Board extends pilot keeping Upper Great Highway closed to cars on weekend afternoons; first reading passes 9-2

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 on Dec. 6 to pass on first reading an ordinance that would keep the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard closed to private vehicles on Friday afternoons, weekends and holidays on a pilot basis through Dec. 31, 2025.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who introduced the measure, described the closure as a compromise that preserves weekday vehicle access while protecting a car-free promenade on Friday afternoons and weekends for pedestrians and cyclists. Supporters framed the pilot as a measured step toward climate adaptation and safer, car-free public space along Ocean Beach.

Why this matters: The Great Highway area is already experiencing coastal erosion and has been the subject of long-running discussions about climate adaptation. The pilot offers more time for data collection, traffic-planning work and community engagement before any permanent changes to traffic flow are finalized.

Debate and amendment Supervisor Melgar moved to amend the ordinance so the closure would run from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Monday rather than starting Friday at noon; he said the Friday-noon closure had posed practical problems for west-side residents and hospital access. That amendment failed 8-3. The final roll call on first reading was 9 in favor, 2 opposed (Supervisors Chan and Melgar).

The ordinance requires data collection on vehicle and pedestrian use, community outreach, traffic-management planning and a plan to address sand incursions on the roadway. Sponsors said the pilot helps the city plan for a permanent shuttering of the southern stretch of the Great Highway as part of longer-term ocean-climate adaptation efforts.

What supporters said Supervisor Marr framed the pilot as a carefully negotiated compromise that allows weekday commuting access while preserving a promenade when foot and bike traffic are highest. He and other proponents pointed to more than a year of outreach and the pandemic-era closure that first made the car-free promenade possible.

What critics said Opponents and some west-side supervisors warned the schedule inconveniences residents who rely on north-south travel to access jobs, hospitals and youth sports. Supervisor Melgar argued the Friday-noon start time in particular has been the recurring flashpoint and sought the later, Saturday-to-Monday window to reduce weekday impacts.

Next steps The ordinance passed on first reading; it will return for a second reading and final adoption during a subsequent meeting. Departments must carry out required data collection and outreach during the pilot period.