Memorial Day Weekend 2014, traffic, police checkpoints and celebrations

Time/Laura Stampler, 4/23/14.  "Here's why traffic will be even more terrible than usual this Memorial Day weekend."

Lots of traffic everywhere, this one
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Festive weekend,
a few weeks prior to Summer (6/21/14)

.... "According to a new report, the never-ending winter inspired just about everyone to start their summer vacationing as early as possible. Plus, consumer spending is up this year, and gas prices are steady. All that means that there will be more traffic this Memorial Day Weekend than ever.

AAA Travel projects that 36.1 million Americans will travel 50-plus miles from their house this weekend, which is 1.5% higher than last year. Since 88% of travelers will be getting to their final destination by car, traffic will be 2.6% higher than the 10-year historical average.  Read more, including a travel traffic graph. 

Related article -  San Francisco Chronicle, 5/23/14.  ...."Complicating matters, Caltrans is closing a section of southbound I-280 in San Francisco between the on-ramp at Sixth and King streets and the Pennsylvania Avenue on-ramp.  .... "... the Giants host the Minnesota Twins at AT&T Park on Friday (7:15 p.m.), Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday (1:05 p.m.) before hosting the Chicago Cubs on Monday (1:05 p.m). The A's return from a road trip Monday to host the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 p.m. at O.co Coliseum. The annual Carnaval celebration will also be shaking its way through San Francisco this weekend, with the Grand Parade as Sunday's main event. .... Bay Area law enforcement agencies plan to be out in force looking for drunken drivers, setting up checkpoints and saturation patrols."
 

Memorial Day, honors those who died
in Military Service for this Country

Big fines for not staying
sober enough to drive

Related activities  - SF fun cheap.com, current events from Friday, May 23 through Thursday May 29.  The listing includes San Francisco and Bay Area "geeks, fairs and festivals, Memorial Day weekend celebration guide".  Hidden SF.  "SF Bay Area Events and weekend."

Reference - History, includes video 3:19 minutes. "Memorial Day."  "Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer." 

Note photographs:  Musicians from Snap Guide, #8 of 29 slides. Richmond-San Rafael Bridge by Eric Risberg (Associated Press,8/29/13, from Daily Republic/Fairfield-Suisun, 8/29/13. Memorial day CBS, Memorial Day Celebrations, 4/23/13. Sobriety checkpoint fom  CBS 5 SF Bay Area, 11/25/12. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh