Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

Ciclovia, Sunday Parkways, Open Streets, Walk and Roll -- no matter what your community calls its car-free street event, they are well worth the effort, according to a new study published in the Journal of Urban Health. A careful cost-benefit analysis of Ciclovia-style events in four different countries found that the health benefits of these type of events far exceed the costs.

false

Jonathan Maus at Network blog Bike Portland said this is something for cities to keep in mind as budget pressures force cutbacks, making "extras" like street festivals vulnerable:

The results of all this number-crunching showed that these programs are definitely worth the investment because they reduce health costs and allow people to live longer — and therefore more economically productive — lives.

The study analyzed the costs and participation numbers of four ciclovia events: the original Ciclovia in Bogota; the Via RecreActiva in Guadalajara (which I participated in back in 2009); the Medellin Ciclovia; and the Sunday Streets events in San Francisco (which are similar to our Sunday Parkways).

Taking San Francisco’s Sunday Streets program as an example, the researchers found that with the event's total annual project cost of $1.7 million (based on 52 events) and an annual cost per capita of $70.50, the projected cost-benefit ratio was 2.32. "This indicated savings in direct medical costs of US $2.3 for every dollar invested in the program if the program occurs regularly every week." (*Note: The SF event only happens nine times but the researchers based their calculations on a weekly event projection.)

Learning about the tremendous health benefits that result from closing streets to car traffic just a few days a year makes you wonder how much society would benefit if more people felt comfortable being active on city streets every day.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space shares a video that flips the "Portlandia" concept on its head with "The Dream of the Suburbs is Alive in Vancouver (Washington)." Riding in Riverside defends vehicular cycling advocates based on street conditions in the suburbs. And Grid Chicago reports that as Chi Town achieves attainment status on one air pollution measure, the region will lose $90 million in funding that could have been used for sustainable transportation projects.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Back the Bikes

Setting aside the fact that bike lanes don't make traffic worse, resisting bikelash on busy roads is essential to creating a useable network.

April 18, 2025

Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer? 

States like Georgia are taking a critical look at their drivers education programs — but some say the whole concept of driver's ed deserves scrutiny.

April 18, 2025

Friday Video: Ken Jennings Has a Web Series About Transit!

Jeopardy's host and most famous player is a big fan of the bus — and he's helping educate his fellow Washingtonians about why they should be, too.

April 18, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Pacific Circuit

Alexis Madrigal connects containerization to globalization and its direct impacts on one Oakland neighborhood.

April 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Wonder Why

Why are drivers killing so many pedestrians? Governing magazine has a number of familiar theories.

April 17, 2025
See all posts