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Board adopts Golden Gate Park access and safety plan, approving vehicle restrictions on some park streets
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance amending the park code to adopt the Golden Gate Park access and safety plan, approving restrictions on private vehicles on certain segments including John F. Kennedy Drive, one-way traffic changes and bicycle infrastructure after a 6-4 vote.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 3 adopted an ordinance amending the park code to adopt the Golden Gate Park access and safety plan, which directs vehicle restrictions on specified park streets, one-way conversions for certain segments and installation of bicycle lanes.
The ordinance "includes restricting private vehicles on certain slow street segments in Golden Gate Park, including on John F. Kennedy Drive, making certain street segments one way, establishing bicycle lanes and urging additional changes to improve public access to Golden Gate Park," the board clerk read into the record when the ordinance was introduced.
Why it matters: The measure changes how vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians use parts of Golden Gate Park and directs city agencies to implement circulation and access changes intended to improve safety and public access.
Board debate and process: Supervisor Dean Preston asked that the item be postponed until later in the meeting so that Supervisor Myrna Melgar could participate, saying, "I want to request that we, put this item over to later in the agenda, when Supervisor Melgar is able to join us and vote on it." The president accommodated that request and the board returned to the item later in the afternoon.
When the ordinance came up for final vote, the board approved it by a 6-4 tally. Supervisors voting in favor were Supervisor Mandelmann, Supervisor Mar, Supervisor Melgar, Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Ronan and Supervisor Stephanie; Supervisors Walton, Chan, Peskin and Safaie voted no. The clerk announced: "This ordinance is finally passed with 6 yeses and 4 nos."
What the ordinance does: As read into the record, the ordinance adopts the Golden Gate Park access and safety plan, and authorizes park-code amendments to: restrict private vehicle access on designated "slow street" segments, implement one‑way traffic on specified park road segments and establish on-street bicycle lanes. The ordinance also directed the city to make related findings and determinations required to adopt the plan.
Implementation and next steps: The ordinance assigns implementation to park operations and coordinating city agencies (the ordinance text as presented names the park code amendment and plan but did not set precise construction timetables in the hearing). Board members emphasized the item required continued coordination among the Recreation and Park Department, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and other city departments.
Dissent and concerns: Supervisors voting no expressed concerns during the hearing about access and other trade-offs; the transcript records the four dissenting votes but does not provide a single-text statement aggregating the reasons. The ordinance passed despite the objections.
Formal action recorded: See formal action below for the ordinance vote and the earlier postponement request.
Ending note: The board adopted the park-code changes after the midday postponement and later recorded the 6-4 final vote; the measure will next be implemented by city departments charged in the ordinance and plan.
