Experience the Streets of Atlanta Without Traffic

Have you ever wanted to know what the streets of Atlanta would look like without cars? This weekend you can. This Sunday take a stroll or a bike ride down the 3.5 miles cordoned off from traffic, covering Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Lee Street, White Street and Peeples Street. For more information head to Atlanta In Town.
Atlanta Streets Alive is back for a third year and will kick off on April 19 with a return to the West End. The 3.5 mile route – encompassing Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Lee Street, White Street and Peeples Street – will be closed to cars and vehicles giving pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers free rein to explore the historic district.

“There will be a slightly modified route this year highlighting Lee Street,” said Rebecca Serna Woiderski, executive director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, which organizes Atlanta Streets Alive each year. “There’s going to be a pop-up bike lane near the West End MARTA station and we’re also working with the senior center in the neighborhood to encourage more participation.”

Woiderski said last year’s West End event brought out 16,000 and many more were expected for 2015.

“The community was very excited and has so much pride in the neighborhood and Atlanta University Center,” Woiderski stated. “They want to show off what they call home and all the hidden gems West End has to offer.”
The West End route is also conveniently along the Atlanta BeltLine trail and visitors are encouraged to use and explore it to take part in Atlanta Streets Alive.

Along with the open streets, there will be food, entertainment, informational booths and activities for all ages along the route. Visitors will also have a chance to visit local businesses and historic sites, like the Wren’s Nest, and parks on the route, including Gordon White Park, Howell Park and Adair Park.

Woiderski is also looking ahead to the fall when two more events are planned: The popular Highland Avenue route (which brought out a record 106,000 last year) on Sept. 27 and Peachtree Street on Nov. 1. “We decided to move the Peachtree route to November because we got rained on the last two times we held it in May,” Woiderski commented.

Since Atlanta Streets Alive began in 2010, Woiderski said it’s been satisfying to see how its become such a popular and anticipated annual event. “We’ve tapped into this vein in the city and showing people they have options beyond their cars,” she said. “It also demonstrates how much demand there is for safe, bikable, livable streets.”

The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition was a big supporter of the recently-passed infrastructure bond referendum, which promises money for more bike lanes. Woiderski is also excited about the Bike Share program coming later this year, which will see more than 500 rentable bikes positioned around the city.

Woiderski said plans are in the works to take Atlanta Streets Alive to new neighborhoods in 2016, including the northwest side of the city and Lakewood. “Our goal is to eventually do Atlanta Streets Alive monthly when there is good weather,” she said.