San Francisco Coastal Road Closure Sparks Resident Anger, Ballot Measure
A two-mile stretch of the Upper Great Highway, transformed into a car-free park, is driving traffic into residential areas, leading to a November ballot proposition.
A two-mile section of San Francisco's Upper Great Highway, permanently converted into a car-free public park following a voter resolution in April 2025, has generated significant backlash from nearby residents. The transformation, which replaced vehicles with pedestrians and families enjoying ocean views, has rerouted an estimated 20,000 vehicles into adjacent neighborhoods, causing considerable traffic congestion.
Residents like Judi Gorski, 75, describe their streets becoming "major traffic arteries." Another resident, 85-year-old Joanie Landon, reported that her commute to arthritis therapy has tripled, now taking at least 25 minutes instead of eight, leading her to reduce therapy sessions from five days a week to three.
Ballot Measure to Decide Road's Future
The controversy is set to be decided by voters in November through Proposition G. If passed, the measure would reopen the road to vehicles on weekdays. Supporters of "Yes on G" gathered approximately 16,000 signatures and raised about $130,000 to place the proposition on the ballot.
Conversely, those advocating for the park's preservation, including Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, have raised around $800,000, with Stoppelman personally contributing $400,000. "There is no reason to demolish a park that families across San Francisco love," Stoppelman stated.
Park's Origins and Usage
The Upper Great Highway park began as a pandemic pilot program, initially closing the road to cars on weekends starting Friday afternoons. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department data indicates the project, described as California's largest pedestrianization effort, welcomed over 1.7 million visits in its first year, averaging nearly 5,000 daily visits. More than half of these visits occurred on weekdays, suggesting consistent local use.
Opposing Viewpoints
Supervisor Alan Wong, who supports restricting the park's car-free status, stated, "At the end of the day, I prioritize those that need to commute to work or school on weekdays over weekday recreational needs for the road." He emphasized the importance of weekday commutes for work and school.
However, proponents of keeping the park car-free argue that reopening it to traffic would necessitate the removal of amenities like skate ramps and children's playgrounds. The Sunset district, where the park is located, has approximately 116,000 residents with an average household income of $158,000, according to Census data.
