Open Street events are like giant parties where people from the neighborhood can come together. Residents can hang out, chat, walk, run, bike, skate, dance, or do other fun stuff on streets that are closed to cars for a little while. These events are free and made for everyone, no matter how old you are or what you can do.
Marcela Guerrero Casas is a public policy advocate covering Southern Africa, the United States and Latin America. Dustin Kramer is the co-founder of Local South and is a program leader in creative strategy development, organizational management, and public interest. Together they are promoting how cities across the globe can take the Open Streets concepts to the next level.
Published on Nature.com, their article Dreaming a better urban future with Open Streets: ideas from three African cities covers a brief history of these “ciclovia” events and outlines adaptations to be implemented over the next 50 years. To continue and enhance the success they have had so far, city planners will need to: 1) Adapt regulations to enable use of streets as genuine public space, 2) Enable and use the international exchange of practices, and 3) Embrace flexibility.
Here in the Midwest, Bike Pittsburgh hosts their annual OpenStreetsPGH which is a free event that temporarily closes streets to automobile traffic and “invites Pittsburghers to reimagine their streets as places for people, not just cars” all while walking, running, biking, skating, and dancing along the open road. OpenStreetsPGH is expected again this year in May, June and July of 2024 along different city routes each time.
Open Streets provide a unique chance for individuals to not only connect with their close friends but also to discover or strengthen connections with people they might not know very well, like acquaintances or those with weaker ties. These more casual relationships can be just as valuable, or sometimes even more beneficial, than the strong, close bonds people have in their lives. These interactions during Open Streets events create opportunities for new connections and foster a sense of community, contributing to the overall well-being of individuals. It’s a reminder that our social circles extend beyond our closest friends and family, and the diversity of connections adds richness to our lives.
One note of caution, however, as with any new event or concept there can be unintended consequences. As reported here, Open Streets in NYC were linked to an increase in street/sidewalk noise complaints. These findings show that stronger city rules around these events can help. Planners and advocates should carefully check if there might be unexpected problems and try to make the most of the good things these rules can bring.