Open Streets is coming to Blue Island

On Sunday afternoon 6/8, Open Streets is coming to Blue Island for the first time.  If you're not familiar with the concept of Open Streets, it's been done a few times in Chicago.  Minneapolis is doing several events this year.  Portland and San Francisco are doing it, too.

There's more than one name for this type of event: Ciclovia, Open Streets, Sunday Streets, Sunday Parkways.

It started with Ciclovia in Bogota, Colombia and became a big event in Medellin and other Colombian cities.  This inspired similar events in other cities around the world.

In Blue Island, Greenwood Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 127th and 119th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  The street will become an activity space for walking, biking, skating, dancing and other forms of fun.  Click here for info.

I'd love to see an event like this happen in the 19th ward.

Open Streets is happening tomorrow!

If you'd like to experience a portion of Chicago's boulevard system as an extended festival, tomorrow is your golden opportunity. From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., from Marshall Square to Logan Square, you can ride your bike, walk, skate, dance, play with your kids, or otherwise enjoy car-free streets with music, games, children's activities, art activities, workout classes and more. Open Streets is free and open to anyone who wants to come. Check it out!

If you enjoy this festival and would like to help support the work of the Active Transportation Alliance, please become a member. The organization has presented Bike the Drive and other cool events, developed a regional bike route map, provided consultants to many local municipalities to develop bike plans and bike route networks, developed extensive educational programs and materials and more. Use the code STSAVE5 to get $5 off your membership.