SFMTA Announces the 2016 Sunday Streets Season

April 6, 2016
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), in partnership with Livable City are excited to announce the return of the Sunday Streets Season.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), in partnership with Livable City are excited to announce the return of the Sunday Streets Season. The 9th annual Open Streets program kicks-off Sunday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Valencia Street and will alternate between eight neighborhoods through November 13, blending together community involvement and free, fun and healthy activities.

Valencia Street has been the host to Sunday Streets’ most popular route.

“As an enthusiastic supporter of Sunday Streets, I am delighted that this innovative program is poised to launch its ninth successful season,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “Sunday Streets has eclipsed expectations and evolved into one of our City’s healthy, fun, free and family-friendly recreation destinations.”

New to 2016, Sunday Streets is focusing its onsite programming into two Activity Hubs that will group organizations and businesses together to share activities with the community that support healthy lifestyles. The Activity Hubs will feature collaborations with incredible partners across the art, music, and dance worlds, along with health, fitness, cycling and animal groups.

“These events bring the city together community by community and grows in popularity every year,” said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “San Francisco’s Sunday Streets has successfully created temporary open space for millions of participants to safely walk, bike and play in different communities across the city.”

The 2016 Sunday Streets Season will occur over eight Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., showcasing the rich diversity of San Francisco:

  • April 10 - Season launch on Mission (on Valencia St.)
  • May 1 - Bayview/Dogpatch
  • June 12 - Sunset (on the Great Highway)
  • July 10 - Tenderloin
  • August 21 - Mission
  • October 16 - Excelsior
  • September 11 - Western Addition
  • November 13 - The Embarcadero  

There are now at least 100 documented Open Streets projects across the country and more than a half-dozen U.S. cities have taken San Francisco’s lead, temporarily closing streets to cars and opening those streets for biking and other people movement under the title Sunday Streets: a title coined right here in San Francisco.The SFMTA will stage a new 60’ bus to showcase the latest Muni Forward transit enhancements and Van Ness Improvement Project updates at the season launch of Sunday Streets. Other highlights include free demos from Bay Area Bike Share and its expanded bike share network, basketball with the Golden State Warriors, live music, dance classes and performances, free blood pressure screening and informative installations by community groups like the St. Francis Homeless Challenge, which invites everyone to help find solutions for our homeless neighbors need for access to shelter, hygiene and other vital services.

Sunday Streets is a true collaboration of leadership and resources. This season would not be possible without the support of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Shape Up SF Coalition, the Department of Public Works, Recreation & Parks Department, the San Francisco Police Department, Mayor Edwin Lee, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and SF Environment.