Shared Spaces have transformed San Francisco’s streets and sidewalks. Local business communities are more resilient, and our neighborhood centers are more vibrant and lively. Sidewalks and parking lanes can be used for outdoor seating, dining, merchandising, and other community activities. We’re counting on operators of Shared Spaces to ensure their sites are safe and accessible for all.
People with disabilities enjoy all types of spaces. Please provide at least 8 feet of open, uninterrupted sidewalk so everyone can get through.
Sidewalk diverters let people who are blind or have low vision navigate through dining and other activity areas on the sidewalk. These devices are rectangular planters or boxes that are placed on the sidewalk at the ends of each shared space and need to be at least 12 inches wide, 24 inches long and 30 inches tall. They can be on wheels to make it easy to bring in and out at the start and end of each day. But during business hours they should be stationary and secure.
Please provide at least one wheelchair accessible dining table in your Shared Space so that disabled people can patronize your business. To ensure wheelchair users can get to the wheelchair-accessible table in the parklet area, provide an adequate ramp or ensure that parklet decks are even with the curb.
Nobody wants to trip or get stuck! ‘Cable covers’ or ‘cable ramps can create tripping hazards and difficulties for wheelchair users, so they are not permitted on sidewalks. Instead, electrical cables should run overhead, at least 10 feet above the sidewalk.
These updates to the Shared Spaces program will help to ensure safety and accessibility for everyone, so we can all enjoy these public spaces. More information is available at sf.gov/sharedspaces.