Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

Eyes on the Street: Tenderloin Sunday Streets

IMG_20160710_130542
Nathan Woody of the San Francisco Yellow Bike Project pauses while working on this slick little two-wheeler during Sunday Streets in the Tenderloin. Check out those tassels! Photo: Streetsblog.

Sunday from 11 to 4 p.m. it was the Tenderloin's turn to enjoy its streets free of car traffic. The route followed Fulton St. between Hyde and Larkin, Larkin to Ellis St., Ellis to Jones St., Jones to Golden Gate Ave., and Golden Gate back to Larkin St. The streets were filled with various activities and opportunities, including a "kid's bike swap" with the San Francisco Yellow Bike Project, seen above, where families could bring their children's bikes to have them repaired or, if necessary, replaced for free (or with a donation).

That wasn't the only thing available for Tenderloin families. A petting zoo was set up in the new bike lane on Golden Gate. Note: that's the only time anything should be parked in that bike lane.

RoadHog IMG_20160710_113741
Usually it gets our goat when some turkey hogs the bike lane. Photo: Streetsblog.
SFMTA Van Ness BRT IMG_20160710_124024
One of SFMTA's new hybrid buses was available to check out, and the agency handed out flyers on coming Van Ness and Geary bus improvements. Photo: Streetsblog.

SFMTA was also there, showing off one of its new hybrid buses for people to stroll through. They also handed out flyers and answered questions about the Geary and Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit project.

In fact, there was no shortage of transit information. Even Amtrak had a booth. Emily Castellanos, below, was there to promote the addition of a seventh daily "San Joaquin" trip between the Bay Area and the Central Valley.

Amtrak IMG_20160710_115246

And no open streets event would be complete without two of San Francisco's best known and most ubiquitous safe-streets advocacy organizations, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and Walk San Francisco. The SFBC was giving parents a chance to try out a family bike, seen below.

Family Bikes SFBC IMG_20160710_114627
SFBC invited people with children to try out family bikes like the one seen above. Photo: Streetsblog.
WalkSF IMG_20160710_115840
Meghan Arnold and Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas of San Francisco Walks. Photo: Streetsblog.

Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas (white t-shirt) and Meghan Arnold (green), both on the board of Walk SF, were collecting signatures for safe streets. "The main concern of residents is just being able to cross the street," said Alexander-Ozinskas. They're worried about "cars moving at high speed, and high volume." She added this is especially a concern with so many seniors in the Tenderloin.

Tenderloin Eco Development IMG_20160710_121326
Helen Bean of the Tenderloin Economic Development Project. Photo: Streetsblog.

Helen Bean, a Senior Adviser with the Tenderloin Economic Development Project, said the new bike lane on Golden Gate makes a big difference for people. She also said that, unlike in some other neighborhoods, Tenderloin businesses support more bike lanes. "Anything that moves people around gets more business." Especially here, she added, because "this is much more a walk and bike area." At her booth residents were invited to write their main concerns and desires for the neighborhood on the table.

IMG_20160710_121340
At the Tenderloin Economic Development Project table, people were invited to write and draw what they want to see in the neighborhood. Photo: Streetsblog.
Tenderloin
A look at the new Golden Gate bike lane, for once free of parked cars. Photo: Streetsblog.
Sunday Streets Tenderloin in the before times. Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick

Small world: Danica Helb was there too. Readers may recall she was the cyclist who got pepper sprayed by a motorist earlier this year. Although she was having fun at the event, she reported that SFPD has still not produced any results in the investigation of the assault, even though they were provided a photograph of the suspect's car and license plate back in January.

Danica IMG_20160710_131342
Danica Helb, the cyclist who was pepper sprayed by a motorist in January, in front of the SF Yellow Bike Project shop on Ellis. Photo: Streetsblog.

But on Sunday, for a few hours in the Tenderloin, some streets in San Francisco were truly safe, relaxed, and as they should be: available for people to enjoy.

Did you go to the Tenderloin Sunday Streets event? Share your experiences below.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter