This San Francisco Street Is Now Permanently Car-Free

JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park will permanently close to vehicles after a vote from the San Fransico Board of Supervisors and County Transportation officials on Tuesday, April 26. According to NBC Bay Area, the vote was 7-4 in favor of having the street remain car-free.

At the start of the pandemic, the city decided to close a section of car traffic in Golden Gate Park to open up more space for people to get outside and exercise safely during lockdowns. Supporters said the change was successful and advocated to keep it free from cars. “I think it should stay because it’s a lot safer now there are a lot fewer injuries on this road I think people love it,” one San Francisco resident told NBC Bay Area.

There are some critics of the change who are concerned about accessibility. They're concerned that closing portions of Golden Gate Park close a portion of the city residents who visit the park in their cars. “I think during the weekdays it should be open for cars so they can come through the museum and the concourse,” another resident told the news station.

Ultimately, the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency and the Recreation and Park Department gave their officials recommended that JFK remain permanently car-free. "Before COVID, JFK was a street with some of the highest traffic injury rates in the city, and was used mainly for cut-through traffic," SFMTA Transportation Director Jeffrey Tumlin said. "We look forward to presenting a plan that addresses all the concerns we've heard, including expanded disabled parking, improved safety and improved access for all modes."