Car-Free JFK Drive

Unfinished History

JFK Drive got even more use than its usual during the Covid-19 pandemic since the eastern half has been open only to pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists. An election battle in 2022 led to a popular vote in favor of permanently closing JFK to car traffic.

Photo: Chris Carlsson, May 2020

JFK Drive, crowded during the pandemic.

Photo: Chris Carlsson, May 2020

The eastern half of J.F.K. Drive down the center of Golden Gate Park is closed to automobiles and turned over to an amazing multitude of people skating, biking, walking, running, and playing. Walking among the crowd one is treated to a remarkable diversity of languages, subcultures, bodies, etc. An ongoing campaign to close large parts of the park to cars has intermittently made itself felt, but the city's Recreation & Park Dept. resisted any permanent closure of JFK Drive until the Covid-19 pandemic, and happily, even though there was well-funded opposition, San Franciscans voted in a large majority to permanently close JFK to cars in 2022.

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After the visit to the Native Plant Nursery and a pause under the Monterey Cypresses at the east end of Golden Gate Park, the tour stops in the middle of a car-free JFK before entering the Oak Woodlands at the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park.

Video: Shaping San Francisco

Sunday Skating on J.F.K. Drive in Golden Gate Park.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Bicycles were very widely enjoyed during the 1890's in Golden Gate Park and all of San Francisco.

Photo: Private Collection

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