Biking in the Park

A biker takes a ride through Golden Gate park along JFK Drive past the Conservatory of Flowers this past Saturday afternoon. The Healthy Saturdays initiative purposes to make some eastern sections of the park including JFK Drive closed to cars on both Saturday and Sunday (currently these sections are closed to cars on Sunday only). The initiative was vetoed by Mayor Newsom who demanded an impact study be conducted to see what effect a car ban would have on the number of visitors to the park and it's museums. The study was finished early last year, and the results suggested that a car ban would have a positive impact on the number of park visits, as well as its underlying focus on a cleaner, quieter experience and emphasis on physical activity such as walking, jogging, or biking along what would be car-free streets. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors meets on Tuesday, February 27th, and plans to discuss the issues again and possibly come to a vote on it. The next step will be to see of the Mayor is willing to forgo a second veto and allow "Healthy Saturdays" to become a reality in the park.

I would love to see a more car free park where San Franciscans can go and recreate without the dangers, noise and pollution that cars bring.