Open Streets / Ciclovía Event Toolkit Permits, Marshals & Metrics

Open Streets events—also known as Ciclovías—are reshaping how cities and communities reclaim public space. By temporarily closing roads to motor vehicles and opening them up for people to walk, bike, dance, play, and connect, these events offer a compelling glimpse into healthier, more inclusive urban life.

In 2025, the momentum has only grown stronger. With models like Summer Streets in NYC, CicLAvia in L.A., Atlanta Streets Alive, and Minneapolis Open Streets, cities across the U.S. and beyond are reporting record-breaking attendance, improved air quality, economic boosts, and deeper community engagement.

This expanded guide walks you through every essential phase—from permits and team building to programming, safety, and measuring long-term impact. Whether you’re starting small in your neighborhood or coordinating a citywide activation, this 1700-word toolkit gives you the strategies, best practices, and real-world examples you need to succeed.

Why Open Streets Matter in 2025

Open Streets events aren’t just about temporarily banning cars—they’re about creating people-powered spaces that transform communities:

• Boost Physical Activity: They encourage walking, biking, and outdoor fitness.
• Support Local Economies: Businesses along the route see sales increases of 10–57%.
• Promote Environmental Sustainability: With fewer cars, pollution levels drop dramatically.
• Build Social Capital: Events unite neighbors and create safer, more inclusive urban environments.
• Encourage Infrastructure Changes: Cities often pilot bike lanes and public amenities during these events.

Building a Core Team & Securing Permits

Key Roles in the Planning Team

Start with a small, committed group and assign overlapping responsibilities early on. Expand as the event scales. Key roles include:

Role	Responsibilities
Project Lead	Oversees planning, budgeting, execution
Route Planner	Works with city on logistics and closures
Permitting & Insurance Lead	Handles paperwork, insurance, city approvals
Community Outreach	Liaisons with local orgs, residents, and businesses
Programming & Activation Coordinator	Schedules performers, fitness classes, etc.
Marketing & Communications	Promotes the event via media, social, and print
Evaluation Lead	Gathers metrics on attendance, business impact, safety

Permit Types & Timelines

Permit requirements vary by city but typically include:

• Neighborhood Open Streets Permit: For local residential roads
• Festival/Open Streets Festival Permit: For collector or arterial routes
• Slow Street Applications: For repeated or long-term partial closures

Timing:

• Start early: At least 4–6 weeks before the event.
• In Nashville, permits must be submitted a month in advance, with finalization 1 week prior.

Insurance & Liability

Cities like NYC often require up to $1 million in liability coverage. Consider:

• Partnering with an umbrella nonprofit for coverage
• Checking for city-sponsored event insurance programs
• Documenting your safety plan as part of the permit application

On-Street Operations: Marshals, Barriers & Signage

Marshal Recruitment

Marshals are the backbone of event safety and flow. Their roles include:

• Monitoring intersections
• Guiding participants
• Communicating with emergency responders
• Reporting incidents

Recruit:

• Neighborhood volunteers
• Local high school/college students (as interns)
• Civic groups, scout troops, or bike clubs

In Nashville, interns and local neighbors often collect signatures, hand out flyers, and help place road signs.

Signage, Barriers, and Control Equipment

You’ll need to:

• Rent or borrow barricades and cones
• Use A-frame signs, chalk stencils, and banners to guide attendees
• City sign-share programs can help reduce setup costs

Route Design Considerations

Design your route with accessibility and impact in mind:

• Connect business corridors, schools, parks, and transit
• Avoid conflicting with large events like parades or marathons
• Consider time of day and weather conditions
• Arterial roads need more traffic control, while neighborhood routes are easier to manage

Community Programming & Inclusive Activation

The most successful Open Streets events offer diverse, inclusive programming that reflects the local culture and engages all age groups.

Programming Ideas

• Live Music & DJs
• Fitness & Dance Classes
• Kids Zones: face painting, games, art walls
• Pop-Up Markets for local makers, artists, and food trucks
• Bike Safety Clinics & Repair Tents
• Community Murals or chalk-art spaces

Case Studies from 2025

Open Streets DC

• Route: 1-mile Capitol Hill closure
• Programming: Foam parties, Double Dutch, yoga, music stages, and community vendors
• Partners: Schools, fitness studios, and youth orgs

Fort Worth Open Streets

• Length: 6 hours
• Partners: 120+ organizations
• Activities: Dog-walking parades, food trucks, cycling rodeos, live art, and community booths

CicLAvia (L.A.)

