Sunday Streets creates safe, fun, car-­‐free streets for people to get out and be active in diverse San Francisco neighborhoods

San Francisco—Sunday Streets 2014 season kicks off on this Sunday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along San Francisco’s picturesque Embarcadero. This event marks the beginning of Sunday Streets 2014 Season, which features nine events taking place in different San Francisco neighborhoods from March 9 to the end of October. Sunday Streets popular Embarcadero event – the traditional season opener since the program began in 2008 – reprises the well-developed 3.3-mile route that travels on the northbound lanes of Embarcadero from Fisherman’s Wharf to King and 3rd around AT&T ballpark to China Basin, ending at Terry Francois Blvd. and Mission Bay North. Long-standing Sunday Streets Program Partners Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District (CBD) and PIER 39 anchor the north end of the route with a full day of free, family-oriented fun in two locations, the Triangle parking lot (where Embarcadero meets Jefferson at Powell Street) and all along PIER 39. Troy Campbell, Fisherman’s Wharf CBD Executive Director encourages Sunday Streets participants to check out new, pedestrian and bike-friendly improvements: “Although Sunday Streets route starts/ends at Powell Street, if you continue north on Jefferson Street to you can see the many changes this neighborhood has undergone – notably from Jones to Hyde which features decorative street treatments and widened sidewalks that make Jefferson Street much safer and more pleasant to walk and bike along.

At the Triangle lot on Powell and Jefferson, the CBD is providing two climbing walls and a bike valet so participants can park their bikes for free and enjoy the wharf on foot for lunch or by visiting one of the many Fisherman’s Wharf attractions like Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 and the historic tall ships at Hyde Street Pier. PIER 39 features a ‘Kids Sports Challenge’ where kids can shoot hoops, play soccer and race to the finish line for prizes all day from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Other free fun along the route includes SF Bicycle Coalition’s popular ‘Freedom From Training Wheels’ course to help get kids up and riding on their own two-wheels (near Pier 7), Belly Dance lessons, blood pressure screenings, face painting and valet bike parking at the Ferry Building.

At Sunday Streets main hub and Sponsor area in Harry Bridges Plaza (foot of Market), Parkwide LLC offers free bike rentals, REI provides free bike tune-ups, and the SF Police Dept and SF Safe will demonstrate safe bike parking and offer free bike registration. Show your appreciation for Sunday Streets sponsors on site- their generous contributions make Sunday Streets possible – we could not do this without their support! Activity hubs south of the Ferry Building include Rincon Park (Cupid’s Arrow): fitness, interactive arts, Pier 40: Kayak lessons from City Kayak, South Beach Park: kid’s activities presented by the YMCA, YouthWorks and Children’s Theater Company. The B-Boys connection will rock Willie Mays Plaza in front of AT&T Park, along with tumbling activities by Acro Sports. The route continues across 3rd Street Bridge in China Basin to Terry Francois Blvd to Pier 52, where the Whale Boat Rowing Club offers Whale Boat rides from the public pier.

Sunday Streets is presented by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and Livable City who manage the program’s day-to-day operations. The Mayor’s Office, San Francisco Police Department, Department of Public Works (DPW), Recreation & Parks and other City agencies provide leadership and resources to sustain this popular San Francisco program. Major funding for Sunday Streets provided by: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Genentech, Kaiser, SF Museum of Modern Art, Shape Up and SF Dept. of Public Health, The New Wheel Bikes, United Health Care Workers–SEIU and Zendesk. A range of non-profit partners provide free programming at Sunday Streets, including: the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (bikes), B-Boys Connection (dance), Happy Hounds Massage (pet programs), California Outdoor Rollersports Association, YMCA (kids activities). Free bike rentals and repairs are provided by Parkwide LLC Bicycle Rentals, sports retailers Mikes Bikes, REI and Sports Basement provide free bike tune-ups at every Sunday Streets event. In Kind support provided by City CarShare and Recology Waste Management. Sunday Streets Media partners Clear Channel Radio, The San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Bay Guardian provide in-kind media support.

For more information about Sunday Streets, please visit sundaystreetssf.com.

*Sunday Streets 2014 Season Schedule

• March 9: Embarcadero- Season kick-off

• April 13: Tenderloin

• May 4: Bayview/Dogpatch

• June 8: Great Highway/Golden Gate Park

• July 13: Richmond

• August 24: Mission #1

• September 14: Western Addition

• September 28: Excelsior

• October 19: Mission #2

*dates for some events subject to change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2014

Contact: Susan C. King

415-823-5524 (cell)

susan@livablecity.org