Advocates--Specialized will fund local Open Streets initiatives

[Roody]

http://openstreetsproject.org/blog/2...dealer-grants/

The folks at Specialized understand the importance of open streets, and that’s why they have offered to help promote initiatives across North America through their Dealer Grants Program. To a apply for a grant, an authorized Specialized dealers pairs with a partnering non-profit organization (501c) to submit an application. You can find your local Specialized dealer here.

The grants are offered several times a year, and the next deadline to apply for a grant is April 15. For more information about Specialized Dealer Grants, click here. We hope your city can take advantage of this opportunity to not only gain some additional funding, but to partner with like-minded organizations and businesses in your community to further open streets and active living.

[Bekologist]

what are "open streets"?

[genec]

Open streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing.

from http://openstreetsproject.org/

You can download a guide.

[Commodus]

We have lots of street fairs in the area through the summer. I guess those are open streets. They seem very popular! I particularly like the secure bike valet parking they always have.

[genec]

From the PDF download...

Launched in 1965, Seattle’s Bicycle Sunday is the oldest continuous open streets initiative in North America. In 1992, the program expanded to include Saturday, but has since reverted to being held on Sunday only. Estimates from the 2001 season indicate that 32,000 people attended the initiative in one year, which translates to approximately 3,200 participants per Sunday. No current participation numbers are available, but it is believed that participation has grown.

Here is another...

With a 45-year history, the Central Park Drive case study is a fascinating, if not tedious demonstration of how open streets initiatives may lead to more permanent car-free streets and parks.
Starting in 1966, the Central Park Drive loop was closed to vehicular traffic on weekends (6:00 am – 6:00 pm) between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The opening of the loop to non-motorized activities first occurred under Parks Commissioner Thomas P.F. Hoving. Instantly popular, the opening expanded to holidays, as well as weekends year-round in 1967. One year later, the opening expanded again to include Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm, but only for the park’s east-west drives and transverses, and only between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

[Bekologist]

i just downloaded the guide. Always thought of them as ciclovias or car free days.

[Doohickie]

Interesting. We already have some Open Streets festivals in town. I wonder if they know this funding is available. Incidentally, it was one of these open streets events that led to getting several miles of bike lanes put in (the LBS painted them in front of their shop by hand, got into trouble with the city for it, but then the city put them in for realz).

[gcottay]

Ciclovias can be great but I'd much rather see Specialized put their money into Complete Streets.
http://www.completestreets.org/

[Roody]

Ciclovias can be great but I'd much rather see Specialized put their money into Complete Streets.
http://www.completestreets.org/

Me too. Open Streets are kinda gimmicky, But Complete Streets leads to permanent improvement of infrastructure for cyclists and walkers.