What is daylighting?
Daylighting keeps the curb space closest to a crosswalk clear so drivers, people biking, and people crossing can see one another. California law prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk. Safe Streets Bernal worked hard to win soft-post protection for Cortland’s daylighting zones, helping keep illegally parked vehicles from blocking those critical sightlines.
Community Corners: a San Francisco first
Bernal hosted San Francisco’s first Community Corner on Cortland Avenue. The program allows community organizations to place and tend planters in daylighting safety zones, adding a visible layer of protection and neighborhood stewardship while preserving clear views through the intersection.
Safety can be beautiful
Our beautification work brings murals and colorful public art to daylighting corners. These treatments make the protected space unmistakable, add joy to the commercial corridor, and turn a traffic-safety intervention into a place the neighborhood can feel proud of.
Why protection matters
- Soft posts help keep vehicles out of legally clear corner zones.
- Planters add protection and greenery without obstructing sightlines.
- Murals make the safety zone easier to recognize and care for.
- Clear corners especially help children, seniors, and disabled neighbors see and be seen.
