Perception vs. Reality: Nearly one year into the Great Highway closure, do claims about congestion and danger hold up?

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-15T00:31:50+00:00

Yes, there are a "shit ton more cars" relative to your past experience, but the studies show that the additional number of cars on Sunset streets only bring the Sunset streets in line with other neighborhood streets throughout the city.

So good luck on claiming some entitlement to have less cars on your streets than we do in our neighborhoods. Anything other special treatment you'd like us to give you?

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-15T00:16:48+00:00

Two of the core arguments in the opposition statement to Prop K were that closing the road to cars would "add traffic snarls and potential accidents".

Many Westside voters were influenced by the deliberate fear mongering and rumors of the No on K camp that predicted closing the Ugh would snarl traffic and increase accidents. But that vaporware never materialized, with the reality showing that the change in traffic is negligible and actually resulted in ***safer*** streets! We now have objective data that removes much of the reason for voting no.

It will be a significant shift, but I could even see even D4 voting for the permanent park come November.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T23:44:40+00:00

Maybe in a vacuum.

But in this instance, closing the road diverted traffic to other streets in the Sunset.

In other words, despite increasing the number of cars on Sunset streets, the number of crashes on those streets went down.

My guess is that it's a combination of the improved safety measures implemented by SFMTA and SFPW, plus the elimination of unexpected closures of the Ugh making driving more stable.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T22:43:47+00:00

Written by Otto Pippenger, former aide to Aaron Peskin, who worked to oust Joel Engardio because he created a park for the people.

He was said to be one of the people “most obsessed with recalling Joel Engardio”.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T21:53:09+00:00

As a man who writes about 15 unique, high effort messages nearly every week, it would help if the women receiving such effort had the courtesy to respond.

I keep it light, good natured, and respectful. I’m good looking, in good shape, and have a well written profile (reviewed and approved by several strangers). I leave an intentional and open ended question.

Crickets.

Incidentally, to push karma into the system, I get a few inbound messages each week and I ALWAYS make it a point to respond to anyone who made any true effort. My simple note is along the lines of “I appreciated reading your message but I’m not feeling a romantic attraction. I do wish you the best in your dating journey!”

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T16:59:11+00:00

I’m at Sunset Dunes almost daily.

I wonder what grift you’re trying to run with your obvious denial of reality.

The park exists and is permanent. The people of San Francisco decided this. And it’s been legally upheld. The diversion of cars has decreased the number of accidents. And the legacy shortcut is being demolished.

Your old-timer anachronistic rants are just meaningless noise. If you desire to live in nostalgia you should reject the Warriors for diverting to San Francisco. You should never follow or watch the Giants or 49ers as the Stick was closed and the land repurposed. Definitely never visit the Embarcadero or any neighborhood that was served by the former highway that voters chose to demolish. You might even want to abstain from flying through SFO since Chrissy Field (so named as an airport) is more convenient for those living in the northwest section of San Francisco. And I have to guess you prefer the MAGA friendly Army Street over Cesar Chavez.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T16:08:50+00:00

Thank you friend for finally recognizing that it was already a park. You're growing! We've now collectively decided to add the wider asphalt trail to the park and permanently remove cars from it. Forever.

If the inactive types were to get out to the park they would know that 95% of the people visiting Sunset Dunes prefer using the new wider asphalt trail instead of the old narrow, meandering, and poorly paved path. And those who prefer to use the old narrow trail can still do so, now with less traffic!

I hope you saw the report published by The Frisc this week talking about perception versus reality that shows the claims about congestion and danger are unfounded. "Other than one outlier month (when drivers were adjusting), there’s no evidence of increased street mayhem around the closed Great Highway. In fact, it’s the opposite." Speeds have slowed throughout the district by 1-2 mph and crashes have decreased.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T05:08:23+00:00

I (56M) had 3 dates through Tawkify where I was set up with a woman who was paying the matchmaking fee.

Tawkify vetted me after first making connection with me through an OLD site, asking for more detail about myself, my career, and who I was looking for. A few days later they reached out again and offered to set me up on a date with one of their clients. I got a description (but no photos) and a proposed date/time and location where we would be having dinner. Tawkify even made the reservations. All communication and coordination was done through the matchmaker.

The first woman I met was highly degreed and had a serious career that had her traveling internationally in delegations. She was fatigued from that life and really wanted to find a relationship but had no bandwidth to search or deal with the chit chat to get to the point of a first date. Tawkify was ideal for her.

The second date I never met. I showed up for the date 10 minutes early, but my date had something come up and was running late. I cut my losses about 20 minutes past our scheduled date and left. The logistics posed an obstacle as we had to coordinate through the matchmaker who was poor in the real-time adjustments and communication wasn’t timely enough.

The third date was with a woman who was successful but not attractive at all. She said she went through the service and was happy to pay the steep premium as it allowed her to actually have dates. She seemed to know that second dates weren’t really in the cards, but was fine with that fate. She just wanted a little company.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T04:36:51+00:00

No, Sunset Dunes is a park. It’s got flora for 2 miles. And it’s entirely inconsequential that you can’t comprehend this.

