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Supervisor ‘dusts off’ old idea for new proposal
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His proposal follows Mayor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of plans to close 6 miles of roadway — including the northern lanes of one of the city’s main roadways, The Embarcadero — on Aug. 31 and Sept. 14.
Newsom’s plan to connect Chinatown with the Bayview and provide open space for bicycling, jogging and dancing is facing resistance. Merchants at Fisherman’s Wharf worry the closure during their busiest season would adversely impact their business, and several supervisors have said an economic impact report should be completed first.
Daly said, “The point is, if we are going to go through the whole rigmarole, let’s make it meaningful.”
While the idea of closing Market Street may sound far-fetched, it has been kicked around and studied before by city officials. Daly said former Mayor Willie Brown raised the idea in his first inaugural speech.
The closure, he said, would bring a “great deal of benefit in terms of livability of The City.” Pedestrians, bicyclists “and the what-like” would enjoy the open roadway and the speed of public transit would be improved. Pass-through traffic would also be permitted.
“I think it will really enliven and embolden Market Street,” Daly said.
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1:59 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 23, 2008 re: "Supervisor ‘dusts off’ old idea for new proposal"
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10:55 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 23, 2008
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10:37 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 23, 2008
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9:17 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 23, 2008
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Examiner Reader said:
How can Chris Daly be "anti-car" if he acts out "road rage" all the time inside City Hall?
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Examiner Reader said:
Can this idea quickly . This was done in Vancouver on Granville street in the 1970's and it destroyed the vitality of the businesses in the area and most of them left. The one's that remained were sex shops etc. people didn't want to hassle with the parking issue and went elsewhere. Many have wanted cars to return but like all legislation it is too late to make changes and they don't know how to revive the area. After all businesses are the life blood of any city. It is well intentioned but the consequences could be devastating. It will attract a whole confluence of panhandlers and loiterers with generally nothing to do. People who work and have busy lives have no time to deal with the cities bottleneck creation. People will go elsewhere. Don't turn Market street into a place we let tourists visit and we stay away because it is too much trouble. Robson street became the defacto shopping street after Granville closure and it still has cars on it. Granville shopping district died.
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Examiner Reader said:
with a wacky idea like this, might as well restrict foot traffic as well. let's bring in a city legislation to create a ghost town in s.f. because it's too congested. most major cities are congested. cutting off the traffic is the dumbest old idea. sharon stone for mayor.
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Examiner Reader said:
Ok makes perfect sense to me. Force all cars off Market and into District 6 and Hayes Valley. Voters that live in those areas ....LOL you get the Daly dump, again.
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