Last week we learned more about what the City of Portland is planning for their inaugural Sunday Parkways event this coming June.
Portland’s event was inspired by the “Ciclovia” that happens each week in Bogota, Colombia. In that city, nearly 2 million people pour out onto the over 70 miles of city streets that are closed to motorized traffic every Sunday.
A crew from New York City-based StreetFilms recently returned from Bogota and produced a behind the scenes look at the ciclovia. Check it out below for a glimpse of what’s possible in Portland…
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see-klo-VEE-ah
I never knew it was pronounced like that. Awesome video. I hope we get that much dancing at the one in PDX.
\”It\’s like a party that everyone attends\”
\”In the US, you have lots of obesity\”
\”People can borrow a bike to ride a loop through the park completely free\”
\”People are more tolerant\”
And Portland gets a mention, for thinking about doing it, too.
Man… this would be awesome if we could make it work here!!!
I am telling you, the focus on this event might be the bicycling, but the most fun I had was at the group aerobics sessions. By far!!
I am not that coordinated, but everyone makes you feel so welcome. In fact, since it is also implemented on holidays, some of us were thinking of going back on a group Bogota trip when there is a Monday holiday so we can do back to back Ciclovias!
Can\’t wait to be at the PDX version in June!
Awesome video. It\’s amazing how much the people of Bogata seem to clearly want this, and are willing to participate in it en masse every week. I will be sending out a link to this video to everybody I know.
The message the video succeeds in putting out more than anything else is that ciclovisitas are not just for cyclists. They\’re for joggers. They\’re for walkers. They\’re for lounging around with your family. They\’re for hanging out with your friends, They\’re for rollerskaters. They\’re for dancers. They\’re for childredn. They\’re for everybody.
They\’re for whole cities!
Wow,
I love the quote about the examples of shared living, civility, and urbanism.
Really, getting so many people out and about, mixing with each other, helping each other, it is so amazing to see all of those people and almost all of them with a HUGE smile on their face.
I\’m so psyched that the Sunday Parkways event is going by my house. I\’m brainstorming on what I can do. Maybe give away lemonade, or hand out street chalk for the kids. Soooo cool.
Ooo, maybe do a Maypole!
AWESOME.
Glad you showed that great video. Yep, our Sunday Parkways is also for everyone. And it will be a time for everyone to slow down and smell the roses, literally at Pennisula Park. It is about fun, community, health and entertainment.
If anyone wants to volunteer for a shift the day of – let me know. We will need lots of people.
Janis
janis.mcdonald@pdxtrans.org
For more information on the Portland Sunday Parkways effort, visit this webpage:
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46103
I can\’t wait to organize some tango dancing in the streets!