Readers: Open Streets is a Good Idea
Readers think St. Louis’ “Open Streets” is a good idea, I personally fall into the second group on last week’s poll:
Q:Â St. Louis’ “Open Streets” events a good idea?
- Yes, it gets people outdoors 44 [61.11%]
- Yes, in theory more than practice 19 [26.39%]
- No 4 [5.56%]
- Unsure/no opinion 4 [5.56%]
- Other: 1 [1.39%] “Yes, it lets people see urban STL from a different view.“
If these continue hopefully the city will learn and improve. Some of the crew hired to work the last one didn’t even know what the event was — I had to explain it.
The next event, the last for 2011, will be held on Saturday October 29th. This will differ from past events by being held from 3pm-9pm, rather than in the morning. As you might expect, it will have a Halloween theme.
Closing the street in front of numerous gay bars on the Saturday before Halloween? That’s like closing roads to the mall the day after Thanksgiving. Open Streets is over at 9pm so hopefully Manchester will be opened quickly — and barricades won’t block pedestrian access.
Weather permitting, I will do this event.
– Steve Patterson
“is” or “are”? Agree with the timing question, but it may also be intended to minimize vehicular-pedestrian conflicts in the Grove, on what will likely be a busy day. Also question the choice of Clayton, east of Forest Park – I don’t think that there’s much there, there, although it won’t disrupt traffic very much.
“is” or “are”? Agree with the timing question, but it may also be intended to minimize vehicular-pedestrian conflicts in the Grove, on what will likely be a busy day. Also question the choice of Clayton, east of Forest Park – I don’t think that there’s much there, there, although it won’t disrupt traffic very much.
Toronto closes the streets in Kensington Market one Sunday a month for pedestrians. They are packed as it brings people from all over. I think this should be explored in the Grove, Cherokee, downtown, or the CWE. Make it a regular thing with vendors, street performers, music, and voluntary parades. These are things that the suburbs can’t do.
Toronto closes the streets in Kensington Market one Sunday a month for pedestrians. They are packed as it brings people from all over. I think this should be explored in the Grove, Cherokee, downtown, or the CWE. Make it a regular thing with vendors, street performers, music, and voluntary parades. These are things that the suburbs can’t do.
We’ve been doing this in LA – cicLAvia – and it has easily been the most inspiring and enjoyable thing I’ve ever been a part of. This month we had around 150,000 people take to the 10 miles that were closed off by bike, foot, skateboard, whatever. It was simply incredible to experience the city from the street without the sounds and smells of thousands of cars whizzing by, and to be surrounded by 150,000 smiling faces, young and old. I hope St. Louis’s was equally enjoyable! Here’s a video of the event:Â http://www.ciclavia.org/blog/237/new-video-ciclavia-1092011
We’ve been doing this in LA – cicLAvia – and it has easily been the most inspiring and enjoyable thing I’ve ever been a part of. This month we had around 150,000 people take to the 10 miles that were closed off by bike, foot, skateboard, whatever. It was simply incredible to experience the city from the street without the sounds and smells of thousands of cars whizzing by, and to be surrounded by 150,000 smiling faces, young and old. I hope St. Louis’s was equally enjoyable! Here’s a video of the event: http://www.ciclavia.org/blog/237/new-video-ciclavia-1092011