Car-Free Hayes may be reduced to 9 hours per week
TL;DR: Click here to submit public comment to the SFMTA Board, to keep our current 3-day program, and create a process to get to a 24/7 pedestrianized Hayes Street (this should open your email program, if it doesn’t, use the email template below).
Email template
To: MTABoard@SFMTA.com
CC: comment@carfreehayes.orgSubject: Amend item 10.2 A (Hayes Street Shared Spaces program), continue 3-day program, and direct staff to design a process to pedestrianize a streetSFMTA Board:Please amend item 10.2 A (Hayes Street Shared Spaces program) to continue our 3-day Shared Spaces program, and also direct SFMTA staff to design a process to pedestrianize a street.For over 3 years, the 3-day Hayes Street Shared Spaces has been a lifeline for Hayes Valley. This program has been the focal point allowing Hayes Valley to not only survive and recover, but thrive. It’s made Hayes Valley a destination from Friday night through the weekend.With our Transit First, Climate Action, and Vision Zero goals, San Francisco should be leading the world in pedestrianized spaces. Please amend the recommendation to continue our 3-day program, and direct SFMTA to design a process to pedestrianize a street, giving our community a path to a 24/7 pedestrianized Hayes Street.Thank you for your time.This coming Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the SFMTA Board will vote on whether to reduce our Fri/Sat/Sun car-free Hayes program down to a single 9-hour Saturday.
That's right, a program supported by local merchant and neighborhood associations is about to be taken away. We need your help to save it.
Please provide public comment at this SFMTA Board Meeting in person if you are able, or via email if you are not. Let the SFMTA Board know that you not only want the current Fri/Sat/Sun program continued, but expanded!
Three-Handed Jazz performs on car-free Hayes Street
Broad merchant and resident support
From the residents, our petition advocating for a 24/7 car-free Hayes has gathered 1,169 signatures in just 5 weeks, 715 of those are SF residents. Sign our petition now if you have not already.
From the merchants, the Hayes Valley Merchants Council conducted a survey in September that showed 75% of merchants on the 400 block of Hayes support the current program.
SFMTA’s 9-hour recommendation
Two days ago SFMTA published a recommendation to reduce car-free Hayes to 9 hours on Saturday. A few hours later I filed a public records request asking for the data and correspondence that went into crafting that recommendation. I’ll summarize SFMTA’s survey data here, along with the Hayes Valley Merchants Council’s survey from September.
Public Safety and SFFD Response Times
The excellent folks at TranspoMaps.org analyzed 911 calls and emergency responses times from 2017 to 2023, and concluded car-free Hayes had no negative impact on emergency response times:
transpomaps.org/san-francisco/ca/hayes-valley-shared-spaces
Survey summaries
HVMC’s survey gave merchants multiple options around car-free days. SFMTA’s survey, on the other hand, asked “How do you feel about a Saturday option?”.
HVMC’s survey found 75% of 400 block merchants wanted the current Fri/Sat/Sun program continued. I have separated out responses from the merchants on the 400 block of Hayes, as they are on the car-free part of Hayes Street.
HVMC Survey: Shared Streets Schedule: Days
SFMTA’s survey showed at least 47% of 400 block merchants wanted the current Fri/Sat/Sun, though it only focused on a 1-day Saturday option, so not quite apples to apples.