Board approves ban on tour bus narration while driving as part of Vision Zero push

San Francisco supervisors voted to ban live tour narration by drivers of tour buses while operating the vehicle, approving an ordinance on first reading after a brief debate.

Supervisor John Yee, who introduced the measure, said the proposal followed a crash last year in front of City Hall and conversations with police about distracted driving. “This legislation will amend the transportation code to prohibit drivers of our tour buses from narrow narrating while driving,” Yee said, arguing the change would support the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating pedestrian fatalities.

The ordinance prohibits narration by drivers of tour buses that are not regulated as passenger stage corporations or charter-party carriers; it also affirms the Planning Department’s CEQA determination for the measure. Co-sponsors and supporters, including Supervisor Jane Kim, said the city attracts many tourists and must ensure tour operators do not endanger pedestrians. Kim said she was “proud to cosponsor this legislation” and called it an appropriate response to the incident in front of City Hall.

Supervisor Eric Mar and others described broader tour-bus issues across neighborhoods and expressed support for parallel state-level efforts to address preemption limits on local regulation. Supervisor Katy Tang noted accounts that a passenger, not the driver, may have been narrating in the City Hall incident, but said she nonetheless supported the policy as sound safety practice. Supervisor Julie Christensen said the measure targets larger tour companies rather than individual small operators.

Without recorded objection, the board passed the ordinance on first reading unanimously.

The ordinance changes the Transportation Code locally; the sponsor said he is also discussing potential state legislation to broaden the rule beyond city limits. Further hearings or implementation steps were not detailed at the meeting.