Sunday marked the first event of 2016 for the initiative Atlanta Streets Alive. Organized by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Atlanta Streets Alive temporarily closes a street or number of streets to car to create a “healthy, sustainable and vibrant city street experience.”
Inspired by open streets projects around the world, such as the “Une Journée Sans Voiture” – A Day Without Car – in Paris last fall, Atlanta Streets Alive is holding four events this year. Bicycles are encouraged but feet, and skateboards and rollerblades, and even the occasional penny-farthing (that bike with the one big wheel in the front – really, apparently at least one person in Atlanta owns one of these) are also a popular transportation option for streets alive events. The goal is to shift Atlanta’s culture to, according to their website, “to become a more liveable city – building community and highlighting neighborhood pride, providing healthy activities for Atlanta residents and visitors.” Nearly 180,000 Atlantans participated in events in 2015.
The first open streets project started in Bogota, Columbia in 1976 and was called Ciclovia, or “bikeway” in Spanish. Ciclovia now draws over 1.5 million people to walk, bike, skate and enjoy more than 70 miles of streets reserved for non-automobile activities. Wayne County, Michigan began holding “Saturday in the Park” in 1983 as a six-mile stretch of parkway is closed to motorized traffic every Saturday from May to September.
Atlanta’s version is slightly less ambitious but has only been around since 2010 and is growing every year. This year’s event ran four miles from Grant Park to Westview just south of I-20. Running past Turner Field on Georgia Avenue and then Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, the route passed the Hammond House Museum, the former residence of the late Dr. Otis Hammonds, a prominent Atlanta physician and arts patron. The museum opened in 1988 to continue Hammonds’ commitment of preserving and celebrating African art and culture. The route also went past the Wrens’ Nest, the home of Joel Chandler Harris from 1881 until 1908. It’s one of the few remaining Victorian homes in Atlanta and features most of the original furniture and belongings from the Harris family. Harris was the author of the Uncle Remus Tales, or as some may remember them, the Brer Rabbit stories.
All streets alive events take place on Sunday afternoons so as to try and minimize the impact on motorized traffic. Specific days are picked to avoid overlap with other large events in the city and to allow church-goers to attend as well. Businesses are encouraged to open their doors and also set up activity in front of their store to bring in customers. Many businesses have reported increased sales due to foot traffic and visibility.
The next streets alive is in June, along with the Atlanta Cycling Festival and takes place on Peachtree Street from Downtown to Midtown.
Find out more: http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/
