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 two more 626 Golden Streets events - Mission-to-Mission (2019) and SGV Streets and Treats (2019) - before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled events scheduled for 2020. Open Streets are back in 2022 with a repeat Mission-to-Mission event scheduled for Sunday, May 1, 2022 and ArroyoFest on Sunday, October 30, 2022!
Check out the 626 Golden Streets website (626goldenstreets.com) for more information about ActiveSGV's popular, SGV-focused open streets program - 626 Golden Streets.
Final Reports
- 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)
