What are "Open Streets"?
"Open Streets" events temporarily restrict automobile traffic to "open" roads for community members all ages to walk, bike, dance, play, jog, run, socialize and more!
Although relatively new to southern California - the first, regular event CicLAvia was hosted in October 2010 -- Open Streets events have grown tremendously in popularity across the United States in recent years, with hundreds of Cities participating with their own events every year.
Open Streets in the SGV
In February 2013 the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) launched an "Open Streets" Program, originally setting aside $2 million in competitive funding for Cities in LA County to host Open Streets events. The goals of the program were to encourage sustainable modes of transportation (biking, walking and transit), provide an opportunity to take transit for the first time and foster civic engagement.
When the application became officially available for Cities to review, ActiveSGV organizers reached out to City staff, decision-makers, and stakeholders in over a dozen SGV cities to strongly encourage their participation with neighboring communities to develop competitive, multi-jurisdictional proposals. The outcome of this first bite at the apple process: two SGV-based event proposals were submitted to Metro and subsequently awarded funding, including the historic, 8-community, 18.5 miles 626 Golden Streets ciclovia that was successfully staged on Sunday, March 5, 2017.
Since then the ActiveSGV team has gone on to successfully stage five more 626 Golden Streets events - Mission-to-Mission (2019, 2022), SGV Streets and Treats (2019), Heart-of-the-Foothills (2023), and the 20 year anniversary re-staging of ArroyoFest in 2023!
In 2024, the 626 Golden Streets event was renamed "Active Streets." Kicking off with a return of the beloved Mission-to-Mission event, this name change comes as the event adapts to updates in the Metro rail system, where the "Gold" Line transitioned to the "L" and then to the "A" line. The new name reflects the evolving communities and continues to celebrate open streets in the San Gabriel Valley.
Check out the Active Streets website (ActiveStreets.org) for more information about ActiveSGV's popular, SGV-focused open streets program - Active Streets.
Final Reports
- 626 Golden Streets | 2023 | Heart of the Foothills | Final Report
- 626 Golden Streets | 2022 | Mission-to-Mission | Final Report
- 626 Golden Streets | 2019 | SGV Streets-and-Treats | Final Report
- 626 Golden Streets | 2019 | Mission-to-Mission | Final Report
- 626 Golden Streets | 2017 | Final Report
Print Coverage
- Organizers Say 100,000 biked or walked '626 Golden Streets' event from South Pasadena to Azusa (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)
- Thousands Experience San Marino's Huntington Drive By Bicycle, On Food (San Marino Tribune)
- Former Councilman Efren Moreno, on 626 Golden Streets and how Alhambra could become a bike-friendly City (Alhambra Source)
Video/Photos
- 626 Golden Streets Recap (YouTube)
- From Sasquatch to Star Wars: Check Out the Human-Powered, Car-Free Fun at 626 Golden Streets (vimeo)
- 17+ Miles of No Cars: 626 Golden Streets (NBC Los Angeles)
