SF Is Tearing Down the Infamous Chinatown “Bridge to Nowhere”
San Francisco’s much-maligned Portsmouth Square pedestrian bridge, often dubbed the city’s most hated bridge, is finally on track to be demolished next year as part of a long-planned redesign of Chinatown’s central park. Locals have complained for decades that the concrete footbridge blocks light, creates safety issues, and takes up valuable space in what’s often called “Chinatown’s living room.” Community feedback has overwhelmingly supported its removal, clearing the way for a more open, accessible park designed for elders, families, and daily neighborhood life.
But while many SF residents won’t miss it, the bridge has a second life that made it famous far beyond the city. Known globally as China Banks, the structure is one of the most iconic skateboarding spots in the world, immortalized in decades of skate videos and magazines. Its slanted concrete walls and benches helped define modern street skating and inspired skate parks around the globe. The structure is getting demolished, but China Banks will still be remembered as one of skateboarding’s most famous spots.
h/t SF Gate
