With the hills and topology of our beautiful city, as well as our clear geographic and area constraints, shouldn’t this *be* the type of city where public transit use is encouraged and private transit use is discouraged? If not here, then where?

It’s not ideal, and it’s not the final answer, but I do think it’s a step in the right direction.

Also, it might help to know that closing roads to traffic actually has the side efffect of reducing auto trips, so there is actually less traffic. The Institute of Civil Engineering calls it the Vanishing Traffic Effect. I can post the link if anyone is interested.

If we can help the current population become less auto dependant, good for us, we will all be better off because of that.

CD, by that token, all your comments are just your *opinion* as well. I think everyone here knows that all posts and comments are the authors’ opinion since no one here is God.

Sorry, couldn’t resist. :)

At no point have I been self-righteous – but if you have a right to walk or cycle here, I have a right to enjoy my neighborhood and still be able to work and put food on my table and keep a roof over my head. And there’s no smugness here – I’m just saying it’s shortsighted legislation that benefits those fortunate enough to elect to live car free lives – some of us don’t have a choice (see comments about the need for stronger, safer, more frequent, reliable regional transit above).

I’ll stick with the Avenues awhile – if YOU don’t like that there are cars there, move to Nob Hill.

And about the Avenues: Jordan, it leaves something to be desire for *you*. I think it’s a pretty whole, complete community.

One of the few places I can live in California without a car is San Francisco and your self-righteousness about the use of your own automobile is frankly disgusting. I wish you’d leave the Avenues and just move to San Jose where you can sit in the concrete jams on your way to unloading groceries for your silly parties.

Your bringing up of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” is revealing. The real-life villains of both the film and history were the car culture robber barons we are still living under who destroyed one of the great urban railway lines in the world in the Los Angeles basin so nobody could use it anymore. They literally tore up all the tracks so everyone would have to drive a car!

And I’ve got my own issues with self-righteous cyclists, but your smugness, Ms. Dominguez, shades over into sheer stupidity.

To take the argument to the extreme, how would cyclists feel if the roads and sidewalks were closed to all vehicular traffic, cars and bikes? That would make the roads so much safer and plesant for the pedestrians! Heck, maybe we should build some parking decks at the city line and make SF a car-free zone! Think of all the oil we could save! And we’d all be heathier too!

In my short 3 years living on 9th avenue, I’ve seen quite a turnaround in the quality of life out here. I’ve lived on Franklin at Jackson, 16th and Dolores and Oak and Scott previously. And of all those locations, I love this one the most. We have the park, see thread above :-) and incredible eateries. If traffic could be calmed somewhat I think this place could prove to be the most ideal in the entirety of the city.

My bias is that I have a family here in the city, and I plan on staying. Working for a greener, more pedestrian friendly, neighborhood schools, place to live.