Sponsored

Open Streets

Santa Monica Coast Open Streets 2019 Open Thread

Two miles of Santa Monica streets were closed to cars and open to bicycling, walking, skating, and much more. The all-ages event attracted lots of families.

By Joe Linton

11:05 AM PDT on September 16, 2019

Santa Monica Coast Open Streets 2019 Open Thread

Santa Monica's Coast open streets - all photos: Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

LongBeachize_Ad_Concepts — This article is supported by Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney as part of a general sponsorship package. All opinions in the article are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LABA. Click on the ad for more information.

Yesterday, Santa Monica hosted the latest iteration of its popular Coast open streets festival. Two miles of Santa Monica streets were closed to cars and open to bicycling, walking, skating, and much more. The all-ages event attracted lots of families.

The relatively short distance attracted a higher percentage of pedestrians compared to other L.A. County open streets events. Anecdotally, this writer observed that about half the participants were on foot. A few bicyclists seemed impatient with the foot traffic, but for the most part, active transportation modes shared the space peacefully.

Coast featured lots of booths, displays, music, puppets, and much more.

Farmers Market stalls placed along the Coast route on Santa Monica's Main Street — Sunday Farmers Market stalls, normally in an off-street parking lot, were placed along the Coast route on Santa Monica’s Main Street

Coast20192 — Santa Monica City vehicles on display, many available for kids to sit in

Demonstration — Demonstration pop-up protected bike lanes along Ocean Avenue. Santa Monica has an excellent protected bikeway along Colorado Avenue. This one felt like a bit of a tight gauntlet with its tall metal barricades.

Whale puppet/float making its way along the Coast route

Quirky karaoke newscaster desk at Coast

Readers – how was your experience at yesterday’s Coast open streets festival?

Joe Linton

Read More:

Open Streets | Santa Monica

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Today's Headlines

Thursday’s Headlines

Lots of news on the incoming mayor, and let's not forget it's a CicLAvia weekend

November 12, 2026

SGV Connect 151: Hilda Solis’ Environmental Justice Center

L.A. County Supervisor Solis reflects on the environmental hardships of the Puente area, and her 30+ year mission to bring it a new regional park and educational facility

Chris Greenspon

November 10, 2026

Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Headlines

Election news, ICE, Horvath running for CEO, e-bikes, Caballero Creek park, car-nage and more

Joe Linton

November 10, 2026

This Week In Livable Streets

CicLAvia returns to Pasadena, Culver City mobility, Olympic Blvd. bus lanes, ESFV rail parking, and more

Joe Linton

November 9, 2026

Bob Blumenfield

Blumenfield and Project Partners Cut Ribbon to Open New Caballero Creek River Park

Multiple city departments and state agencies collaborated to reclaim city land that "looked like a junkyard" turning it into a lush green park along the L.A. River in the West San Fernando Valley

Joe Linton

November 9, 2026