Car-Free Parks

Since opponents of Prop. K can't drive on it, may as well make it into a park too

...and help protect the car free space on Shelly Drive

A week after New York City's Central Park went mostly car-free, today marked the beginning of the permanent car-free zone on the west side of Prospect Park [PDF].

Updated at 11:38 p.m. with further response from the Recreation and Parks Department below.

A community meeting held yesterday about plans to remove car parking from a stretch of the Marina pedestrian and bike path was attended by just a couple dozen people, most of whom appeared to be boat owners protesting the move. The Recreation and Parks Department does appear to be moving forward with the plan, despite complaints from some well-connected Marina boaters who have delayed the project for months.

One year after community planning meetings began, plans finally appear to be moving forward for removing the 51 parking spaces in the middle of a walking and biking path along the Marina -- the only stretch of the 500-mile Bay Trail with cars on it. But Marina boat owners aren't giving up, and car-free path supporters need to turn out to a community meeting next Tuesday to ensure progress on this no-brainer plan.

The SFMTA announced that cars will be banned on several major streets for the 4/20 gathering on the east end of Golden Gate Park this Sunday.

Update 12/19: DPW now has an online survey you can take about removing parking on the Marina path.

Along Marina Boulevard there's a bicycle and pedestrian path where visitors and residents can stroll along the bay without having to worry about cars -- until they get to the stretch between Scott and Baker Streets, where drivers are allowed to enter the path to access 51 parking spaces.