Safe Street Rebel Unveils “Slower Safer Wiggle” Campaign for Bike Safety

San Francisco advocacy group Safe Street Rebel launched its latest campaign aiming to transform the popular city street known as the Wiggle into a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians alike. The Wiggle, a crucial east-west bike artery in San Francisco connecting neighborhoods like The Mission and SOMA to The Richmond and Haight-Ashbury, has long been overshadowed by car-centric infrastructure.

The “Slower Safer Wiggle” initiative is a bold step towards reclaiming this vital corridor. At the heart of this campaign are new safety installations designed to shift the balance in favor of non-motorized road users. One notable addition is the installation of prominent median soft-hit signs along a block of Steiner near Duboce Park. These eye-catching signs serve as a clear signal to motorists that bikes and pedestrians deserve priority.

“As part of this campaign, we’re asking the public to email city officials to demand a slower safer Wiggle. All of our posts and newsletters contain an email link that makes it easy to demand action,” said a campaign spokesperson. “As of now, hundreds of emails have been sent. Many SSR organizers also attend board/city meetings and speak with SFMTA staff.”

Today, we’re launching a new campaign to make the Wiggle–San Francisco’s premier east/west bike artery–safer for all. If you want to see the city install safe ped and bike infrastructure like it, use this 1 click link to send an email to SFMTA- https://t.co/c4AdL3s69G pic.twitter.com/ilD3VOYf5J

— Safe Street Rebel (@SafeStreetRebel) April 23, 2024

Accompanying these signs are the newly added median flex posts. Positioned strategically, these posts act as a physical barrier, compelling cars to slow down and preventing reckless overtaking on this segment of the Wiggle. Furthermore, the entire corridor from Duboce to Pierce now boasts red-painted daylighting curbs, a feature aligning with the recently-passed state law AB413. These red curbs not only improve visibility but also encourage drivers to slow down well ahead of crosswalks, ensuring safer passage for pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, and families with strollers.

“Steiner Street between Duboce and Waller sees a significant amount of bike traffic, but before today it only had sharrows and raised crosswalks,” said the spokesperson. “Drivers would regularly punish pass people on bikes.”

For Safe Street Rebel, this campaign is about more than just the Wiggle. It’s a call to action for city leaders to prioritize safety and accessibility across San Francisco’s entire bike network. Drawing inspiration from the successful models of the Slow Streets network, SSR urges the city to embrace innovative solutions that benefit all road users.

Alongside the “Slower Safer Wiggle” installations, Safe Street Rebel is pushing for immediate changes from the City. They advocate for the removal of cars from Steiner to extend and enhance access to Duboce Park, particularly benefiting elderly and disabled residents. Additionally, they propose the implementation of Slow Streets-style diverters and median soft-hit posts throughout the Wiggle, aiming to curb the common occurrence of cars speeding past cyclists. Another ambitious proposal calls for the elimination of eastbound car traffic on Duboce between Belcher and Church, transforming this bustling intersection into a vibrant car-free plaza.

In their ongoing efforts, Safe Street Rebel continues to fight against car dominance and dependency in San Francisco. Beginning with weekly protests against car traffic on the Great Highway in 2021, the advocacy hub has evolved to undertake guerrilla infrastructure installations, engaging street theater such as “Just a Minute on Valencia,” community slow rides, and viral advocacy campaigns like ConeSF. The commitment to non-hierarchical, non-violent direct action underscores their core values, resonating with those passionate about creating safer, more equitable streets for all in the city by the bay.