If you want to enjoy the views from the Golden Gate Bridge this weekend, you'd better hop on the bus, as officials say that no private vehicles will be allowed to park in either of the bridge's lots this weekend.
We were warned that something like this might happen back in January, when district officials started mulling closures of Vista Point (that's the north parking lot) after "commuters during the week after Christmas got stuck in hour-long snarls all caused by tourists trying to get into the tiny parking lot," Jay reported at the time.
Perhaps imagining another holiday-related traffic jam, Bay City News reports that officials with the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway And Transportation District have opted to shut down the parking lots at each end of the bridge "to mitigate traffic backups as visitors line up for a limited number of parking spaces" on Saturday and (Easter) Sunday.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, "visitors are encouraged to enjoy the view from the Welcome Center at the south end of the bridge and Vista Point from the north end by taking a tour bus, corporate shuttle, taxi or ride-booking service," BCN reports.
Muni and Golden Gate transit also offer buses that pick up and drop off at both of the shuttered lots.
Tour buses will still be welcome in both lots, and cabs/TNCs can pick up and drop off passengers at the Welcome Center (which is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily), but can't drive into Vista Point. Neither cabs nor TNCs will be allowed to idle and wait for passengers, and every TNC that tries to enter "will need a decal or other proper identification."
The overflow parking lots along Lincoln Boulevard and in the Presidio will remain open, officials say, and "Our Sausalito" has a solid list of other nearby lots, if you absolutely must drive yet don't mind a bit of a hike.
Previously: Golden Gate Vista Point On Marin Side Might Close Due To Traffic Nightmares