Gridlock, fog frustrate many in San Francisco on July 4
San Francisco faces criticism for July 4th gridlock
Video of traffic gridlock, pedestrian crowds, bus lines, stalled Waymo driverless taxis, and one rider whose Waymo drove over an illegal firework as it burned on the street have prompted questions from the public about how San Francisco handled the planning and implementation of crowd control after historic Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show.
SAN FRANCISCO - A festive Fourth of July turned into a frustrating night for many in San Francisco as heavy fog and crippling traffic gridlock marred the holiday celebrations.
Gridlock, fog
Waymo drives through firework in San Francisco
Passengers riding in a Waymo were terrified as their vehicle drove straight into lit fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations in San Francisco, California. Rose Peterson via Storyful
The evening began with disappointment for crowds gathered Saturday near the Golden Gate Bridge, where the city's much-anticipated fireworks show was almost entirely shrouded by dense fog.
The situation deteriorated after the event as thousands of attendees attempted to leave. Footage recorded near the Marina District showed severe gridlock, with drivers reporting they were trapped in standstill traffic past 1:30 a.m.
Adding to the delays, viewers reported that several Waymo autonomous vehicles stopped working, creating additional headaches for motorists trying to return home. Local police later confirmed that at least one autonomous vehicle was actively blocking traffic during the gridlock.
Rose Peterson from Walnut Creek took a video in the 200 block of Taylor Street in San Francisco showing passengers yelling as their Waymo approached the fireworks before driving right through it.
"Dude, our Waymo just drove into a firework," she is heard saying on her video.
"In the moment, I was shocked. I was stunned. I couldn't believe this was happening," Peterson said. "Something seriously could have happened to us, or the people around us."
Peterson and the other passenger were fine, she said, adding that the person who lit the firework reached out to her on Instagram and apologized.
Foggy Fourth: Historic Golden Gate bridge fireworks disappoint as fog obscures show
Dense fog in San Francisco obscured much of the historic Fourth of July fireworks from the Golden Gate Bridge, leaving many spectators disappointed after hours of waiting along the waterfront.
"In coordination with local authorities and emergency services, our roadside assistance team worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area," according to a statement from Waymo. "Our team is always evaluating ways to strengthen Waymo’s resilience in major traffic disruptions."
"There was absolutely no traffic control at all on my entire bike ride from Fort Mason to Civic Center BART station or around San Francisco City Hall," Mark Chekal of Berkeley said. "I think it was just a total failure... getting in and out of San Francisco that evening."
"I don't understand why there weren't more busses running, why there wasn't maybe a dedicated street that was just busses, like Polk or Larkin," Chekal said.
The SFMTA says they did have a plan to have dedicated bus lines on Chestnut Street but that fell through, and the red express bus lane on Van Ness Avenue was blocked for part of the evening due to an emergency.
In a statement, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said his office plans to talk with stakeholders about the traffic situation.
"We understand that with more than 100,000 people in the area, some people experienced delays getting home, and we will have conversations with our public and private partners to ensure the experience is smoother next time," Lurie's office said.
The Source: Visual evidence, participants, Waymo, video from Rose Peterson via Storyful, Daniel Lurie office