San Francisco Removes Kirkham Street Safety Feature After Complaints

The 'neck-down' traffic calming measure was working as intended before being removed.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:11pm by Ben Kaplan

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of speed humps in vibrant neon shades, conceptually representing the street safety feature that was removed despite its proven effectiveness.The removal of a successful traffic-calming 'neck-down' on Kirkham Street highlights the ongoing struggle to prioritize pedestrian safety over driver convenience in San Francisco.San Francisco Today

San Francisco's transportation agency, SFMTA, recently removed a 'neck-down' safety feature on Kirkham Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, despite data showing it was effectively slowing traffic and improving safety. The neck-down was replaced with speed humps and new striping after a handful of drivers complained to a local supervisor, who then pressured SFMTA to remove the safety measure.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the ongoing tension between prioritizing driver convenience and implementing proven safety measures to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The removal of the Kirkham neck-down, which had been shown to slow traffic without causing delays, undermines San Francisco's Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

The details

SFMTA installed the neck-down on Kirkham Street as an 'experimental' treatment to force drivers to slow down and pay attention. Data collected by the agency showed the neck-down was working as intended, slowing traffic to safe speeds without causing any delays or collisions. However, after a few vocal drivers complained to District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, she pressured SFMTA to remove the safety feature. The agency then spent over $40,000 to remove the neck-down and replace it with speed humps and new striping.

  • The neck-down was installed on Kirkham Street last year.
  • SFMTA collected data and found the neck-down was effectively slowing traffic earlier this year.
  • The neck-down was removed by SFMTA crews in April 2026.

The players

SFMTA

San Francisco's transportation agency responsible for installing and removing the Kirkham Street safety feature.

Myrna Melgar

District 7 Supervisor who complained to SFMTA after receiving feedback from a few drivers, leading to the removal of the neck-down.

Walk SF

A local pedestrian advocacy group that advocated for keeping the Kirkham Street neck-down, citing its proven safety benefits.

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What they’re saying

“Dangerous speeding threatens our lives and our communities. With speed as the #1 cause of severe and fatal traffic crashes in San Francisco, we should be celebrating solutions like this and asking for more.”

— Marta Lindsey, Walk SF

What’s next

Advocates are calling on San Francisco to recommit to its Vision Zero pledge and prioritize safety over driver convenience, even in the face of vocal opposition from some motorists.

The takeaway

This incident demonstrates the ongoing challenges San Francisco faces in implementing proven traffic calming measures to improve safety, as political pressure from a small number of drivers can still lead to the removal of effective safety features.