We also get:
1) People having positive encounters with the police force, which builds trust and community.
2) People realizing just how darn nice and quiet it is without cars!
3) Visual confirmation that we are all in this together, that the streets really do belong to us, and that joy and satisfaction can be found in things that are very, very simple.

We will shortly be glad for every ounce of community and shared sense of responsibility for each other's welfare that we are able to create. Think of this as invisible social infrastructure. The investment is small, the payout possibly priceless.

I'm not sure where that number came from, but it's not valid at all - way too high. Sunday Streets raised the money for the past 3 events from a combination of corporate partners and individual donors. Other then support from City Hall departments during the organizing process - thank you MTA, Shape UP, Mayors Office, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services - the actual costs of the events - Police and Parking Control Officers, will be paid with the money raised.

It's interesting how little we question the regular day to day costs of facilitating car access in our City - and how quickly an event such as this can be tarred with the "waste of taxpayer money" brush. How much would the City save every year if we reduced the speed limit to 20 and decreased traffic crashes and injuries and deaths - I think traffic crashes are a waste of tax payer money. I think Sunday Streets deserves greater support from the City since it benefits the City in so many ways.

Bring your children out on July 19th - they will love it. If you don't like walking in the street - remember, the sidewalks are still there and the merchants were all reminded to keep a 48 inch wide path of travel clear at all times. Again, thanks for sharing the streets. San Franciscans are wonderful people.

It is not safe to keep one lane open to traffic. Because there is no physical separation, it is not possible to contain people from overflowing into the traffic lane. Also there is really no need for this arrangement. The adjacent streets are open to traffic. Cars are much better off there.

Hello Maria,

I hope you will bring you children next time. There were lots of happy people and happy children last Sunday. It actually have a different vibe from other street festival. Maybe it is the freedom or spontaneity or simply because of the presence of so many people seeking simple fun. As far as cost is concerned, I heard that corporate sponsors bore most of the cost.

I had to get from 18th to 24th st for a yoga class, and I found it very dangerous to be dodging pedestrians and bikes in a free for all.

Parks maintain both a free for all and some structure with marked bike paths, sidewalks, and grass. It seems like that could be an example for the car free streets.

According to her, her regular shoppers were inconvenienced (by not being able to park on 24th St? it's always hard to park on that street, and there's tons of side street parking nearby); by the hordes of people walking the street? (seems unlikely, and I have to imagine that most of the bakery's customers, even those buying baked goods for a week, walk or muni in rather than drive); without hearing more about such reasons, the anecdotal account of this business owner seems a bit fishy and like a preconceived prejudice rather than an account of what actually occurred. Am I assuming too much?