How San Francisco is making space for pedestrians

Some streets in San Francisco are now car-free and offer safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. Photo: AFP

Walking may be excellent for health, helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but it is not always favoured in the city, where it is often difficult for pedestrians to share space with motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists, not to mention users of electric scooters.

Back in 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, San Francisco decided to implement a more bicycle-friendly, but also more pedestrian-friendly, traffic programme.