Sunday Parkways is a transportation and active living event patterned after Ciclovias , which first became successful in South America. Every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. the city of Bogota, Colombia closes 70 miles of major roads so that people can bike, roller blade, run and stroll without traffic.
The “Ciclovia” or “Sunday Parkway” has become a major community activity with 1.5 million people enjoying the traffic-free boulevards on an average weekend. Many US cities are talking about Sunday Parkways as a way to regularly open up a network of streets to encourage healthy activity, but no US city has implemented an on-going Sunday Parkways event yet.
On June 22nd from 8am to 2pm the City of Portland is organizing a Sunday Parkways event (they’ll be helped by SEI, the CCC, the BTA, and many other community organizations and churches). Portland’s first Sunday Parkways will be a six-mile loop of traffic-free streets in North Portland. Residents can get out and be active right in their neighborhood! Walk, bike, run, stroll, meet neighbors and enjoy entertainment in the parks and along the route.
Residents along the route will be able to get to and from their homes, with small barricades and volunteers helping to limit access to the route.
The city wants to hear your ideas for the kinds of fun and healthy activities you would like to see in the three parks and along the route. They also want your suggestions on making this event successful and enjoyable for all participants and neighbors.
Come hear more about Portland Sunday Parkways and enter a drawing for a kid’s bike from the Bike Gallery or a $100 gift certificate from Foot Traffic.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
5:30 to 8pm
Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N. Interstate Ave.
2nd floor ballroom
Thursday, February 7, 2008
5:30pm to 8pm
Chief Joseph Elementary School
2409 N. Saratoga
cafeteria
How You Can Help
Sign up at the website below. No need to register for the Open Houses – just show up from 5:30pm to 8pm.
• Consider being a volunteer on your street or at the event. We will need several hundred volunteers.
• Got an idea for an activity you would like to pull together with your friends for that day? Let us know about it.
• Send us your comments, suggestions, and concerns too.
For more information about Sunday Parkways and the proposed six-mile route go to: www.GettingAroundPortland.org, and click on Sunday Parkways.
Do you think it would be OK with Randy Leonard if we put some duct tape in the street?