Create a safe crossing at Johnson and Sydney intersection

239

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The Issue

Yesterday morning, as I was taking my son to school, I witnessed a deeply unsettling incident—a young highschooler, exhibiting all the safety measures one might expect while biking to school, was struck by a car. This occurred at the congested intersection of Johnson and Sydney. The driver simply didn't see him amid the chaos of morning traffic. This harrowing event hasn't left my mind since, knowing that it could have been my child or yours.

This intersection has been a concern for the community for far too long, with its heavy traffic making it an unsafe crossing zone for the young students of our community. Our children deserve to travel to school without the looming fear of dangerous roads and inattentive drivers. It shouldn't take a tragedy for us to act.

Statistics show that pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur at intersections.  According to the 2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 44% of all pedestrians injured were injured at intersections.  With several schools in the vicinity and busy morning rush hours, the Johnson and Sydney intersection is an accident waiting to happen.

We propose immediate measures to rectify this hazardous situation. The current solution of pedestrian operated signals and clear markings is not enough. Hiring a crossing guard during peak hours could help tremendously.  Traffic engineers should study this intersection for other solutions as well.

Let’s come together as a community to demand that our local government takes decisive action. By signing this petition, you are joining a collective voice asking for safety measures that can prevent future accidents and protect our children. Safe roads mean safe children. Please take a moment to sign this petition and advocate for a change that could save lives.

avatar of the starter
Maureen NibeckerPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

San Luis Obispo City Council
4 Members
1 Responded
Jan Marx
Jan Marx
San Luis Obispo City Council
“Hello to everyone who signed this petition. I share your concerns about the crossing at Johnson and Sydney. The City is addressing this situation, see the below statement. Thank you for advocating for this important safety issue. Jan Marx, City Council Member “Thank you for sharing this petition and for everyone who has reached out to the City about safety at the Johnson Avenue and Sydney Street intersection. We understand why the recent incident involving a child in the crosswalk was concerning, and we are grateful that the child was not seriously injured. We also appreciate the community taking the time to speak up about a crossing that is used every day by students and families traveling to Sinsheimer Elementary School and San Luis Obispo High School. As an immediate step, the Police Department will conduct additional targeted enforcement at the intersection. Our engineering staff will also observe and evaluate the crossing during busy school and commute periods to determine whether additional near-term measures could improve driver awareness and compliance. The City has made several safety improvements along Johnson Avenue in recent years, including reducing the roadway from five to three traffic lanes, adding buffered bike lanes and radar speed feedback signs, and improving the Johnson/Sydney crossing with pedestrian flashing beacons, pedestrian refuge islands, and warning signs. We recognize, however, that these improvements do not eliminate all safety concerns. The combination of congestion, nearby schools and other destinations, driver behavior, and pedestrian and bicycle activity can make this a challenging location. We have also heard the community’s interest in a pedestrian hybrid beacon or traffic signal at Johnson and Sydney. These are options the City can evaluate, although an engineering warrant analysis would be needed before determining whether a signalized treatment is appropriate. As we begin developing the City’s 2027-29 Financial Plan, we can also include this location in our evaluation of future transportation safety priorities and available funding. Community input is an important part of that process, and we encourage residents to continue sharing their priorities through upcoming community forums and surveys as part of the 2027-29 Financial Plan development. While we may not be able to address every individual request, hearing from residents helps us understand where concerns exist and balance those needs with priorities throughout the community. I will also note that the City Active Transportation Committee will be considering their recommendations for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure budget priorities for the 2027-29 Financial Plan on November 19, 2026. This would be a good opportunity for community members to share their input on potential project priorities, such as further improvements to the Johnson/Sydney intersection. Thank you again for bringing these concerns forward. We appreciate the community’s continued advocacy for safer streets and will continue looking for opportunities to improve safety at this important crossing. More information about the City’s Financial Plan process is available here. Community members can also sign up for City notifications and updates here. Sincerely, Luke Schwartz, P.E. Transportation Manager Public Works Department City of San Luis Obispo” [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Emily Francis
Emily Francis
San Luis Obispo City Council
Mike Boswell
Mike Boswell
San Luis Obispo City Council
The City of San Luis Obispo
The City of San Luis Obispo
Responded
“Thank you for sharing this petition and for everyone who has reached out to the City about safety at the Johnson Avenue and Sydney Street intersection. We understand why the recent incident involving a child in the crosswalk was concerning, and we are grateful that the child was not seriously injured. We also appreciate the community taking the time to speak up about a crossing that is used every day by students and families traveling to Sinsheimer Elementary School and San Luis Obispo High School. As an immediate step, the Police Department will conduct additional targeted enforcement at the intersection. Our engineering staff will also observe and evaluate the crossing during busy school and commute periods to determine whether additional near-term measures could improve driver awareness and compliance. The City has made several safety improvements along Johnson Avenue in recent years, including reducing the roadway from five to three traffic lanes, adding buffered bike lanes and radar speed feedback signs, and improving the Johnson/Sydney crossing with pedestrian flashing beacons, pedestrian refuge islands, and warning signs. We recognize, however, that these improvements do not eliminate all safety concerns. The combination of congestion, nearby schools and other destinations, driver behavior, and pedestrian and bicycle activity can make this a challenging location. We have also heard the community’s interest in a pedestrian hybrid beacon or traffic signal at Johnson and Sydney. These are options the City can evaluate, although an engineering warrant analysis would be needed before determining whether a signalized treatment is appropriate. As we begin developing the City’s 2027-29 Financial Plan, we can also include this location in our evaluation of future transportation safety priorities and available funding. Community input is an important part of that process, and we encourage residents to continue sharing their priorities through upcoming community forums and surveys as part of the 2027-29 Financial Plan development. While we may not be able to address every individual request, hearing from residents helps us understand where concerns exist and balance those needs with priorities throughout the community. I will also note that the City Active Transportation Committee will be considering their recommendations for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure budget priorities for the 2027-29 Financial Plan on November 19, 2026. This would be a good opportunity for community members to share their input on potential project priorities, such as further improvements to the Johnson/Sydney intersection. Thank you again for bringing these concerns forward. We appreciate the community’s continued advocacy for safer streets and will continue looking for opportunities to improve safety at this important crossing. More information about the City’s Financial Plan process is available here- https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/finance/city-budget/goal-setting-and-financial-planning . Community members can also sign up for City notifications and updates here- https://www.slocity.org/services/how-do-i/register/e-notifications . Sincerely, Luke Schwartz, P.E. Transportation Manager Public Works Department City of San Luis Obispo [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Erica Stewart
Erica Stewart
San Luis Obispo City Mayor

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Petition created on September 17, 2026