1984 drive on the San Francisco Embarcadero Freeway

This 1984 video starts on Broadway in San Francisco, passes Columbus and then goes onto the Embarcadero freeway, then starts across the bay bridge to Oakland. At that point is another video clip coming back from Oakland and into San Francisco.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• 1984
• san francisco
• embarcadero freeway
• retro
• car ride

[BAYAREA4150]

why did you stay focused on 850 bryant ?? were you a jail bird lol

[seat850c]

@BAYAREA4150 You have a good eye! The video was shot the day after a big protest at 850 Bryant during the Democratic Convention that I saw in person, and it was still on my mind. Do a Youtube search for "1984 Democratic Convention Protests" for a news clip.

[seat850c]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone, glad you liked it!

[seamusfurr]

Everything about this video is fantastic. The scenery, the cast (the driver is badass), the soundtrack. Lo-fi masterpiece.

[wishfulanthony]

That's a very interesting video, especially I never got to see the Embarcadero Freeway! Oh boy, I now know why that freeway was torn down after the Loma Prieta Quake -- it was a barrier to the already-fantastic views of the city! However, it provided a zippy ride from the Financial District to Oakland. Anyways, this is one stunning video, and I can now see what SF looked like in the 80s (I was born in 1988).

[ExpresswayEnthusiast]

Excellent video. What's the song that's playing 1 minute in?

[jml4000]

Have you ever heard of Rick Prelinger's "Lost Landscapes of San Francisco"?

[NESherv]

What kind of a car was this shot in? And what happened to it?

[charmedjoh]

@DoNotTredOnMe i TOTALLY AGREE!!!

[TWHansen]

Nice Subaru.

[MisterBennigan]

Oh yeah, I definitely remember the 76 sign. Memories...

[MisterBennigan]

I love this! I was only 3 years old in 1984 but it's amazing to see what's changed and what's not changed. I too miss those days. Life seemed so simple.

[skmaxms]

I always wondered why there was an empty lot and an out-of-place brick building on Broadway.  This explains it all. Someone should put a plaque or something at that lot saying something like "Former entrance to State Route 480."

Would have liked to see more freeway signs. Oh well, no biggie.

[heroineworshipper]

Can't imagine going from pier 39 to the bay bridge so fast, now. If only we had the money to make double decker freeways & moon rockets like that generation.

[jml4000]

@MacPr0xnxx0 Because it was a huge eyesore, and it deterred a lot of development away from what was a pretty blighted area. Since the freeway was torn down, the neighborhood has turned into one of the most desirable ones in the city, with a new Giants Stadium, the Gap Corporate Headquarters, a whole bunch of luxury condominiums being built. The area also attracts a lot of tourists who otherwise wouldn't spend their money in the area, if it had a double decker freeway running through it.