CivSalon Recap - The State of Open Streets in the LA Region

On March 12, CicLAvia, in partnership with Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, hosted a dynamic panel to discuss the state of open streets in the LA region. This CivSalon was a moment to recognize how far the movement has come and the funding challenges now faced as Los Angeles prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

To show the world what people-centered spaces look like, open streets must remain a priority, not an afterthought for Los Angeles policymakers. It is critical to institutionalize public funding for open streets programs. Without it, it will be impossible to maintain our area’s open streets tradition. These large-scale community events that connect neighborhoods will bring countless benefits to the region before, during, and after these global events.  

“For more than 15 years, open streets events have reshaped how we look at the LA region and how we see ourselves and how we use public space.”
Tafarai Bayne, CicLAvia Chief Strategist

Impact of Open Street Events

LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez of Council District 1 opened the evening with reasons her district supports open street initiatives. She sees the impact of open street events supporting better mental health by reclaiming high-traffic areas for human connection and family-friendly experiences.

“Open streets are a matter of equity and mobility justice for communities that have been starved of green spaces.”
LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Council District 1

CicLAvia and other open street organizers like ActiveSGV focus on many underserved communities to bring joy, business, and connection through active transportation and civic engagement. Many of these areas benefit from the influx of people to local businesses and public spaces.

Dr. Adonia Lugo, PhD, a CicLAvia co-founder, recounted the initial development of CicLAvia from her research and experience with Bogotá’s Ciclovía. The intention was to help people interact differently in public spaces; “closing the streets to cars and opening them to people was an action whose impacts reached far beyond transportation.”

Later in the conversation, panel moderator Romel Pascual, CicLAvia Executive Director, recalled that “open streets started with the inherent intent around equity, access, and connection—and the bottom line is this notion of joy as a human right."

Open street events are a way to open urban planning processes to the general public and make impactful change. Community members can experience increased safety, betterment of public space, community health and recreation, leading to a generation of more informed and engaged residents. Instilling in them greater expectations for upcoming mega-events, local commerce, and alternative transportation.

“The Pico Rivera open streets event is the introduction to the future infrastructure of our city.”
Javier Hernandez, Director of Innovation and Communications, City of Pico Rivera

This style of event gives opportunities for participants to engage civically while experiencing neighborhoods at street level, beyond the driver’s seat. This perspective shift lowers the line of visibility and gives space for a sense of community and awareness of the local neighborhood. After events, participants recount the new shops, art, and infrastructure encountered during the day.

“CicLAvia has made all the difference in the world to us," remarked Kim Sudhalter, Marketing & Community Relations Director, Melrose Business Improvement District, “people are rediscovering the [Melrose Business District] area. They're investing and want to be a part of this.”

CicLAvia is more than open streets events—it is a catalyst. For a deeper look at CicLAvia’s achievements in 2025, read the Impact Report.

Current Climate for Open Street Events

When CicLAvia first started, the idea of closing streets down seemed impossible. Now, city planners, transit engineers, local businesses, and Angelenos see the vision.

“Now 16 years later, CicLAvia is a regular thing and is literally an Angeleno household name. Everyone knows CicLAvia. One of the things that we love to see is that it allows for people from all over Southern California to be able to have access to communities and to provide a safe space for folks to gather in fellowship together.”
Tina Backstrom, Mayor's Office Senior Director of Transportation, City of Los Angeles

To many, open street events seem to appear overnight like magic. However, there are many people, organizations, and city departments that work tirelessly to make them possible.

“Coordinating with 14 police and fire departments and so many different agencies was a tremendous burden [to execute the Mission-to-Mission event],” explains Wesley Reutimann, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of ActiveSGV.

The organizations require funding and institutional support for programmatic collaborations, community outreach, staff, and local business support. Each year, budgets reduce and costs increase. It is becoming more difficult for organizations to find funding, causing fewer events and shorter mileage per event. In 2026:

• ActiveSGV currently paused open street events
• CicLAvia reduced the number of events

“We (LADOT) have staff that are going out to actually execute the closures and make sure everything is safe, and we have traffic officers (there on event day)… Also, staff who are managing grants or applying for grants. It's really important to have sustainable staffing so that we can just support the health of the programs and look for those creative funding sources.”
Clare Eberle, Director of Strategic Engagement, LA Department of Transportation

While some events are still being funded through Metro and cities in the region, it is becoming clearer that open street events need institutionalized public funding for annual calendars.

What are the Next Steps?

It takes the community to advocate for the resources and policies they want. Here’s how you can take action:

Understand where the money comes from. It may seem overwhelming to step into the world of city and agency budgets. There are organizations and agencies that educate the public.

• Research funding streams like Measures R and M and the Active Transportation Program (ATP).
• Attend community meetings such as the California Transportation Commission.
• Follow organizations that educate on clean air and budget initiatives: MoveLA, Investing in Place, Streets for All, or Coalition for Clean Air.
• Listen to the full CivSalon audio recording on YouTube.

Advocate for the maintenance of robust public funding for open streets events. Follow the budget cycles and reach out to your local politicians.

• City of Los Angeles, LA County, and Metro are preparing their respective Fiscal Year ‘27 (FY27) budgets, and the public can make a difference by communicating to them that open streets events are a critical program that must be funded.
• In the coming weeks, public meetings will be held for budgets, and this will be the opportunity to voice your support for open streets.

Accelerate the movement by volunteering and financially supporting the nonprofits and agencies that produce open street events.

• Donate to CicLAvia and other nonprofit organizations that produce open streets events like ActiveSGV.
• Support agencies, like LADOT, so that city budgets reflect adequate resources to maintain the staffing required for running open streets events
• Sign up for mailing lists and newsletters to get the word first and share it with friends and family.

Pictured below are the panelists from this event, from left to right: Kim Sudhalter, Marketing & Community Relations Director, Melrose Business Improvement District; Wesley Reutimann, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of ActiveSGV; Tina Backstrom, Senior Director of Transportation, Mayor’s Office City of Los Angeles; Clare Eberle, Director of Strategic Engagement, LA Department of Transportation; Dr. Adonia Lugo, PhD, co-founder of CicLAvia and Cultural Anthropologist; Javier Hernandez, Director of Innovation and Communications, City of Pico Rivera

 

Let’s Keep the Conversation Moving

Events like CivSalon remind us that meaningful change starts with shared dialogue—and continues with collective action. When we come together to talk about mobility, equity, and the future of our streets, we shape a city that is for everyone.

If you believe in creating more spaces for connection and conversation around active transportation, help us keep the momentum going.

👉 Donate to CicLAvia to support our work and keep our programming free and open to all

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📸 Photo credit: David Haskell, @pixostrangers