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Sunday Streets hearing: health benefits and merchant impact cited; city and nonprofit partners seek sustainable funding
Summary
Livable City, public health researchers and SFMTA presented evidence that Sunday Streets increases physical activity and can boost some merchants’ revenues; presenters and community groups urged expanding routes into underserved neighborhoods while balancing sponsorship and neighborhood priorities.
The Board of Supervisors’ committee reviewed the Sunday Streets program on June 25, hearing presentations from Livable City, public health researchers and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency about the event’s health, economic and logistical outcomes.
Jeremy Pollack, legislative aide to Supervisor John Avalos, introduced the hearing. Tom Radulovich, executive director of Livable City, framed the program’s goals: increase physical activity, create temporary open space in neighborhoods that lack safe places to walk or play, model car‑free streets and strengthen social ties. Radulovich traced the program’s roots to Bogotá’s Ciclovía and said Sunday Streets has grown since its launch in 2008.
Christina Goethe of the Department of Public Health and Dr. Susan Zief of San Francisco State University presented evaluation findings: average participant time at an event was about 142 minutes; repeat attendees reported increased physical activity; and a cost‑benefit estimate presented by public health staff suggested approximately $2.30 saved in medical costs for every dollar spent on the program. Dr. Zief also reported that 44 percent of businesses surveyed reported increased customer activity during events on their corridor, with an average net revenue gain reported in some routes.
Rebecca Gallegos of the Bayview Opera House described local programming partnerships—free health screenings, children’s activities and a cook‑off—that brought new foot traffic to Third Street and engaged community organizations. Diana DeSantis of the SFMTA reviewed the city’s logistical role and provided a projected agency expense estimate for 2013 (about $284,500 for the city agency costs across 10 events, including traffic control, barricade placement and cleanup). Livable City staff said their annual non‑city budget is about $300,000 and that about half of that comes from corporate donations.
Public commenters urged expansion of Sunday Streets into underserved neighborhoods such as the Tenderloin and cautioned against over‑commercialization. Dale Seymour, representing a Tenderloin walking‑tours group, said residents there have few places for children to play and urged frequent events. Supervisors and staff discussed balancing sponsorship revenue with program goals; SFMTA recommended exploring sponsorship strategies and improved permit streamlining to make merchant participation easier.
The committee filed the hearing record without objection. Presenters recommended multi‑stakeholder strategic planning to align city partners, expanded community partnerships, streamlined permitting for merchants and pursuit of sustainable sponsorship models to reduce city costs while preserving neighborhood character.
