More than 500 Pacific Beach Businesses Ready for San Diego’s Second CicloSDias | 2.5 Mile Route For All to Walk, Roll and Stroll on Sunday, March 30

March 22, 2014

For the second time, CicloSDias rolls through San Diego streets, this year set for Sunday, March 30. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition brings San Diego’s only car-free open-streets celebration to Pacific Beach in the interest of promoting local businesses, livable communities and the rights of all people choosing alternative modes of transportation.

Organizers recently finalized the 2.5-mile route to include over 500 local businesses and brand new bike corrals on both Garnet Ave. and Ocean Blvd. Pacific Beach expects more bicycle enhancements in the near future, including more bicycle parking at two locations on Garnet Avenue, DECO Bike Share and the completion of a bike lane running from East Mission Bay Drive down Grand Avenue and ending at the ocean. With an already avid bicycle-riding population and a turnout of close to 10,000 people at the city’s first CicloSDias in 2013, the district anticipates an excellent event.

Wilshire Blvd in LA taken over by cylists during CicLAvia

"Ciclo­vía," which translates to English as "bike path" was coined in Bogota, Columbia, a city that began experimenting with its model Ciclovia initiative in 1974 as a response to the congestion and pollution of city streets.  CicloSDias San Diego is modeled after similar car-free events held in cities around the world, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. As of 2012, some 80 Open Streets initiatives are held regularly in North America.  CicloSDias is all about connecting communities and giving people a break from the stress of car traffic. Wilshire Boulevard in L.A.'s Westlake neighborhood is taken over by cyclists during CicLAvia in April 2011

“The businesses are looking forward to CicloSDias just as much as the community,” explains Sara Berns of Discover PB. “We have over 500 businesses along the route, many of which can be easily overlooked while driving by. The neighborhood deserves this opportunity to engage with their local businesses in every nook and cranny.”

CicloSDias turns Pacific Beach streets into car-free avenues for bicycling, walking, rollerblading, skating, skipping, dancing and everything in between. The route extends down Pacific Beach’s main shopping strip, Garnet Avenue. From Garnet, attendees can go up Cass St. to Turquoise St. or continue down Garnet Ave. to Ingraham St.

“We encourage everyone to roll through Pacific Beach sometime between 10am and on Sunday, March 30, for a Pacific Beach experience unlike any other,” says Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Andy Hanshaw. “Enjoy one of San Diego’s core communities and the beautiful weather with your friends, your family and your pets- but leave the car keys at home.”

The 2.5-mile route closes to street parking at 7am on March 30 and closes to traffic at 9:30am until 4pm. For more information and a map of the route, please visit ciclosdias.com or sdcbc.org. For daily CicloSDias updates, follow on Facebook and Twitter or follow the hashtag #carfreepb.