On Friday, May 30, 2023, a coalition of advocates, families, and officials gathered at the intersection of University Avenue and Cherokee Avenue in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood to raise awareness about traffic violence and push for safer routes to school.
This rally was organized by Circulate San Diego, Families for Safe Streets San Diego, The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, and BikeSD, who collectively urged the City of San Diego to prioritize safety improvements under their ‘Get Kids to School Safely’ initiative.
University Avenue and Cherokee Avenue is notorious for being one of San Diego’s Fatal 15 intersections, a designation marking them as the city’s most dangerous spots for pedestrians. The intersection is also part of the six Critical Corridors identified by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) as hazardous to foot traffic.
Adding to the concern, this area is located within a quarter-mile of several schools, including Edison Elementary and Cherokee Point Elementary. The close proximity to schools places daily risks on children and families who navigate these streets.
During the rally, victims of traffic violence shared their stories alongside elected officials who echoed the urgent need for improving safety measures on school routes across the city.
City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents the City Heights area, emphasized the critical responsibility to protect children. “The status quo is failing our children. This intersection is within a quarter mile of two elementary schools. No parent should have to worry about whether their child will make it to school,” Elo-Rivera stated.
District 3 City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn highlighted the alarming statistics regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety at the intersection. “This intersection at University and Cherokee is one of San Diego’s Fatal 15. It sits on a corridor that has seen 62 pedestrian and cyclist injuries and two deaths in the past decade. That’s unacceptable, especially when kids walk to school just a few blocks away. This is not just about infrastructure. It’s about improving quality of life for residents, commuters, and for all San Diegans,” Whitburn added.
Shana Hazan, a board member of the San Diego Unified School District representing the area, lamented the daily dangers faced by families. “Hundreds of families walk or bike across this intersection every day and every day they face danger. No child should have to risk their lives just to get to school,” Hazan noted, underscoring the precarious conditions that local students encounter.
Amy Cohen, Founder and President of Families for Safe Streets National, put the local safety crisis into perspective. “Every day, 100 people are killed in car crashes in the United States. It’s the equivalent of a plane crashing every day. This is a preventable public health crisis,” she declared.
The rally concluded with a call to action, urging the City to consider supporting the Vision Zero Coalition’s budget priorities, which include enhancing safety along the Critical Corridors leading to schools, fixing the Fatal 15 intersections, and reducing speed limits in school zones through the implementation of Assembly Bill 43.
Laura Keenan, Co-Founder & Chair of Families for Safe Streets San Diego and the event organizer, stressed the need for immediate change. “No child’s safety should depend on their zip code,” she concluded, reinforcing the rally-goers’ shared urgency for reform.
As advocates continue to raise their voices for safer streets, the rally serves as a reminder of the pressing need to address traffic violence, especially in areas frequented by children.
image source from：https://www.circulatesd.org/2025_05_30_press_release_rally_at_university_and_cherokee
