"New Urbanism" Awesomeness in the City

CurbedSF

So much of what makes San Francisco (and Marin) wonderful can be filed under "New Urbanism,"  which is quite often the resurrection of old urbanism, before cars took over the universe. Now of course, as a realtor, I have and use a car, but I'm also a pedestrian and cyclist and plant lover, and a big fan of making cities more livable. Cities around the world are revitalizing using these principles, and San Francisco is definitely on the vanguard.

Cycle Chic

Today's San Francisco examples: here and here. Copenhagen has been at this for decades.  Marin, while not quite urban, does have concentrated town centers, often surrounded by protected wildlands, more on Marin in another post.

StreetsBlog

Sunday Streets and Getting Around the Golden Gate

While I love being a Realtor for so many reasons, holding Sunday open houses has sure limited my Sunday Streets participation. By the time I change out of Realtor garb and get on my bike, things are usually pretty well over, and the streets are being opened to cars again.

Bike NOPA

Ah well, there's one more this year. Perhaps I can swing an open house in the Mission on October 23rd, and there's always car free weekends in Golden Gate Park, thanks to the SF Bike Coalition. 

SFGate

The Golden Gate Bridge cycling situation is still a bit of a mess. Thanks to the Marin County Bicycling Coalition for their efforts to mitigate said mess. Here's the place to get updates from the GG Bridge District. 


The big 75th anniversary celebration preparation is underway, and the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy's Trails Forever is working to connect the newish Bay Trail at Battery East bike lane to a more functional multi-use path under the bridge to the coastal bluffs along Lincoln Blvd. 

SF Streets

The Golden Gate Bridge is much beloved and can get very crowded, even without massive road (and trail) reconstruction. Through some inexplicable collective unconscious process, it seems like every access road north and south and the bridge itself is undergoing major change. Having worked with several of the agencies involved, I know this has to do with funding timing and other factors out of their individual control. It is not part of a conspiracy to torture us, though it sure can seem that way.

Alas, we must all be patient, and eventually all the repair and reconstruction of roads around the golden gate will be completed. In the meantime, here's a couple more places to go for updates. 


Marin Headlands


Doyle Drive ("Presidio Parkway")


and for your sartorial inspiration- Cycle Chic

Sacramento Press