More San Francisco Streets to Close for Walking, Biking and Social Distancing

The director of the SFMTA announced that San Francisco will adopt a similar Slow Streets program that Oakland has been testing out. The closures are made to prioritize walking and biking over using cars to make essential trips. The map shows what a full list of road closures may look like but each area will only be applied 8 blocks at a time over time, not all at once.

Many pedestrians are choosing to walk in the street, exposing themselves to swiftly moving vehicle traffic… Beginning this week, we hope to install 2-3 Slow Streets corridors per week. The first round of Slow Streets implementation will consist of signage and traffic cones.

A major addition is the yellow area on the map that includes a note about assessing the safety of the entire Tenderloin neighborhood. No word yet if that includes any actionable new street closures. According to Supervisor Peskin, the Slow Streets initiative “was principally designed for low density residential areas. Major streets with multiple competing street uses – commercial delivery, MUNI, emergency access – are far more challenging.”

The Tenderloin Plan is part of the City’s broader efforts to address the public health crisis in San Francisco and among people who are experiencing homelessness. We noted the area on the map above and will support other departments in our capacity, including adding things like Slow Streets where appropriate.

The new additions as of Saturday May 16th that will see rollout this year:

Previously mentioned streets from April 21st announcement:

Street From To Muni Routes
17th Street Church Valencia 22 Fillmore, 33 Stanyan
20th Avenue Lincoln Ortega 28 – 19th Ave
22nd Street Valencia Chattanooga 48 Quintara/24th Street
41st Avenue Lincoln Vicente 18 – 46th Ave
Ellis Polk Leavenworth 27 Bryant, 38 Geary
Holloway Beverly Harold K Ingleside, 29 Sunset
Kirkham Great Highway 7th Avenue N Judah
Phelps Oakdale Evans 23 Monterey, 44 O’Shaughnessy
Ortega Great Highway 14th Avenue 7 Haight/Noriega
Page Stanyan Octavia 7 Haight/Noriega
Quesada Lane Fitch 23 Monterey, 44 O’Shaughnessy
Scott Eddy Page 24 Divisadero

Read the full release from the SFMTA

The Presidio is also closing some roads “​​​​​​​​to Reduce Vehicle Traffic and Create More Open Space​​ Saturday and Sunday, April 25 + 26, 7 am to 4 pm” and may extend the rule every weekend.