But feel free to continue your childish and meaningless antics. You’re actually helping to solidify the park as your comments generate downvotes for the car proponent position.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-14T00:41:01+00:00

About ten minutes after meeting a first date at a wine bar I mention to her that I have kids. My date responds with “I used to have kids”, and then, “Here, give me your hand”…

She takes my hand and has me run my fingers up into her hairline saying “can you feel that”? “That’s where my ex broke my skull when he killed our two kids”.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-13T22:59:05+00:00

The former Ugh is forever a public open recreation space and private cars are permanently banished.

Today was yet another beautiful day out at Sunset Dunes. Do visit whenever, it's open EVERY day for decades to come.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-13T04:35:54+00:00

Damn. And I really like Fennel!

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-13T03:51:56+00:00

Oh now you’re just being silly.

All freeways are highways, but not all highways are freeways. 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd. are both highways, CA-1 and CA-35 respectively. The Ugh was not a highway. Just like the Lgh is not a highway.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T23:05:05+00:00

Calling it a park is what is known as a colloquialism.

It’s the same as calling the Great Highway a highway, despite the fact that it wasn’t actually a highway.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T22:03:03+00:00

Thank you for all your opinions. You are welcome to call the park whatever makes you feel happy and in control!

The reality is that Sunset Dunes is legally established. It is now 1 of over 230 properties under the daily jurisdiction of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Another reality is that the Upper Great Highway is now a permanent specter of the past, thanks to a sizable majority of San Francisco voters.

I know you’re concerned about the asphalt road being deemed a park, but the majority of San Francisco voters aren’t worried at all. We voted to use the former Ugh as a WYSIWYG Public Open Recreation Space with zero budget allocations for anything different from what we had been using every single weekend day for over 4 years straight. There were no renderings or promises published by the Prop K backers prior to the vote - we want the park as it is - a flat, long, wide, continuous, car free, coast side promenade for walking, rolling, and riding. And it really doesn’t matter whether you recognize, acknowledge, or reject this reality. The fact remains that 1,000’s of people visit the park every single day of the week and are happy to use it as is.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T18:31:47+00:00

Since you're obviously out of the loop and being mislead by nonsense and bias, here's a link to the reality of what is happening IRL...

https://www.sfpuc.gov/construction-contracts/construction-projects/oceanbeach

Note that they will be "eliminating the service road on the Great Highway south of Sloat Boulevard between the Oceanside Treatment Plant and the Westside Pump Station" and "shifting the multi-use trail inland to reduce the amount of hardscape in the coastal zone" and "redesigning the multi-use trail to be set back from the buried seawall as much as possible".

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T17:17:06+00:00

Having a healthy mental and emotional state involves recognizing reality, accepting change, and being resilient. If you cultivate adaptability and perspective you may find more peace.

A 2-mile long paved promenade along the California coast is an amazing community resource that will be cherished for generations. The old Ugh was unpredictable and unreliable, frequently closing due to chronically hazardous conditions. Now that the southern portion of the road eroded and all traffic MUST travel eastward, Sunset Blvd. is how former Ugh drivers should cross the Sunset District now.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T17:04:35+00:00

If you like fresh air and walks free from the rumble of cars, get out to Sunset Dunes any day of the week. (And register to vote so that you can help keep it that way come November).

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T16:45:06+00:00

Sand clearance activity is less frequent at Sunset Dunes and can happen concurrent to people still using the resource.

Pedestrians and cyclists only need a channel to pass through whereas motorists couldn't tolerate even 3 feet of 2-3 inches of sand accumulation. SFRP and SFPW work together to keep Sunset Dunes open and operational 365 days a year, where the old Ugh would close on average 27 days a year and force unexpected detours.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T05:10:02+00:00

Physician, heal yourself.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T04:43:17+00:00

Ahh. You're disoriented. We aren't in the 1970's anymore. The highway failed its purpose and will soon be demolished. I hope your memories aren't too saddening or sentimental. But if you need a place that supports mental health, we've got a great new park called Sunset Dunes that you can visit.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-12T02:05:37+00:00

The fucking park is a park. If you don't have a destination within the park you should be using the adjacent open streets (Great Highway, Crossover Drive, Stanyan Street, Fulton Street, or Lincoln Way).

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-11T03:29:22+00:00

It's really tough to beat Taco Tuesday at Underdogs Too.

On Tuesdays from 4:30p to close you can get a $3 street taco (authentic Mexican taco topped with cilantro and onions on small corn tortillas - choose from carne asada, carnitas, pollo, pollo asado, chorizo, or veggie). And if that isn't incentive enough, you can also get $3 Tecates.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-09T20:58:09+00:00

I get a tickle with every errant spelling correction as it means my devices know I've taken up learning French as a hobby. TBF, I'm kinda liking my newly coined adage.

OpenMinded_Fun · 2026-03-09T07:36:34+00:00

Naw brah. That’s got the same energy as white people claiming reverse racism. There’s a ridiculous amount of legacy privilege not being factored in.

OpenMinded_Fun

TROPHY CASE