Citywide survey finds majority of San Franciscans support Car-Free JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park

Over 72% of San Francisco residents want to maintain a Car-Free promenade; KidSafeSF calls on museums to open public garage to Visitors with Disabilities

Nearly three-quarters of San Franciscans are in favor of keeping the eastern portion of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park as a permanent car-free promenade, according to the largest-ever survey conducted by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. 

The survey, conducted from September through November, 2021, includes responses from nearly ten thousand San Francisco residents regarding the future of JFK Drive. It is the largest such survey ever conducted by SFMTA and Rec & Park.

This was an unprecedented level of engagement by San Franciscans on a city-wide level:

• Among San Francisco residents, support for Car-Free JFK was even higher—at 72%

• All income groups were more than 50% supportive of Car-Free JFK

• All race / ethnicity groups with more than 25 respondents were more than 50% supportive of Car-Free JFK

• 24 of 25 San Francisco ZIP Codes were more than 50% supportive of Car-Free JFK

The evidence is clear: San Franciscans of all backgrounds and neighborhoods love JFK. With common sense solutions for improved access that are already underway, we can have a full-time promenade, while improving access to park attractions for visitors of all backgrounds and abilities.”

Percent of respondents in support of Car-Free JFK by ZIP Code

Volume of survey responses by zip code

In April 2020, Mayor London Breed ordered a portion of John F. Kennedy Drive from Kezar Drive to Transverse Drive to be closed to vehicular traffic, in order to provide a safe area for people to exercise during shelter-in-place while maintaining required physical distancing. Pre-pandemic, JFK Drive was among the 13% of roadways throughout San Francisco that are

part of the Vision Zero High Injury Network; collectively these streets contribute to 75% of crashes involving cars.

By closing this 1.5 mile stretch of the road to cars, the high-injury street became a popular new park attraction, safe route for essential travel via non-car modes, and community gathering space. It has been visited almost 7 million times in the last 20 months, a 36 percent increase in daily park visits compared with before the closure, according to Recreation and Parks department data.

Car-Free JFK + Garage Access Improvements Increase Safety, Equity, Accessibility

Car-Free JFK has become an inclusive destination and amenity for all San Franciscans, and Kid Safe SF believes it can be made even better with moderate changes to existing transportation policies to improve access:

• Free ADA parking and free/subsidized parking for low-income visitors in the Concourse Garage

• High-frequency shuttle service with stops at popular destinations, along with adequate shelter, seating, well maintained paths, ramps, and wayfinding signage

• More access for paratransit pickups and drop-offs

• More free ADA parking at the Bandshell lot and at regular intervals on all nearby car roads

Officials with the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences have repeatedly blocked these reforms that would improve access for elderly, disabled, and low-income visitors.

Golden Gate Park and the Concourse Garage were publicly financed by the residents of San Francisco. They’re not the property of the museums and their wealthy donors. San Francisco city officials have an obligation to ensure these resources are used in accordance with basic principles of fairness and equity. The museums must open the garage for those who need access to these great public facilities.

Based on the clear support for Car-Free JFK shown in this groundbreaking survey, the ongoing need for safe outdoor recreation spaces, and the urgent need to shift to more sustainable transportation modes, KidSafe SF is calling on all city leaders to support keeping the eastern portion of JFK drive as a permanent car-free promenade in Golden Gate Park.

Take action to save Car-Free JFK today

Unless we act now, Car-Free JFK could disappear as soon as this spring. Write a letter to city leaders today showing your support for Car-Free JFK, and demanding that they save it.