Adams Avenue was shut down to allow for bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy biking and walking the neighborhood during the car-free CicloSDias event in 2019. (File photo via Instagram @thecityofsandiego)
Today’s a good day to ditch your cars.
Two miles of University Avenue and some surrounding streets in City Heights will be closed between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. as the CicloSDias event returns, allowing the public to experience the city outside of a vehicle.
“CicloSDias is back, and City Heights is the perfect place to celebrate,” said Chloé Lauer, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, which puts on the event. “It’s a joyful reminder of what our streets feel like when people come first.”
University Avenue will be closed from 35th Street all the way to Euclid Avenue, as well as spurs connecting Teralta Park and Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park.
The closures allow businesses to set up on the street and community members to walk, ride, and roll to their heart’s content.
More than 20 vendors have signed up with the bicycle coalition and the group expects more than 3,000 attendees. The event is put on by the coalition in partnership with the city, Caltrans, City Heights Community Development Corporation, and Mid-City CAN.
“The city of San Diego is very excited to partner with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition on this amazing event,” said Heidi Vonblum, city planning director.
“CicloSDias City Heights is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to safely walk, roll and ride through the neighborhood on car-free streets.”
The event is free and attendees can drop by at whichever point they choose between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. It is funded by the California Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Program.
“CicloSDias is more than an event; it’s a celebration of everything that makes City Heights special,” said Alexis Villanueva, president and chief executive officer of City Heights CDC.
“Our community is filled with incredible amenities, from local parks and small businesses to cultural gathering spaces that bring people together. When our streets open to the public, everyone gets to experience the beauty, energy, and connection that make City Heights a model of community pride.”
Since 2013, CicloSDias has temporarily transformed miles of city streets into spaces where people of all ages and abilities can walk, ride and play – “encouraging active transportation, supporting local businesses, and showcasing the joy of community connection,” a statement from the SDBC said
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