A meeting with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency last week resulted in the board voting 7-4 in favor of Mayor London Breed’s legislation to permanently close off a 1.5-mile-long stretch of the roadway to car traffic. 

In April 2020, the section of JFK Drive was closed to private vehicles to create a safe space for people to walk, run, and bike, while social distancing. The vote followed a meeting with nine hours of public comment in person at City Hall and over the phone. 

Critics of the move argue that a permanent closure would prevent park access to individuals who are disabled, elderly, or live farther away, and only benefit active users. Some have called for closing the road to vehicle traffic only on weekends, claiming that drivers commuting to work or transporting kids to school needed access. 

A notable opponent is the de Young Museum, which has recorded a decline in attendance since the closure was first enacted. They support the position that preventing car access has disproportionately impacted those with limited mobility.