The effect of the highway closure was studied by SFMTA: https://www.sfmta.com/blog/new-data-great-highway-road-closure-how-were-supporting-your-trips

Some roadways are busier and more congested. Chain of Lakes Drive has about 2,000 more vehicles per day than pre-closure. Lower Great Highway has about 700 more vehicles per day – that means about one additional vehicle per minute at peak hour –compared with pre-pandemic traffic.

At the same time, traffic on the Upper Great Highway between Fulton and Lincoln has dropped by 30%. Together, these two major park crossings – Chain of Lakes Drive and the Upper Great Highway – now carry about 3,200 fewer weekday car trips than before the closure. This suggests that while some traffic has shifted to nearby streets, other trips may have moved to different routes, different types of transportation, or aren’t happening anymore.

Other roadways remain below pre-pandemic traffic. Sunset Boulevard remains at 90% of pre-pandemic traffic volumes. Lincoln Way east of Chain of Lake was not impacted by the closure of the Upper Great Highway and remains 7% below pre-pandemic traffic volumes.

While some traffic has shifted to avenues, all the avenues where we collected data had typical traffic volumes for neighborhood streets.

That park is a great asset to the neighborhood. It started because roads were closed during the pandemic and people really liked having a place to take the kids, get to the beach, and not have to worry about cars. Traffic data shows closure impact is minimal. But some people are still raging that they have to drive a few blocks out of their way.

Update: voters recalled Joel Engardio, the supervisor who championed the highway closure, with 65% in support of the recall.

I'm not surprised. The whole city got to vote on the highway closure, which passed with majority approval, but with very strong opposition from Engardio's district, where that closed stretch of road actually was. The recall election was limited to Engardio's district. The result was pretty much inevitable.

You could complain about car brains, but I think it's a lesson in the importance of putting in the work and getting community support for road closures - or for any other change that directly impacts a specific community, no matter how well intentioned - instead of imposing them from the top down.

These are the same assholes who are suing the city saying proposition K was illegal. Check out this crazy statement in their court petition:

The effects of Proposition K will be to displace longtime residents, merchants, visitors, and daily commuters. Proposition K advances exclusionary public policies of limited benefit, and compromises the safety, accessibility, and overall well-being of the entire Bay Area. It effectively denies people equitable access to public roads, safe transportation, and a livable environment.

Briefs have just been filed and the city's opposition brief is pretty damning. You can check out the case document's if you're so inclined, but we can also just wait. The hearing is scheduled for November 10th and I'm planning to make some fresh popcorn when that news hits.