What is a Cyclovia?

Cyclovia means Life to the street!

Imagine roads with barely a car insight and people of all ages walking, cycling, rollerblading or pushing a pram. That’s what a Cyclovia is. Although Cyclovia (pronounced ‘Sik-lov-ia’) might sound new for some cities, it has been happening for over 30 years in countries around the world such as Colombia, France and Italy.

Cyclovias are much more than simply closing roads. Three main characteristics have made cyclovias possible in many developed and developing countries:

• Characteristics of the road/s selected
• Intersections
• Volunteers

Characteristics of the Road/s selected

Boulevards, local streets, arterial roads and even highways can be used for Cyclovias. The key is to select roads attractive to locals, accessible and long enough for people to enjoy cycling, rollerblading or walking. The photos on the left are some examples of roads used around the world.

The identification and design of the most suitable road/s for a Cyclovia are part of the support that the Cyclovia Group offers to cities and organizations wanting to develop a Cyclovia in their municipality. This support is provided to cities developing Cyclovias for the first time and to those that would like to improve their current Cyclovia network.

Intersections

During a Cyclovia, cars are not allowed to drive along the designated road/s but are still able to cross at signalled intersections, minimizing the impact on private car use and mobility in the surrounding areas. In most cases, signalled intersections maintain normal operation with the support of marshals.

Here is a video (approx 2Mb) of an intersection operating in Bogota - Colombia

Volunteers

Cyclovias are usually run by volunteers. They are commonly responsible for supporting intersections, providing information to participants and, in some cases, are also trained to provide first aid. Volunteers are fundamental to making Cyclovias sustainable in the future. The size of the Cyclovia will determine the number of volunteers required.

At the Cyclovia Group, a complete certification program has been developed for volunteers. This program includes recruitment, three different levels of training, and social activities. If you would like to become a volunteer please visit this page

Moreland - Australia