A reader snapped these pics this morning of a 3 car pileup at the intersection of Anza and 2nd Avenue.
The intersection has been described as “an accident waiting to happen”. Many drivers use Anza as an alternate to Geary Blvd. for their morning commute, zipping down the street which has fewer slow downs and congestion.
Unlike the majority of intersections on Anza, 2nd Avenue is only a 2-way stop. As a result, many motorists drift out into Anza traffic from 2nd, expecting cars to stop.
Nor are there any crosswalks at this intersection. The reader writes, “I often see the elderly and mothers with strollers looking stressed trying to cross, or worse, getting honked at.”
On top of all that, Anza merges from two lanes to one heading west, which starts a “race” from the Arguello light and distracts them from the coming intersection. So yeah, sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Have you had problems with this intersection? What do you think should be done to calm traffic?
Sarah B.
Wow, I’d never think to use Anza as a substitute for Geary. Fulton maybe, but not Anza. Didn’t know people did this…
That intersection could use a 4-way stop and a crosswalk, an inexpensive fix. I hope no one was hurt!
@Jim: from Masonic to 3rd, Anza is faster because of fewer stops signs and lights. Also, you can make a left onto Park Presidio from Anza, which you cannot from Fulton or Geary.
Yes! this is a very dangerous intersection for drivers but can you imagine what it’s like to be a pedestrian crossing from one side of Anza to the other???? THERE IS NO CROSSWALK and often cars are coming at a pretty fast pace trying to make the green light @Arguello/Anza as well as from the other direction at the same time. And with no crosswalk, a car can park on the northwest corner of Anza partially blocking the pedestrian crossing zone making it even harder to get across safely. I hope at least now it’s on more people’s “radar screens.”
Perhaps this is a good topic to raise with the Richmond police dept.—they regularly have patrols stationed at 3rd and Anza, watching for traffic violations at the 4-way stop. perhaps they could reduce the substantial hours of posting there, and shift some of them to 2nd and Anza during peak commute times, to tighten up on potential future accidents like the one this morning….
2nd and Balboa has all the same problems. Live near by and hear screeching breaks at least once per night.
Pretty much any two-way stopped segment of Anza, Balboa or Cabrillo is extremely dangerous. Either people don’t know it is a two way and edge out, somehow think it is a four way and stop for no reason, or my favorite the stuttering stop but not really a stop so I can’t figure out what you are doing roll through. Ugh.
The Richmond is a tough place to drive or walk.
Cops in bottom photo: “How did all these mofos get on the wrong side of the street going in every direction except the proper one?”
There are many bad intersections in the Richmond District. We can pressure Eric Mar to get them fixed up, but certainly there’s no budget for that. Perhaps a better approach is to educate the drivers, maybe influence them to enroll in driver’s training and get an official license from the DMV.
People rip all over the R.D., with its long and wide thoroughfares, less congested side roads, and a lot of intersections sans traffic lights. It’s completely opposite of what the Mission has: narrow roads, congestion, lights galore, and a lot of transit first and SFBC advocates, all the things that slow down drivers. Out here it’s the wild west. Pedal to the metal.
Lest we forget the taxi that crashed into the mailboxes and then the building on Arguello & Anza years ago? wasn’t a person pinned too?
Yes, on 2nd Ave. and Anza the traffic are bad. The drivers disregard the stop sign and drive very fast. I have been seen a lot of accidents on 4th. Ave. and Anza. There are only stop sign on 4th. Ave. but no stop signs on Anza. People and cars on 4th. Ave. have a hard time to go across Anza on 4th. AVe. Wish the city will put up a 4 ways Stop Signs on 4th. Ave. and Anza.
Traffic circle.
Please also contact Dan Provence with the San Francisco Mass Transit Authority. dan.provence@sfmta.com
We have already been in touch with him regarding the “accident waiting to happen” at 14th Avenue and Lake Street.
Something needs to be done.
Thanks, Denise. I emailed Dan today to call his attention to this article. Hoping he can set the wheels in motion.
Sarah B.
Don’t use your car.
I think a traffic circle is a great idea.
My neighbors and I have been asking MTA for a stop sign at 27th/Balboa, another very dangerous intersection here in the Richmond, for years. Though they’ve installed other traffic calming measures (e.g. a crosswalk, yellow pedestrian crossing signs), they’ve yet to install the stop sign we so desperately want.
For starters, I suggest contacting Bond M. Yee, Director, Sustainable Streets Division, SFMTA, One S. Van Ness, 7th Floor, SF 94103. Tel: 701-4500. Submit documentation of all accidents during the past 5 years or so, a petition signed by as many neighbors as possible, and a cover letter laying out all the reasons a stop sign is necessary.
Depending on the seriousness of the accident, MTA may or may not grant the request. If the request isn’t granted, just keep repeating how important a stop sign is, contact Eric Mar’s office, talk to the Richmond Police, and relentlessly pursue the issue. MTA is very reluctant to slow traffic down, and has told us that stop signs don’t prevent accidents. Persistance can pay.
I’d be happy to talk to anyone about our experience. If you’d like more information, email me at jeanbbarish@hotmail.com or call me at 415-752-0185.
Our office is in contact with the MTA about this intersection.
Well, in terms of there not being a crosswalk, one thing people can do to make it easier to cross the street right now is to……..walk down the block to the intersection with a crosswalk and cross there.
@thefirstlady: What happen on the next block does not have a crosswalk also? Is it easier to make the 4 ways stop? Where is our tax money go?
@Mickey:Well, in this instance, there *is* a crosswalk on the other end of the block- on either end, I believe. And I’m pretty sure my tax monies are not only going towards stop signs, but traffic ease in general (among other things, obviously). And also, I’m sure much of our tax monies are going down the drain, but that’s another story.
@thefirstlady: If you really thefirstlady, this country will be in a very bad shape. You must be very strong and no problem on walking for a long period of time to walk across of the street. You always drive your car? Are you living around the Richmond District?
@Mickey I don’t own a car or bike (walk and Muni only), and have lived in the Richmond for 8 years. Thanks.