Open Streets

Beach Streets Uptown – Open Streets Open Thread

Cyclists, skaters and pedestrians took to two miles of North Long Beach streets - including a revamped Artesia Boulevard - though participation was somewhat sparser than past Beach Streets events

By Joe Linton

1:44 PM PST on November 12, 2024

Beach Streets Uptown – Open Streets Open Thread

Beach Streets Uptown. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog

LongBeachize_Ad_Concepts — This article 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.

On Saturday, the city of Long Beach hosted the latest iteration of its popular open streets festival: Beach Streets. With two miles of Artesia and Atlantic Boulevards closed to cars, thousands of people enjoyed bicycling, walking, skating, and more.

Long Beach has long been among just a few Southern California cities that strongly support green transportation. The city has facilitated bicycling, walking, and transit, through programs – including Beach Streets – and infrastructure – from protected bike lanes to bike paths to traffic circles and more.

When the city did not receive anticipated Metro funding, Long Beach considered canceling the Beach Streets Uptown event. Ultimately the date was postponed, and the city proceeded with a shortened route.

While it’s promising that the city successfully proceeded with a reduced budget, it showed. Advance publicity appeared insufficient. Attendance was somewhat sparser than past Beach Streets events. Participants were definitely out enjoying themselves, especially at activity hubs. Along the shortened route, though, attendees were more intermittent than continuous. Parts of Artesia Boulevard felt too quiet.

Hopefully the crowds will return for next year’s first ever Beach Streets in West Long Beach, tentatively Saturday May 10, 2025.

Below are photos from Beach Streets Uptown 2024.

Beach Streets Uptown on Artesia Boulevard

Cyclists, pedestrians, skaters and strollers on Atlantic Boulevard during Beach Streets

Skaters and pedestrians on Atlantic. (The city closed the east half of Atlantic, so car traffic remained on the west side of the street – behind temporary barriers and concrete curbed medians.)

The event previewed the city of Long Beach’s Artesia Great Boulevard Project. Construction is winding down on the three-mile-long project. Features include protected bike lanes (parts curb-protected, parts parking-protected), landscaped medians, plus additional walk, transit, landscaping, and rainwater features. On Saturday, cyclists and skaters appreciated the project’s now smooth (recently repaved) street surface.

Map of Long Beach’s Artesia Great Boulevard Project

Bus island, curb-protected bike lane, pedestrian lighting, and rain garden – all parts of Long Beach’s Artesia Great Boulevard Project

New landscaped island protects Artesia Boulevard bike lane

Readers – how was your experience at this year’s Beach Streets Uptown?

Joe Linton

Communities | Issues | Long Beach | Open Streets

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