Market Street in San Francisco Closed to Cars

The historic, car-free transformation of San Francisco's busiest street opens to the public today.

1 minute read

January 29, 2020, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Streetcar

Nav Jagpal / Flickr

Mayor London Breed takes to the Internet today to announce the arrival of a whole new Market Street in San Francisco.

Starting today, over 2 miles of Market Street will become car-free, a historic milestone in the history of San Francisco and in the world-wide movement to create more spaces that are made for people.

According to Breed, Market Street is the busiest street in the city, and it's taken decades of politics and planning to complete this transformation. The final clearance for today's big reveal came in October 2019—the culmination of the Better Market Street process, which invested $604 million to improve the public realm for all users of the street.

Jeffrey Tumlin, the recently hired executive director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, was on the scene this morning to reveal the new Market Street, and it almost looks like a scene in Europe. 

The comments on a celebratory tweet from Mayor Breed, however, are typically American.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 in London Breed via Medium

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Two yellow and white Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail streetcars at station in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region

At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

April 3, 2025 - KERA News

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

15 minutes ago - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

59 minutes ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Western coyote looking at camera in grassy field.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes

San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.

2 hours ago - Fox 5