»In which we are damned if we don't.

MUNI: Damed if you do, damned if you don't: the second pedestrian in two weeks to die after being hit by a MUNI bus met his end a few blocks from the stoop.

Twelve pedestrians have been hit by Muni buses this year. This weekend’s fatality is the seventh pedestrian death from a Muni bus since 2001, according to police statistics.

The most recent death before this weekend was on December 5 when Qiong Zhen Yu Zhou, 56, was hit on Van Ness Avenue. Her death prompted officials to announce they would install more “countdown” signals to allow pedestrians to see how much time they have to cross the street and a plan to bar shopkeepers in Chinatown from displaying merchandise on the sidewalk, which forces pedestrians into the street.

The countdown signals do not help when the bus passes through an uncontrolled intersection, such as the turn onto Haight St from Cole. And, interestingly, no injury accidents have occurred on Grant St despite the throng of shoppers and pedestrians spilling onto the street. Instead of restricting sidewalk displays, the city should restrict street parking, and use the lane for deliveries and car traffic.