London’s great idea for traffic-free holiday shopping
December 5th, 2011VIP Day: Very Important Pedestrian Day
London’s West End shopping district will celebrate the holiday season next weekend with West End VIP Day – Very Important Pedestrian Day! For only the seventh time in London’s history, the whole of Oxford Street will be closed to car traffic. In stead of cars, the street will be filled with kids, families and shoppers of all ages running holiday errands and enjoying the festivities. The West End Company recognizes the business value of high foot traffic. Knowing the sidewalks on Oxford and Regents Streets aren’t wide enough to accommodate all of the people flocking to the area to do holiday shopping, they decided the best solution was to open the streets to people. After considerable success with the previous traffic free shopping days, the pedestrian shopping weekend returns again December 10 and 11 for the 2011 Christmas season.
Here in San Francisco, the Union Square district is also seeing its annual peak in pedestrian traffic for holiday shopping. The new promenade on Powell Street means this year there’s more room for people to walk or sit and wait for their fellow shoppers on two of the busiest blocks of Powell Street. The Powell Street Promenade is a step in the right direction towards making the Union Square District and San Francisco a better place for getting around on foot; and West End’s VIP Day is a great inspiration for other possibilities.
Where would you like to see San Francisco celebrate VIP DAY?
West End VIP Day
Regents Street And Oxford Street
December 10-11, 10am until 9pm
For more information: www.westendvip.com/weekend, “Traffic Free Shopping Day,” “Oxford Street Traffic Free Day”
Check out this video from last year’s Traffic Free Shopping Day.
Powell Street Promenade, a step in the right direction
The Powell Street Promenade opened to rave reviews earlier this year, and now we have the data illustrate what many people already know, more space to walk and sit means more people enjoying a vibrant street life.
In collaboration with the Union Square Business Improvement District and with the help of 5 dedicated volunteers and interns, the San Francisco Great Streets Project collected pedestrian counts and pedestrian and business surveys to understand the initial impacts of the promenade a month after it was installed.
Here’s what we found
- After the promenade was installed, Powell Street between Ellis and Geary Streets is attracting and accommodating more pedestrians – up to 18% more people during peak weekday hours.
- After the promenade was installed, significantly more people are not only passing through the corridor, but also stopping to spend time resting, relaxing, window shopping and socializing. On average, 30% more people are enjoying the area at any given time.
- Visitors surveyed are more satisfied with these two blocks of Powell Street in terms of “places to stop, relax, an socialize” and”physical attractiveness” and many call for even more efforts to green the street, provide pedestrian amenities and calm traffic. People like what they see and want more!
While there is still room for more improvement and neighboring merchants are continuing to work out the most effective use of the loading bays, the Powell Street Promenade is clearly a step in the right direction towards improving one of San Francisco’s most iconic streets for all users.
Download the full report or the 1 page summary.
Powell Promenade Report
Powell Promenade 1 pager
In collaboration with the Union Square Business Improvement District and with the help of 5 dedicated volunteers and interns, the San Francisco Great Streets Project collected pedestrian counts and pedestrian and business surveys to understand the initial impacts of the promenade a month after it was installed.
Here’s what we found
- After the promenade was installed, Powell Street between Ellis and Geary Streets is attracting and accommodating more pedestrians – up to 18% more people during peak weekday hours.
- After the promenade was installed, significantly more people are not only passing through the corridor, but also stopping to spend time resting, relaxing, window shopping and socializing. On average, 30% more people are enjoying the area at any given time.
- Visitors surveyed are more satisfied with these two blocks of Powell Street in terms of “places to stop, relax, an socialize” and”physical attractiveness” and many call for even more efforts to green the street, provide pedestrian amenities and calm traffic. People like what they see and want more!
Download the full report or the 1 page summary.
Powell Promenade Report
Powell Promenade 1 pager
City Now Accepting Parklet Applications
November 16th, 2011
This parklet hosted by Four Barrel Coffee at 15th and Valencia Streets is a great example of making the most of the public right of way to create a great space for people to gather and park their bicycles while visiting nearby shops and cafes.
Over 20 parklets have already been built in neighborhoods around the city, adding a little more space on our sidewalks for people sit, relax, and enjoy the city around them, but neighborhoods, residents and businesses are still calling for more! San Francisco is ready for the next round of innovative designs and is eager to see them branching out to new neighborhoods.
CBDs Community Benefit Districts, Storefront Business owners, and Non-profits and community organizations are encouraged to apply. Other applicants may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications are due on December 5, 2011 at 5:00pm.
Download the RFP and application here, and visit our parklets page for resources for interested applicants and more information about parklets in San Francisco.
Email sfpavementtoparks[at]sfgov[dot]org as soon as possible to inform them of your intent to apply. For general questions about parklets, contact info[at]sfgreatstreets.org.
Gary Hustwit’s URBANIZED featured at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts!
October 19th, 2011Beginning November 4th, 2011, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts will be featuring a one-week showing of the film Urbanized, by Gary Hustwit, director of Helvetica and Objectified.
Urbanized explores the many challenges that cities are faced with today, while presenting strategies and best practices of urban design being implemented globally. The film features architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers that discuss urban issues of housing, transportation, public space, economic development, civic engagement, and environmental policy that challenge cities all over the world. By examining various urban design projects and highlighting the contributions of ordinary citizens, Urbanized sets up a global discussion on the future of cities.
What lessons can we learn from these urban design projects, the issues they seek to adress, and the roles of both experts and ordinary citizens as we strive to revive Market Street? Ticket prices for this film are $10, and YBCA is located at 701 Mission St. in San Francisco, just a few blocks from the Powell and Montgomery Street BART/Muni stations.
More information about the film and these screenings can be found here .
What do you think of Sunday Streets?
October 18th, 2011
Photo credit: Sf.Streetsblog.org
Have you enjoyed biking, walking, jump-roping, or skating through the city during a Sunday Streets event? Do you wish the route was longer, shorter, or in a different neighborhood? Have you had trouble getting around the city because you didn’t know that Sunday Streets was happening?
With the Sunday Streets 4th Season is winding down, Livable City is looking forward and planning for 2012. They want to know what does and doesn’t work for you so that more people can enjoy more Sunday Streets, while having a lighter impact on neighborhoods and the city. Share your thoughts and experiences by filling out their brief 10 question survey.
Sunday Streets is a series of events put on by the City of San Francisco to encourage health, community and fun, inspired by similar events in cities throughout the world. A Sunday Streets event creates a large, temporary, public space by closing off stretches of a neighborhood’s streets to automobile traffic, and opening them to pedestrians, bicyclists, and activities for several hours on a predetermined Sunday.
Haven’t enjoyed Sunday Streets before? Don’t miss your final opportunity this year. The final event of 2011 is October 23 along the popular Mission Route (Valencia from Duboce to 24th Street, 24th Street from Valencia to Hampshire). See the route map at sundaystreetssf.com.
Sunday Streets is presented by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the City of San Francisco. Livable City, a local transportation-oriented non-profit manages daily operations and serves as the program’s fiscal sponsor. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition manages the Volunteer program for Sunday Streets.
http://sfgreatstreets.org/
http://sfgreatstreets.org/
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