Sunday Streets in San Francisco
Transit First San Francisco” has created a program called Sunday Streets in the Mission”, which affords residents the opportunity to enjoy portions of San Francisco streets free and clear of vehicle traffic for five hours on certain Sundays in the Mission District.
As “Sunday Streets’” program coordinator Beth Byrne says;
“Sunday Streets” brings people into neighborhoods that they don’t normally travel to, and exposes them to what that area has to offer. The open streets are a great motivator for many people to try out biking and a way for everyone to experience how easy biking in San Francisco can be ” Last summer’s Sunday Streets in the Mission was a great success, drawing approximately 25,000 people to participate in the event.”
In addition to opening the streets to people rather than cars, there are numerous activities for kids near the “Sunday Streets” headquarters at Garfield Square on Harrison and 25th streets. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Freedom from Training Wheels program will be there to assist young children to go from four wheels to two.
There will also be live music performances at Rock the Bike, a pedal-powered stage for bands at 24th and Shotwell streets at 1 p.m. Also, there will be performances by Mission-based groups like taiko drumming and capoeira by Abadá-Capoeira.
To assist you in navigating the area, REI and The Sports Basement will have service booths set up on Harrison and 17th streets and at 25th Street in Garfield Square. There will also be battery-powered rigs to try out at the Electric Bike Outlet at Harrison and 17th streets. .
Erick Arguello, president of the Lower 24th Street Merchants and Neighborhood Association, says he loves “the feeling of being able to ride leisurely instead of rushing to and from.” It allows everyone to see the neighborhood, he says, “from a whole different angle.”
“Bike about Town” is presented by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, a nonprofit group dedicated to creating safer streets and more sustainable, eco-friendly communities by promoting bicycle riding for everyday transportation.
The hours planned for the next “Sunday Streets in San Francisco” is on Sunday July 11th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. To see a comprehensive list of all the activities planned for the event, including a map of the 4-mile route, which includes Harrison, Valencia and 24th streets, go to www.sundaystreetssf.com.
By Jennifer Nicoletto, Esq.