In Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood, the issue of sideshows—extralegal and intensely loud stunt driving exhibitions—remains a contentious topic. Residents, eager to restore peace, have attempted to intervene by installing traffic calming measures at notorious sideshow intersections, only to have those efforts repeatedly thwarted by city officials.
In late May, city workers from the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) removed rubber speed bumps placed by local residents at the intersection of East 21st Street and 18th Avenue. This was not the first time such measures had been dismantled; nearly a year prior, the city took away a makeshift tire island that residents had created to combat sideshow activity. Both interventions were viewed by the city as potential hazards for public safety, especially after a serious incident where a car flipped after hitting one of the tire installations.
Josh Rowan, the director of OakDOT, explained that his concerns arose from firsthand experiences. After riding a bus through the San Antonio neighborhood, he noticed how the makeshift bumps jolted passengers, prompting his decision to remove them.
Despite residents asserting that these bumps greatly reduced sideshow activity, the city maintained that any unapproved structures posed undue risks to drivers and themselves. Michael Andemeskel, a resident and software engineer, expressed frustration in an email to city officials after the latest removals. He pointed out the significant investment of over $3,000 residents made for the materials and argued that the speed bumps effectively eliminated sideshows at the designated intersections.
“These speed bumps worked,” Andemeskel stated, emphasizing the safety of the installations. He noted that all traffic issues began again within hours of their removal, leading to chaos in the neighborhood. He highlighted the lack of communication from OakDOT regarding the decision, postulating that the community felt neglected and unheard.
The tensions between local residents and the transportation department escalated as frustrations brewed over the ongoing sideshows, which had become a nightly disturbance in their lives. Rowan did acknowledge that although the neighborhood’s frustrations regarding sideshows were justified, he could not risk worsening road conditions to combat the issue.
At a press conference, he highlighted that major intersections were plagued by the sideshows, hinting at a more permanent solution that would take time to implement. Grants had been secured for plans conducive to traffic safety at the street’s busy intersections, but the city would not complete installations for another two years.
To pave the path forward, Rowan explained that OakDOT was formulating a tactical urbanism program. This initiative would allow residents to have a role in identifying and executing traffic calming measures under official city guidelines, seeking to balance community needs with safety regulations.
Residents had previously taken it upon themselves to install further speed bumps in the interim, mistakenly believing they had received a green light from city officials during earlier communications. When Rowan made it clear the community lacked the city’s authorization to do so, tensions reached a new peak.
Andemeskel, in light of a series of recent events, openly questioned why the city had not addressed their continued efforts and reiterated their commitment to combat the chaos in their neighborhood.
After the May removals, San Antonio residents convened to strategize their next steps. Lauren Blanchard, a community member, revealed their decision to send a formal demand letter to OakDOT, insisting that speed bumps be replaced or noting another possible conflict. The residents aimed to meet a deadline for the city to lay out a plan moving forward. If their ultimatum was rebuffed, the community promised to take matters into their own hands yet again—ready to reinstall the speed bumps and draw media attention to their plight.
As discussions between residents and city officials progressed, the community was able to secure a commitment from OakDOT for new sideshow deterrent measures. Andemeskel stated that funding from the city budget would partially cover the forthcoming projects aimed at alleviating the sideshow problem.
With relief in sight, the San Antonio residents hold onto a glimmer of hope for collaboration with city officials regarding their neighborhoods’ sideshow epidemic. Andemeskel reiterated the need for a sense of urgency from OakDOT in addressing the issues that have plagued their community for far too long.
image source from：https://oaklandside.org/2025/06/16/an-oakland-neighborhoods-campaign-against-sideshows-has-become-a-fight-with-the-city/
