Open Streets event draws 50,000 in Madison, Wisconsin

2010-05-01 12.26.26

The Alliance for Biking and Walking covered Madison, Wisconsin's recent Open Streets event:

The first time was impressive. The second time was gigantic.

The third time? Off the charts.

In June 2009, the City of Madison hosted the inaugural Ride the Drive, with lead sponsorship fromTrek and plenty of help from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Closing off major roads for car-free fun, the open streets extravaganza drew 10,000 participants. A year later, in June 2010, the second event turned out nearly 25,000 bicyclists and pedestrians.

So what happens when you add Lance Armstrong to the mix? An eye-popping crowd of more than 50,000 riders.

“Every time we hold it, it doubles or triples,” says Amanda White, the Ride the Drive coordinator for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

Open Streets (sometimes called Sunday Parkway or Ciclovia) is taking off in Missouri, too.  St Louis has had some very successful Open Streets events this year.  Kansas City planned a big event as well--that, unfortunately, was rained out--but the Kansas City's Car-Free Weekends on Cliff Drive have been a great success and are continuing indefinitely.

MoBikeFed's Vision is to bring Ciclovia festivals to cities around Missouri.  With your help, we are realizing that vision--with no Ciclovia festivals in Missouri in 2007, one in 2008, and now seven planned for 2010.

The concept can work in large cities or small.  Find out how to plan a ciclovia festival in your city or see how Portland does it.