Board of Supervisors urges stepped-up enforcement, hearings after string of pedestrian deaths; members call for review of rideshare rules

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday responded to a string of recent pedestrian deaths by asking city agencies to accelerate physical street-safety work, increase traffic enforcement and hold hearings that will examine law enforcement and private-sector practices tied to the crashes.

The call to act followed testimony from several supervisors and family members of victims — including the families of Sophia Liu, Donald Yazzie and Isabel Huey — and from taxi drivers and community members who urged the city to examine public-safety implications of unregulated for-hire vehicle services.

Supervisor Kim said December 2013 left the city with “a staggering 20 pedestrian deaths,” and asked that the board adjourn in memory of three recent victims in District 6. She said the board must “fully invest and fund the pedestrian strategy” and pursue enforcement measures alongside street redesigns. Supervisor Avalos said pedestrian fatalities were a citywide “epidemic” and urged a zero‑fatalities goal similar to a recent…