Part 1: Golden Gate Park’s JFK Promenade
It’s hard to imagine San Francisco without the JFK Promenade, a 1.5 mile car-free space attracting thousands of visitors each day, but unfortunately, this community space is under attack.
Proposition I was written to take away these unique places, sending San Franciscans seeking recreation back to the past when Golden Gate Park’s JFK Drive was part of the City’s “high injury corridor,” meaning one of the top streets contributing to the City’s 30 deaths and 500 critical injuries caused annually by traffic violence. Proposition I chooses car convenience for a few over the safety of all.
Proposition J protects JFK Promenade as a safe place for all San Franciscans to recreate away from the danger and pollution of automobiles. And thanks to access improvements like a free shuttle and more ADA parking than before, Golden Gate Park is now more accessible than ever before.
In part one of this photo series, Jason Corning brings us a selection of portraits of people who enjoy and depend upon the JFK Promenade. Be sure to vote Yes on J, No on I for the thousands of people who enjoy the Promenade each and every day.
I just got my bike back from storage, and I plan to do JFK at least two days a week.
I come see the flower piano and other things that go on around here.
I feel completely and utterly safe.
When I drive, it’s madness. And then you get here and I can enjoy this, and fly.. I can’t stop smiling! Car-free!
Where would I go (if cars returned?)
Ty
I used to bike here every day.
This is my first time out of the hospital, and I requested to come here.
I love car-free JFK.
I voted for every single thing that I could vote for (in support of this).
It’s a fuckin park… we don’t need cars in the fuckin park.
When cars were here, I used to bike through here, and it was kind of sketchy. A lot of the cars that were driving through here were either Ubers or tourists, so there was a really high risk of being doored. The pollution of cars makes the park less beautiful.
Jason
I live in the TL.
This is the third time I’ve been here this week.
I’m on a date right now. She’s into plants, I’m into plants, and the conservatory is free on Tuesdays.
It’s open, it’s free… SF is hella expensive, so if you can get the scenery without the premium, it’s a plus.
I was in Korea before SF, and it’s hella walkable.
I’m absolutely in support of car-free JFK. There’s enough cars in America, bro.
Ryan
I’ve been here for six days, and this is my third time visiting.
It’s amazing, a great idea.
Martin
We moved to the Inner Richmond right before the pandemic.
This road shut down has been great for our family.
We use it every day, three times a day. My kids learned to ride their bikes here. I run to the ocean every morning. This is great, I can run without cars and worrying about traffic.
It’s a park, do we really need cars in the middle of the park? You can drive right along either side, you have the shuttle. I just don’t understand the argument for it.
It's flat, no cars…
Sokie
Bobby leads his students along the JFK Promenade.
The other parts of the city, we don’t feel comfortable riding the bike and so on. Here it’s a bit more relaxed and you’re happy and here you feel safer.
Mia & Valentine
We wanted to see the Conservatory of Flowers today.
It’s nice, it’s quiet, and it provides a safer route for people who are on their bikes or walking.
We’re in support of car-free JFK. It feels like you’re not in the city anymore.
Sarah & Makenna
I live in the Outer Sunset. I use JFK Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I commute to school.
Everyone is welcome here as long as you are not a car. I’m in support of keeping it car-free…
There’s so much room here.
Kia
I come to JFK six days a week. It’s mostly just for safety, and the care-free.
I support a car-free JFK.
Even if you own a car, you can get to all of these places. Whenever you come to the Conservatory, or you go to the museum… you’re never going to get a spot right in front.
It’s just about figuring out, if I’m going to drive, there are other alternative ways of getting to your spot.
As soon as the garage is owned by the city, the pricing of the garage will be a lot more affordable.
If cars returned, I would miss the ability to recreate safely. During the pandemic, this is where my daughter and I would spend our afternoons. She could bike ahead.
We’re an urban city, and wide open spaces are a premium. We were taking it for granted.
Mia
I live in Cole Valley.
I walk here every single day.
It’s safe, and we can go on a flat surface without having to worry about cars and traffic. There’s a lot of people who get drunk in Haight Ashbury and they don’t stop at the stop signs.
I’m in support of car-free JFK.
Louise
I ride through four or five times a week. I work in the Mission, so I’m constantly commuting on my bike. It’s the easiest way to get back to (the Sunset) from the Mission.
Absolutely (I’m in support of keeping it car free).
The community aspect is the best. It’s nice for me to ride a bike, and other people are using it in other totally different ways for multiple years now.
I rode this path before, and it was always a fun time, but now you can feel the community appreciate it (car free).
I’m always about more parks if we have that space.
Tym
I come to JFK once a week to bike in the park.
I like it car-free.
I like the tranquility of it.
Nima
Since April, I’ve been coming out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Sundays they have the big skate event.
This is the way it should be… car-free.
If cars came back it would be less pleasant, with a lot of distractions. There’s a lot of beginner skaters, families, and kids. If people are trying to park, it would mar the beauty of what we see now.
There’s plenty of parking as it is.
Tom
I live in the Presidio.
I come here at least once a week. On my bike or running.
It’s wide and there is no cars, and it’s beautiful.
I support a car-free JFK.
…(if cars returned) I would miss the calm and being able to use the full space without worrying about cars.
Sabrine
I come to JFK almost every day. This is my exercise…
Cars are a nuisance, they are going to pollute the air.
This feels safer.
Joseph
I come to JFK a few times a week to bike.
I usually pass the conservatory which is filled with cool people and great flowers, and the skating rink, and there’s always something happening there.
I like it the way it is. I have been enjoying the freedom of the whole road being open.
I think it would make it tougher to have an open space if cars returned.
Seth & Friend
I come one or two days a week. On my off day.
Kyle