This past Saturday was Milwaukee’s first “ciclovia” – a temporary closing of multiple lengths of city-streets to auto-traffic, and opening them to foot and bike traffic instead! The Cesar Chavez BID organized this first happening, and I hope it is the first of many – maybe even a regularly scheduled event?? Twice monthly? Weekly event? That’d be wonderful.
The purpose of a ciclovia is to get people out – to get them active, to get them to see their streets and neighborhoods differently, to get them to socialize. This 10-min video does a great job of describing the movement. What was interesting about this first event, from my perspective, was that many people were unsure what to make of it. As I walked down the middle of Washington St., from 2nd St. to 16th St., I stopped and talked with at least 3-4 people, explaining why the street was closed down. People are used to street festivals – closed off streets with a defined reason for being closed off. A ciclovia though…it’s main reason for being is just to get people on the streets, to get them to bike, to walk, to play, to engage – THEY are the reason for the ciclovia – not a band on a stage or deep-fried goodies (though there’s nothing wrong with either of those things).
The other thing I found most lovely about the ciclovia was the quiet – where we’re used to having to be constantly aware and on the lookout for cars, I biked and walked beneath the streets’ trees quite peacefully, mainly accompanied by people’s voice and some traffic noise – off in the distance. It was NICE.
I saw folks from South Shore Cyclery, Ben’s Cycles, Bublr Bikes (who let me borrow a bike!), and Local First Milwaukee members and cargo bike specialists, Coastin Bikes. I also chatted with folks from the Milwaukee Soccer Development Group, WI League of Conservation Voters, Core El Centro, and fellow photographer, Richard Beauchamp!
Please, PLEASE Milwaukee, make this a regularly occurring event – it’s such a great way to encourage a different sort of pride in the city and its streets. I loved it.
