Back to the City: “Ciclovia” and “Night Market” in Downtown Oakland

Imagine getting out in the morning for a bike-race across downtown, but instead of the typical worries of stoplights and aggressive drivers you can coast through the familiar city streets on car-free roads. Imagine going to a free concert near your favorite lunch spot, winding your way through crowds of street performers.

At the end of the day you could also catch a classic movie with some friends before going to try fresh foods and farm products, available late at night a huge outdoor farmers market. These are all part of one program, its the Ciclovia, Night Market development begun by Sustainable Pacific Rim Cities, an East Bay Non-Government Organization (NGO).

The Ciclovia

Ciclovia is a Spanish term that means “Bike Path.” It can be used to describe the closing down of streets for a progressive and transformative event, such as using them for biking, walking, and major thoroughfares during a weekend for non-motorized use. Over years, Ciclovia has built uncounted successful cases in the world by transforming areas that face socio-economic problems into viable, livable and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods.

The Ciclovia is most commonly associated with various countries in South America and Europe. In the past few years, several American cities have begun embracing the Ciclovia model to encourage people to drive less, use more public transportation, walk, and bike more. Last summer New York City, Chicago, Portland, and San Francisco opened key downtown streets allowing citizens to freely walk, bicycle, run, skate, dance, play music, or just hang out. Not surprisingly, city dwellers came out in droves to enjoy the harmony of open air, live music and car free travel.

The format of Ciclovia in downtown Oakland is divided into two phases. The first phase focuses on bike races in the early morning. The second phase is an afternoon activity, which mixes with bike parade, street fairs, performing art, street sports, and family orientated activities.

The Night Market

The concept of the Night Market, which is common in much of the world, is gaining popularity in North America in such cities as Vancouver, Portland and San Francisco. Essentially, it a street market or street bazaar operating at night and generally dedicated to leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating.

The Night market in Downtown Oakland will take place in Old Oakland and Chinatown with a pedestrian only connection along 9th street. The Night Market will take advantage of the diversity of food cultures in the two neighborhoods, and also integrates live music, performance art as well as classic, international, and rare movies into the diversity of the local food culture.

Sustainable Pacific Rim Cities is envisioning Oakland as a healthy, sustainable urban environment, prepared to meet the challenges of a new green era. Imagine empty parcels and parking lots as public plazas; busy intersections as town squares; and, congested road-ways as bike paths. Sustainable Pacific Rim Cites is attempting to empower us to take back our city is from gas guzzlers and smog producers.