The cleared space makes it easier for people in cars to see pedestrians approaching the crosswalk — an idea known as daylighting.  For pedestrians, daylighting means that they don’t have to venture into the intersection and peek around parked cars to see whether they have a clear path to cross. The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency has begun issuing warnings for violations of the new parking law, though the agency and others across the state cannot issue fines until 2025.

Under California’s new law, if the curb is painted red near a crosswalk or intersection, drivers should follow that distance, even if it is less than 20 feet, the same way parking is currently enforced. But if there is no paint or signage, drivers should follow the 20-foot distance, wherever they are in California, according to SFMTA.

It's a state law so it applies here in B'game as well.  When broadly enforced by Parking Enforcement this will likely be a sizeable number of parking spots taken out of service all over town.  Not that it's a bad idea, it just has consequences.  I've been reviewing the laws around crosswalks and pedestrians since I walk through the ECR-Howard Ave. crosswalk to Safeway and the Avenew regularly.  It's treacherous.  I've nearly been hit several times and have seen others experience similar close calls.  Part of the issue is how wide Howard is there.  Because of the shape of the southern curb, it gives drivers the impression that it's six lanes wide.  The fact that it is five lanes wide, and drivers are focused on northbound ECR traffic as they turn left onto Howard, puts this crosswalk on my list of "keep your head on a swivel" spots.