The ever-popular Sunday Streets program in San Francisco kicks off on Sunday, March 11 with the first in a series of car-free events across the city.

Sunday Streets was founded in 2008 and offers open streets to pedestrians, cyclists and people-powered wheels of all kinds. For example, on Sunday, the Embarcadero will be closed to cars from 11-4 from Mariposa Street all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf. There will be numerous exhibits and activities for the entire family all along the way.

“Sunday Streets not only showcases San Francisco’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, it is a proven cost-effective way to better health for San Franciscans,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “We’re committed to ensuring the program’s continued growth and success in 2012 and beyond. We look forward to returning to Chinatown, doing a more frequent Mission route, and adding a new route in the Southwest neighborhoods of our City to bring the benefits of Sunday Streets to more San Francisco neighborhoods.”

San Francisco was the third city in the United States to premier this free, community-oriented initiative and it has since become the nation’s largest. The program has also been selected for possible inclusion in First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign.

Below is the tentative schedule for this year’s events:

Sunday Streets 2012 Season Schedule (subject to change):

March 11: Embarcadero- Season kick off

April 15: Great Highway/Golden Gate park- new route through the park

May 6: Mission

June 3: Mission

July 1: Mission

July 22: Bayview/Dogpatch

August 5: Mission

August TBA: Chinatown

September 9: Western Addition/N. Panhandle Alamo Square

October 21: Outer Mission/Excelsior

Photo Credit: Sunday Streets

• Tag: Bicyclists, Car-Free Event, Neighborhoods, pedestrians, San Francisco, Sunday Streets