Fatality on Fell at Broderick

This morning NOPA and Alamo Square residents wondered why a helicopter was circling the area. Gradually the grim news spread: a 24 year old woman was struck and killed by a motorist at about 6:30 a.m. while crossing Fell Street on foot at Broderick. SFPD believes the woman was crossing in front of one driver who had stopped for her, but the motorist behind swerved around the stopped vehicle and struck the woman.

Various news outlets have filed reports, including these:

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/woman-killed-while-walking-near-san-franciscos-residential-highway/#more-43741

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Pedestrian-killed-in-fatal-Hayes-Valley-accident-59332707.html

The article on sfgate.com registered 178 comments by mid-evening, reflecting respect and sadness, outrage over traffic speeds on Fell, questioning what might have happened and how it could have been prevented, as well as the usual knee-jerk reactions. The fourteen comments on sf.streetsblog.org offered a more measured analysis as well as anger that another pedestrian was killed on San Francisco streets.

This afternoon I visited the Fell and Broderick intersection, knowing someone died there just a few hours earlier. A tragic event in our midst.

I noticed how fast motorists were driving, how most increased their speed once they cleared Divisadero and raced through Broderick to get yet another green signalling them through Baker and beyond. Do drivers ever see these streets as thoroughfares through residential neighborhoods? NOPA and Alamo Square neighbors have lobbied the city for years to slow the traffic on Fell and Oak and to stop ignoring the many dangerous conditions along both streets.

Just beyond Divisadero on Fell is located the new SFgo sign meant to manage traffic; it's not operational yet. Will the message board and the accompanying technology address the most pressing problem on these thoroughfares? It's not the congestion, it's the speed.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young woman.