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Market Street, San Francisco, car-free starting today

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

As reported on Hoodline yesterday, beginning today, January 29, 2020, big changes have come to the most congested part of Market Street, from the Embarcadero to Van Ness Avenue.

Private cars and ride-hailing vehicles (think Uber, Lyft) are no longer allowed on this stretch of Market Street. The changes affect the portions of Market from 10th Street to Main Street eastbound, and Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue westbound. (The north-south yellow line is Van Ness Avenue; Steuart Street is next to the Embarcadero. You see Twitter headquarters near Van Ness, and the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street)

Google map of Market StreetThe changes are intended to make the street faster and safer for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders. Some 500,000 people walk here daily;750 cyclists per hour at peak times, and more than 75,000 transit rider travel above ground on Market. This change is hailed by Walk SF which considers this to be one of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians in the City. Some cars will still be allowed to drive on Market - commercial vehicles, taxis, para-transit and emergency vehicles.

To read the full Hoodline report, click the link at the beginning of this post.

And...stay safe everyone.

Show All Comments Sort:
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Hi Lottir... that's a big change, for sure. Will be interested to see how it works out. I've always loved the vehicle-free streets in many European cities.

Jan 30, 2020 06:05 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

That sounds like a good change, some places just get too congested and something has to be done.

Jan 30, 2020 06:54 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good moring Lottie Kendall - this should make a very nice place to gather and enjoy sights.  Should cut down on noise too.

Jan 30, 2020 08:09 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Lottie,

Hope this works for San Francisco, but will it divert traffic to other areas and cause problems there?  

Jan 30, 2020 08:30 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning Barbara Todaro and Nina Hollander - so far, after one day, cyclists and bike-messengers are loving it; Uber/Lyft drivers not. 

Hello Wayne Martin - interesting that Chicago tried something similar and reverted back. I have to trust that SF studied many other areas. Time will tell how this works out.

Jan 30, 2020 09:09 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Michael Jacobs - I'll be watching this with interest. It is so congested, I never drive on that stretch of Market Street; as a pedestrian, I'll probably enjoy it.

Ron and Alexandra Seigel - this change will certainly affect Lyft/Uber rides and put them more on side streets. Perhaps people who choose/need to be dropped off at the door of a building will revert to taking taxis? It will be interesting to see how this shakes out.

Jan 30, 2020 09:13 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning Brian England and Grant Schneider - this stretch of Market Street is terribly congested. With trolleys, buses, trucks, cars, scooters, bicyclists, runners, walkers -- too much going on at different speeds for safety. Cars will still be crossing Market Street, simply not driving down it.

I hope it works out.

Jan 30, 2020 09:16 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lottie I understand the need for safety, but I would imagine this must be a big inconvenience.

Jan 30, 2020 11:41 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I just saw this on TV and I do hope it does not affect your commute in any way...

 

TGIF (Thank goodness it's Friday) Lottie Kendall 

Jan 31, 2020 01:40 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi George Souto - the people the closure of Market Street to private autos will affect most are the Uber/Lyft drivers and riders, I suspect. I double many people driving in the area to garages take Market Street. It will be interesting to see what it's like in 6 months.

Jan 31, 2020 02:23 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS - it won't affect me, personally, at all. I don't drive down Market Street; I occasionally will walk down it, or perhaps take a bus. My office and my residence isn't in this area. It's a big story, though. 

Jan 31, 2020 02:25 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lottie, this will be a big change, and hopefully safer for pedestrians.  We have one downtown too.

Feb 01, 2020 07:49 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning Joan Cox - fewer vehicles on Market Street will definitely help bicyclists and pedestrians. I read a report from one bicyclist saying how the quieter street helps him hear the buses as well as having reduced traffic at his shoulder.

Feb 01, 2020 08:11 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Safety first ....congestion free zone !

Feb 01, 2020 08:14 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Sally K. & David L. Hanson - safety is paramount. 

Feb 01, 2020 08:18 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Good morning Lottie Kendall - This is a GREAT idea! Of course, it may take some adjusting for commuters who travel this route but in time, it will be a positive change. I wonder why it took so long to implement? However, with so many people coming to America and with our US population explosion, I can understand why many changes my be in the horizon. 

Feb 01, 2020 09:33 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - I hope the car-free (well, car-reduced) Market Street trial will work well. Too many people are afraid of change, and bash ideas without giving them a chance. 

Feb 03, 2020 07:17 AM
Ray Henson
Retired - Goodyear, AZ
Retired Real Estate Agent

500,000 people a day walking along Market St.  Wow!  It is always busy when I am there, but I would not have guessed that high.  

Feb 29, 2020 05:56 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

With far less auto traffic on Market Street, I think the pedestrians and bicyclists are seen far more prominently, Raymond Henson, SRES, GRI 

Feb 29, 2020 08:11 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP
Big Block LPT Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
Serving Coastal San Diego,Veteran's & Retirees

That would have been a tough change for me in my delivery days, but I did see a lot of accidents there too. Great info, we miss you Lottie.

May 05, 2021 01:13 PM