Skip to content
Sponsored

Streetfilms: Going Car-Free in Milwaukee

8:25 AM PDT on August 21, 2008

New York has its Summer Streets Series, Los Angeles has Car Free Wilshire on Earth Day, but for the Livable Streets movement it will need to catch on in places that aren’t some of the largest streets in America.

On a recent visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Streetfilms contributor Nick Whitaker captured two car-free events happening at once.

First, the Brady Street Festival, which has roots going back to the
1970s, was recently revived. Brady Street Festival is a car-free event
featuring delicious fare from award winning Wisconsin cheese makers and
organic seasonal treats, live music, crafts, beer, and a camel ride!

A short distance away is the Downer Ave Race, celebrating its 40th
anniversary. Bicycle racers have chosen it frequently as one of the top
races in the U.S., according to VeloNews. More than 12,000 people attend
the race each year to enjoy the music, food, and fun that make this
event a great neighborhood party that lasts long after the races are
over.

(First paragraph edited by Damien Newton)

Photo of Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York'’s dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Friday’s Headlines

June 12, 2026

SGV Connect 148: World Cup, 6-7 Edition

June 12, 2026

Guest Editorial: Burbank Voters Approved Transit. Why Is City Hall Still Fighting It?

June 11, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines

June 11, 2026

2026 Primary Election Results Round-Up: Strong Voter Support for Most Livable Streets Candidates

June 10, 2026
See all posts