The main arm of the market is located along the eponymous Pike Place, a two-block street that runs northwest for approximately between Pike Street and Virginia Street. It is open to one-way automobile traffic despite its heavy pedestrian use. While the street is closed to automobiles during some events, efforts to create a permanent pedestrian zone have been blocked by market vendors and business owners. The closing of the street to vehicular traffic has been described as a "perennial issue" due to Pike Place Market's status as a working market and the need for loading zones.
