For several hours this weekend, there will be no cars on nearly two miles of road along Barranca Parkway and Harvard Avenue in Irvine.
Instead, runners, walkers, bikers and skaters – and maybe even some four-legged friends – will power off this stretch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.
Dubbed “CicloIrvine,” the car-free open streets event will be the first in Irvine.
The event will feature live music, walking mariachis, food trucks with appetizers available for purchase and several performances, including from the Southern California Youth Dragon and Lion Dance Team, Kibou Taiko and Focus Dance Theater, on two stages at each end of the route.
CicloIrvine was inspired by ciclovia (Spanish for cycle path), the weekly street closure event originating in Bogota, Colombia. Ciclovia events have been held in several cities around the world, including Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Los Angeles.
“We are excited to host this type of open streets event in our Irvine community for the first time,” said Mayor Farrah Khan. “CycloIrvine will celebrate our residents and businesses, as well as the city’s commitment to sustainability, in a fun and engaging way. This is another testament to our city’s innovative approach to becoming a forward-thinking, climate-smart city of the future.
Street closures on the CicloIrvine route will begin at 7 a.m. and last until 6:30 p.m., and there will be no on-street parking along the route, according to the event website. Most driveways along the route are also expected to be closed, and drivers will have to take detours until streets are fully open around 7 p.m.
Cars will be allowed to cross the route on all major streets, the event website states. More information can be found online at: cityofirvine.org/cicloirvine/.
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