Who is impacted:

Every San Diegan feels the consequences of unsafe, outdated streets. From children walking to school in neighborhoods with no crosswalks, to seniors waiting in the sun for buses without benches or shade, to families biking alongside speeding cars on unprotected roads — no one is untouched by a system that keeps repaving danger instead of fixing it.

For too long, we’ve tolerated a status quo where convenience for cars outweighs the safety of people. Every crash, every near-miss, every stretch of road where we say “be careful” instead of “you’re safe here” is proof that our streets aren’t working for us. San Diego deserves better — streets that protect lives, connect communities, and give everyone the freedom to move safely, whether they walk, roll, ride, or drive.

What’s at stake:

The Streets Master Plan Ordinance is our chance to finally change that. It creates a binding, citywide roadmap to make every repaving project a safety project. No more “pave now, stripe later.” Every time the City touches a street, it must install the safety and mobility features already approved for that segment — protected bike lanes, crosswalks, transit lanes, accessible signals, and pedestrian upgrades.

This plan lays out bold, measurable goals for the next five years:

50 miles of protected or camera-enforced bus lanes to speed up commutes and cut emissions
125 miles of protected bike lanes so riders of all ages can travel safely
500 redesigned intersections with curb extensions, daylighting, and pedestrian islands
1,000 upgraded bus stops with shelters, benches, and real-time arrival info
200,000 square feet of new pedestrian space — plazas, widened sidewalks, and car-free areas
 

It’s modeled after Los Angeles’s Healthy Streets LA initiative, which voters overwhelmingly approved. But in San Diego, it’s even stronger — adding public dashboards, annual progress reports, and a citizen right to enforce the law if the City fails to act. This is a plan with accountability, not empty promises. It turns “someday streets” into a real, legally binding commitment to safety and sustainability.

Why now:

San Diego’s own data tells the story: traffic deaths are rising, bus ridership is falling, and the Climate Action Plan’s transportation goals are slipping out of reach. Each time the City repaves a street without safety improvements, it’s a missed opportunity — and sometimes, a life-or-death one. We can’t wait another five years.

By passing the Streets Master Plan now, City Council can make every street project count — protecting lives, reducing emissions, and investing in neighborhoods that have been left behind. This is how we make Vision Zero real. This is how we make climate goals actionable. This is how we build a city where movement is safe, sustainable, and fair for everyone.

It’s simple: when we repave, we improve.

Sign this petition to demand that the San Diego City Council introduce and pass the Streets Master Plan Ordinance — and make sure every dollar spent on our streets is a dollar spent on safety, equity, and climate action.

📄 You can read the full Streets Master Plan ordinance here: [link]