Slow streets, livable streets? The case of San Francisco, California

To what extent can minimum traffic intervention contribute to the social success of streets as public spaces? The aim of this paper is to understand the conditions to create socially vibrant streets, analysing three of San Francisco’s Slow Streets (SwS) through the lens of Appleyard’s concept of livable streets. The concept proves to be an effective framework for assessing the social contributions of street design. This study uncovers two additional factors: the strategic placement of Slow Streets within the urban fabric to maximize connectivity and everyday use, and the presence of organized community structures that activate and sustain social life.