Beach Streets University Open Streets Open Thread

Long Beach's latest Beach Streets ran along Cal State Long Beach's Walter Pyramid. All photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

Last Saturday, the city of Long Beach hosted its third open streets event. They do things a little differently, so their ciclovías are on Saturday, and are called Beach Streets. The roughly four-mile east Long Beach “Beach Streets University” route was along and north of the Cal State Long Beach campus.

The weather was hot and windy. The event was a bit far from convenient transit; this author biked nearly 30 minutes to get there from the Metro Blue Line station. Much of the route was not retail, so the limited retail establishments – mainly restaurants – were very crowded. Nonetheless, there were huge smiling crowds of cyclists, skaters, runners, and walkers. The variety of bikes included plenty of beach cruisers, Long Beach bike-share bicycles, bike trailers, and training wheels.

xxxx restaurants saw big crowds — The Great Mex Grill restaurant saw long lines and big crowds during Beach Streets

A mother assists her training-wheeled daughter at Beach Streets

More photos at LongBeachIze.

Readers – how was your Beach Streets? Who is excited for Downey Ride and Stride this Sunday, May 7?

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

CicLAvia XVI Open Thread: CicLAvia in Panorama City, Arleta, Pacoima

By Joe Linton | Mar 7, 2016

Each open streets event is excellent, and each has its own variations. Yesterday, L.A.’s 16th CicLAvia touched down in the north San Fernando Valley communities of Pacoima, Arleta, and Panorama City. As I mentioned in a preview, this was the first CicLAvia without a Metro rail station on the route, though there were still plenty […]

Long Beach Beach Streets II Open Thread

By Joe Linton | Mar 21, 2016

There were plenty of great firsts taking place last Saturday at Long Beach’s second iteration of its excellent Beach Streets open streets festival. It was not Long Beach’s first ciclovía; that took place nearly a year ago, in June 2015. It was the first time the city of Long Beach has held an open streets […]

Another Wonderful Long Beach First: Protected Bike Lanes

By Joe Linton | Apr 21, 2011

The city of Long Beach is Southern California’s undisputed leader in innovative infrastructure for safe and convenient bicycling. They’re at it again this Saturday, April 23rd 2011, when they unveil the first genuine protected bike lanes west of New York City. Opening festivities are from 11am to 2pm at the The Promenade – one block east of Pine Avenue. […]

10 Beach Streets Tips for Those Experiencing Open Streets for the First Time Tomorrow

By Damien Newton | Jun 5, 2015

I still remember the feeling in the air right before the 10/10/10 CicLAvia: a mix of anticipation, nervous energy and curiosity. Twelve CicLAvia’s later, including CicLAvia XIII in Pasadena last week, the event brings the same excitement and wonder it ever does. But, as an experienced Open Streets participant, humor me while I share some […]

When Are Open Streets Events Really Open Streets Events?

By Joe Linton | Apr 22, 2016

This weekend, urban walkers, cyclists, and families can gear up for two first-time open streets events: Tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, the city of Burbank hosts CiclaBurbank, billed as “a local Open-Streets event on the Burbank On Parade route while it’s still closed to motorized traffic.” The event takes place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on […]