Why traffic could be a nightmare in San Francisco on Thursday
SFGATE- By Amy Graff – April 20, 2023
San Francisco could face a doozy of a traffic disaster Thursday, with multiple events all happening on the same day. The best way to avoid the gridlock? Don’t drive.
The San Francisco Giants are playing the New York Mets at Oracle Park at 6:45 p.m. Around the corner at Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors will face off against the Sacramento Kings in a 7 p.m. playoff game. Adding to the crowds pouring into the city Thursday, the annual 420 celebration, an unofficial holiday celebrating pot smoking, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Hippie Hill in Robin Williams Meadow.
“We are encouraging folks to bike, walk and take Muni and BART,” said Stephen Chun, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. “We’re asking people, whatever you do, travel safe, get there safe, allow for delays and say hi to your operator and heed the instructions of the police department.”
Chun said the agency is offering its usual game-day operations with extra trains on the Market and Central lines. For the Warriors game, Muni will operate the 78X express service before and after the event between 16th Street BART and Chase Center. Your Warriors ticket gets you a free ride, he said.
At Golden Gate Park, Chun warned that traffic could be especially bad and advised drivers to avoid the area. Between noon and 3 p.m., the 7 Haight/Noriega line will offer additional service. Muni is offering free shuttle service for 420 attendees from the event entrance at John F. Kennedy Drive and Conservatory Drive East to the Civic Center BART station between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. This service is geared to people leaving the event. You can find more information on transit options to and from the event at sfmta.com/420.
Chun encouraged people to take public transit to the 420 event rather then driving, as parking in the area will be extremely limited.
Posted by Teri Perticone
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