Los Angeles and San Francisco are throwing street parties on Sunday, and motorists are not invited. In fact, cars and trucks are strictly forbidden.
The two cities are hosting ciclovias on Sunday. The events call for closing down several miles of roadways, transforming them into a carnival-like atmosphere where bicyclists and pedestrians can enjoy the streets without the threat of motor vehicles. Streets for people! Party on!
This is the second such event in Los Angeles; in San Francisco it's a monthly event throughout the spring and summer. The name, ciclovia, was coined in Bogata, Colombia, where some 70 miles of streets are closed on Sunday and holidays and bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to roam freely.
Los Angeles
The CicLAvia is the second such event in Los Angeles after a popular launch in October 2010. It rolls out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the same 7 1/2-mile route that drew an estimated 100,000 last fall.
Visitors can enjoy music and dance performances along the way, or participate in activities, such as dodgeball. List of events are available here and here. Here's a link to a detailed map of CicLAvia.
The organizers also put out some “rules of the road” and are looking for volunteers.
If you can't make it on Sunday, you'll get another chance on July 10 or October 9.
San Francisco
Sunday marks the second event in the monthly ciclovia program entitled Sunday Streets. They're scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month through October. Here's detailed map of the upcoming Sunday Streets.
The upcoming Sunday Streets takes to the Great Highway along the seawall and the main drag through Golden Gate Park. The website mentions free bike rentals from Bike & Roll, Bay City Bike Rentals and Blazing Saddles. The CA Outdoor Rollersports Association will bring out a mobile roller disco with free skate rentals. The YMCA will offer activities for children and families.
Other dates in Sunday Streets:
May 8 — Mission route, including Valencia and 24th streets;
June 12 — Bayview route, from Mission Bay to Bayview Opera House
July 10 — Great Highway route
Aug. 14 — Civic Center/Tenderloin route
Sept. 11 — Western Addition route
Oct. 23 — Mission route
Other cities
The ciclovia idea has caught on like incendis forestales. Cities around the world now celebrate livable streets at least once a year.
Here's a very short list for the Western US:
Portland
Seattle (check back for 2011)
Spokane
Others in Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis and New York. If you know of others, feel free to share them below.
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