Streets May Become Temporary Recreational Spaces in San Francisco

25 May 2008 - 4:00am

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is considering a plan to temporarily close down certain streets to car traffic, creating public space for pedestrians -- similar to the successful Ciclovia that takes place weekly in Bogota, Colombia.

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"Such a street closure program would provide cheap, healthy and safe recreation opportunities for residents in urban areas, according to Wade Crowfoot, the mayor’s director of climate protection initiatives."

"The program, tentatively titled Sunday Healthways, would include other activities. Pedestrians could also enroll in tai chi or yoga lessons, as part of planned activity stations that would line the street closures, Crowfoot said."

"Crowfoot stressed that no street closures would be implemented without lengthy planning processes with neighborhood groups and elected officials. Because of the necessary planning stages, he said he was unsure when the program would be implemented."

Source: The Examiner, May 23, 2008