Remember when San Francisco banned private cars from Market Street? It was supposed to be a big deal — a bold reimagining of the city's most iconic corridor, prioritizing transit, cyclists, and pedestrians. That was 2020. Five years later, regular drivers cruise down Market like the ban never happened.

During evening commute hours, it's not hard to spot private vehicles rolling through the transit-only lanes between 7th and 8th, slowing down Muni buses and forcing cyclists into dicey situations. These aren't rideshare drivers or taxis with a legitimate reason to be there. They're just regular cars, driven by people who either don't know the rules or — more likely — know nobody's going to stop them.

And they're right. Nobody is.

One local resident put it perfectly: "I see marked police cars flying up and down Market Street. They will see private cars on Market and do absolutely nothing." The enforcement gap is almost comical — if it weren't so dangerous. Another SF resident noted the irony that while illegal drivers get a free pass, "bikes running a red at 6:55 AM on a non-intersecting side of a three-way intersection are getting tickets for traffic violations."

Let's be clear about what's happening here: the city spent real money redesigning Market Street, passed real legislation restricting vehicle access, and then simply... chose not to enforce it. This is government at its most maddening — all announcement, no follow-through. Taxpayers funded the infrastructure changes. Transit riders were promised faster, safer service. Cyclists were promised protected lanes. Everyone got a press conference. Nobody got results.

The fix isn't complicated. Automated camera enforcement with meaningful fines would pay for itself overnight and actually change behavior. One resident suggested a $300 fine with proceeds going directly to Muni — an elegant solution that improves transit funding while deterring violators. No extra officers needed. No overtime budgets. Just technology and political will.

But political will is the one thing Market Street can't seem to attract. Mayor Lurie has SFPD resources at his disposal. The SFMTA has the authority to install enforcement cameras. The Board of Supervisors could push for either. Instead, we get a lawless corridor masquerading as progressive urban planning.

Rules that aren't enforced aren't rules. They're suggestions. And San Francisco has enough of those already.