Sunday Streets expands routes
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
March 4, 2009
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| The popularity of last year’s trial run has spurred Mayor Gavin Newsom to expand the Sunday Streets program this year. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Gavin Newsom wants dancing, running and bicycling in San Francisco streets to be more frequent and in more neighborhoods.
Newsom is rolling out an expanded version of his Sunday Streets program. The plan calls for closing six streets to vehicles in four different locations throughout The City. The closures allow people to dance, run, walk and exercise in the roadways without fear of being hit by cars. The first event this year is scheduled for next month.
Pointing to the success of last year’s two trial street closures, Newsom is taking the show to such locations as the Mission district and Ocean Beach.
“Every neighborhood in San Francisco deserves the opportunity to have this vibrant scene in their neighborhoods,” Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said. “Sunday Streets has been a tremendous success.”
On one Sunday in August and another in September laqst year, the mayor partially closed down to cars a 6-mile stretch of roadway — including a portion of The Embarcadero — from the Bayview district to Chinatown. Thousands participated. Many rode bikes between the Ferry Building and Bayview. People strolled, jogged and rode scooters, among other activities. Exercise instructors held classes.
The celebrated events were not without critics. A group of Fisherman’s Wharf merchants opposed the closures, worried they would hurt sales.
“Most merchants agree Sunday Streets actually boosts their profitability,” Ballard said. “There will always be critics, but this program has been a runaway success so far.”
This year’s Sunday Streets program will not include the same route as last year. It will launch April 26 with a street closure along The Embarcadero from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park. The following month, on May 10, the closure is planned for the Bayview district from AT&T Park to the Bayview Opera House along San Francisco Bay.
Closing a stretch of roadways in the Mission district is scheduled for June 7 and July 19. The specific route has yet to be finalized. A previous idea to close off a portion of Mission Street to cars has been abandoned.
The Sunday Streets program will wrap up with a closure along the Great Highway, connecting Golden Gate Park to the San Francisco Zoo along Ocean Beach, on Aug. 9 and Sept. 6.
Newsom’s Sunday Streets is modeled after a 30-year-old program started in Bogota, Colombia. Roads are closed on Sunday mornings to allow space for physical activity. The event there is called “ciclovia,” the Spanish term for “bike path.”
The events must be approved by a permit-issuing agency known as the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation, a collection of city-department representatives.
Newsom’s program is part of a growing trend among major cities to close down roadways to allow for health activities.
In a separate effort, the San Francisco Transportation Authority is studying the feasibility of restricting cars along a 2-mile stretch of Market Street from The Embarcadero to Van Ness Avenue.
Sunday Streets coming to a neighborhood near you
The popularity of last year’s trial run has spurred Mayor Gavin Newsom to expand the Sunday Streets program this year.
April 26
Waterfront route along The Embarcadero from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park
May 10
Waterfront route from AT&T Park to the Bayview Opera House, highlighting the San Francisco Bay Trail, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in May
June 7 and July 19
Route through Mission district to be determined
Aug. 9 and Sept. 6
Great Highway route will connect Golden Gate Park to the San Francisco Zoo along Ocean Beach
Source: Mayor’s Office
jsabatini@sfexaminer.com
