Ever try to drove in downtown L.A.?
The pedestrians ignore the signal lights and just block traffic in all directions. It can take 1/2 hour go 2 blocks.
Yes, this is about money — the money lost by pedestrian-caused gridlock. As the article stated, downtown used to be a ghost town but no more.
Soon, they should put in the overpasses like they did on the Strip in Vegas (I remember when it was almost impossible to move on that street for the same reason).
Government likes to set up a situation counter to human behavior, then make money out of it. The classic situation is build out lots of retail space with no parking. Then hire meter maids to harass the public, and make the city rich.
SF is the same way