Imagining a Hayes Street for people
Show your support for a permanently pedestrianized Hayes Street
We urge every San Franciscan who envisions a future where streets are for every resident's enjoyment, to show your support. Sign the petition to make Hayes Street permanently car-free. You can also tag photos and comments with #HayesPromenade on the platform of your choice.
Current Schedule
Friday 4pm-10pm
Saturday 10am-10pm
(weather permitting)
Interested in hosting your own events on Hayes Promenade?
In the News
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![Photo of Chez Maman, corner of Hayes and Gough]()
Stretch of Hayes Street stays car-free after SFMTA vote
By James Salazar, San Francisco Examiner, November 20, 2024. Image credit Craig Lee.
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![The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency unanimously approved that a stretch of Hayes Street — between Gough and Octavia Streets — will maintain pedestrian-only access on weekends until October 2024.]()
SFMTA keeps Hayes Street car-free for another year with a catch
By James Salazar, San Francisco Examiner, November 8, 2024. Image credit Craig Lee.
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![Pedestrians crossing a city street at a crosswalk, with street signs showing the intersection of Octavia and Hayes in the foreground, surrounded by tall buildings and greenery.]()
San Francisco Wants To Cut Back Car-Free Hayes Street
By Garrett Leahy, San Francisco Standard,
October 12, 2023. Image credit Camille Cohen. -
![A blue hand with white outlines reaching toward three toy cars: a yellow sports car, a red sedan, and an off-road vehicle.]()
SFMTA wants Hayes St. closure reduced to once-a-week, advocates fume
By Greg Wong, San Francisco Examiner, October 11, 2023. Image credit Olivia Wise.
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![A city street scene viewed from a crosswalk with people walking, trees, lampposts, and buildings under a clear blue sky.]()
City Staff Still Gunning for Hayes Valley Open Street
By Roger Rudick, Streetsblog, October 11, 2023. Image credit Roger Rudick.
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![Colorful row of buildings including blue, tan, green, and gray, with storefronts on the ground level and residential apartments above, on a city street with crosswalk, trees, and cloudy sky.]()
Advocates move to permanently make Hayes Street car-free
By Greg Wong, San Francisco Examiner, September 25, 2023. Image credit Craig Lee.
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![A portion of Hayes Street will remain car-free for at least an additional month]()
SFMTA reverses course, keeps Hayes Street car-free (for now)
By Greg Wong, San Francisco Examiner, July 26, 2023. Image credit Craig Lee.
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![People walking across a city crosswalk near street signs for Octavia and Hayes Streets, with tall buildings and trees in the background.]()
Car-Free Hayes Street To Continue for Now as San Francisco Walks Back Reopening Plan
By Garrett Leahy, San Francisco Standard,
July 25, 2023. Image credit Camille Cohen. -
![Photo of a person walking a bike down Hayes Street.]()
S.F. backs off plan to reopen Hayes Valley block to cars on weekends
By J.D. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, July 25, 2023. Image credit Salgu Wissmath.
Background
The 400 block of Hayes Street is approximately 14,766 square feet, to put that into perspective, neighboring Proxy occupies 11,430 square feet. Imagine how much we could do with that one block of Hayes.
Cities worldwide are prioritizing people, pedestrian safety, and sustainability. Barcelona’s superblocks, Paris’ low-traffic zones, and Copenhagen’s vast bike network should inspire us all to demand more here in San Francisco. We have a golden opportunity to re-envision the role of our streets. Hayes Street is not just a thoroughfare but a vibrant stretch of community space. A pedestrianized Hayes Street would provide a beautiful avenue for sitting, eating, and walking. It would foster a community-centric atmosphere where people, especially families, the elderly, and children can play and bike freely.
At the start of the pandemic, our neighborhood came together to make Hayes Street car-free on Friday evenings and weekends. This experiment opened up new space for people and businesses to congregate safely. It’s time to imagine something even better, and more permanent.
