are also deadly for those walking. And improvements to taming SoMa streets will make it safer for pedestrians as well.

These deadly and serious crashes on SoMa streets are not one off “accidents.” These deaths are preventable and within the power of the City to change immediately.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is once again imploring the City take action to prevent more deaths on SoMa streets. We repeat our call for the City to:

  1. Increase protection for people biking and walking on SoMa streets
  2. Fix the known dangerous intersections and safety gaps on SoMa streets
  3. Require bike and pedestrian safety training for frequent drivers and operators of large vehicles who have City contracts

This is the same request we made a month ago, after the death of Amelie Le Moullac. The City has made a commitment to improving Folsom Street; unfortunately, as we saw today, fixing one street is not enough. We are calling on the City to be proactive and make these changes so that no more deaths occur on SoMa streets.

Add your voice to the calls for Safer SoMa streets by sending a letter to the Mayor. Tell Mayor Lee, “No More Deaths on SoMa Streets!”

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