Oakland Slow Streets' program opens 74 miles of streets for pedestrians and cyclists

Oakland’s 'Slow Streets' program will create more space for safe walking and cycling by closing 74 miles of streets to through traffic, representing nearly 10% of the city’s streets. The initiative builds on the 2019 City of Oakland Bicycle Plan, ‘Let’s Bike Oakland’ which engaged more than 3,500 Oakland residents to develop and plan proposed neighborhood bicycle routes. All of the routes proposed in the 2019 bicycle plan are included in Oakland 'Slow Streets'. The 'Slow Streets' program launched on Saturday, 4/11/2020 with "soft closures" including signage, traffic cones and barricades. As of 6/5/2020, the city will have installed more than 20 miles of slow streets along 19 corridors throughout the city. The 'Slow Streets: Essential Places' program launched on Friday, May 22 with intersection improvements to support residents’ safe access to essential services such as grocery stores, food distribution sites and COVID-19 test sites. As of 6/5/2020 the city will have installed five 'Slow Streets: Essential Places' intersection improvements throughout the City.