Action 1: Mini Open Streets Festivals

Encouragement

Oct 22

Let’s hold small-scale festivals in more neighborhoods around Tompkins County.

Children play with bubbles provided by Ithaca Children’s Garden playworkers at Streets Alive! Ithaca on the Southside. (Photo: Simon Wheeler/BWT) — Children play with bubbles provided by Ithaca Children’s Garden playworkers at *Streets Alive!* Ithaca on the Southside. (Photo: Simon Wheeler/BWT)

About This Action

Open streets festivals like Streets Alive! Ithaca give attendees a taste of what a street without motor vehicles feels like: a haven where people of many ages can comfortably walk, bike, and roll. Small, neighborhood-scale festivals should be held more frequently, and in more places across Tompkins County. This action gives residents in every neighborhood a window of possibility to experience safer streets right where they live.

To augment the impact of smaller open streets festivals, community organizations should assist in making the festival a public forum where neighbors can meet each other and organize for safer streets. Ensuring that advocacy organizations, bicycle shops, bike rental, bike repair, and bikeshare are present at these festivals also provides residents a convenient “one stop shop” to get started with bicycling. Partnering with community groups to kickstart more festivals makes use of a deeper well of community energy and helps build a wide constituency for safe streets.

A family enjoys a bike ride on a “Slow Street” created by the City of Oakland as a response to COVID-19. (Photo: City of Oakland)

Role in COVID-19 Response & Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important access to recreational activities like walking and bicycling are to our mental and emotional well-being. The pandemic has also shown the limited reach of our public recreation areas. Neighborhood-scale open streets can unlock the potential of public spaces available throughout Tompkins County and close to everyone’s homes—our streets. Open streets can be configured to the size and activity level that’s appropriate for public health at a given time. “Stay Healthy Streets”, in Bend, OR, which allows for walking and bicycling with increased social distancing. When safe to do so, small “block party”-style open streets could help neighbors re-socialize with each other and support more resilient communities.

A volunteer helps young bicyclists with free bike repair at Streets Alive! Ithaca on the Southside. (Photo: Nikki Sayward) — A volunteer helps young bicyclists with free bike repair at *Streets Alive!* Ithaca on the Southside. (Photo: Nikki Sayward)

Let’s Make It Happen

The Bike Walk Tompkins team has organized 15 successful Streets Alive! Ithaca events and several smaller-scale neighborhood block parties throughout the years. Let us put our experience to work in your neighborhood or community.

Are you an engaged citizen or leader of a community-based group or organization interested in hosting a mini open street street festival in Tompkins County? Contact us to explore collaboration opportunities.

Are you a bike enthusiast, bike shop, or a person interested in volunteering or providing relevant services at an upcoming open streets event in Tompkins County? Reach out to us to inquire about upcoming events you can participate in.