• Average of 53,000 attendees per event
• Known for celebrating neighborhood identity, cultural performance, and active transport

Measuring Impact: Metrics That Matter

Attendance Counts

Use:

• Manual clickers at route entry points
• Drone or satellite imaging for crowd estimation
• App-based check-ins (with QR codes)
• Volunteer headcounts during peak hours

CicLAvia: 1.8 million total participants since 2010
Summer Streets NYC (2025): 300,000+ attendees over 20 miles

Business & Economic Metrics

Track:

• Sales receipts before/after events
• Business surveys
• Foot traffic counts from door sensors

L.A. Data: Business sales rose 10–57% during CicLAvia
NYC: Improved sales, especially at cafes, fitness studios, and local markets

Physical Activity & Behavior Change

• Pre/post event surveys on activity levels
• Partner with local health agencies for data collection

In L.A., 45% of CicLAvia participants said they would have otherwise been sedentary that day

Safety & Public Health Outcomes

• Use police reports to track crash or incident data
• Monitor air quality changes (use city sensors or partner with universities)
• Survey participants on perceived safety

NYC redesigns showed 77–89% crash reductions on streets used during Open Streets—even outside of event hours

Equity & Inclusion Metrics

• Map events in relation to underserved areas
• Count % of minority, youth, disabled, and elderly participants
• Provide translated materials and ADA-friendly programming

Toolkit at a Glance: Step-by-Step

Step	Key Actions	Advice
Team Building	Recruit planners: logistics, outreach, marketing	Start small—roles can overlap at first
Route & Permits	Define route, submit permits	Begin 4–6 weeks out; finalize at least 1 week prior
Marshals & Signage	Train volunteers, obtain barriers/signs	Check for sign-share programs; tap civic groups for help
Programming	Schedule inclusive events and performances	Focus on free, family-friendly, and culturally relevant acts
Community Outreach	Flyering, social media, partner emails	Engage residents, schools, churches, and neighborhood orgs
Metrics Collection	Headcounts, surveys, business data	Assign roles to collect and report this info on event day
Reporting	Share outcomes with city, funders, and press	Visual infographics help demonstrate success

City Highlights: Quick Facts

City	Notable Stats
NYC Summer Streets	20 miles opened; 300,000+ attendees; improved air quality
CicLAvia (L.A.)	1.8M total participants; ~53K/event; sales up to 57%; improved crime & air data
Atlanta Streets Alive	Grew from 5,000 in 2010 to 134,000 by 2018
Minneapolis	700,000+ participants since 2011; 4 events in 2025
Fort Worth	6-hour event; 120+ community partners; dog-walking, yoga, food trucks
Open Streets DC	1-mile Capitol Hill; music, clinics, vendors, foam parties

Promoting Your Event

• Social Media Toolkits: Pre-made posts, hashtags, and shareable graphics
• Community Flyers: In multiple languages, distributed to schools, centers, and businesses
• Partner Amplification: Let every participating org post and tag their followers
• Local Press: Pitch human-interest angles to TV/radio
• Posters at Transit Stops: QR codes leading to the route map

Scaling Up: From Pilot to Citywide

Start with:

• 1–2 mile routes in walkable, dense neighborhoods
• Local volunteer power
• A half-day event on a weekend

Then expand:

• More routes per year
• Neighborhood equity-focused programming
• Budget allocation from city departments
• Interagency collaboration (e.g., parks, transit, health)

Example: NYC had 326 Open Streets in 2021, though reduced to 232 by 2024 due to funding and permit changes. Focus on sustainable scaling models.

Open Streets and Ciclovías offer more than temporary joy—they are transformational tools. They teach us how public space can serve people over vehicles, empower communities, and elevate health, equity, and sustainability.

By assembling a team, managing permits, programming inclusive events, measuring success, and iterating year over year, you can turn empty asphalt into vibrant community corridors.

From a 1-mile stretch in a quiet neighborhood to 20 miles of bustling city thoroughfares, every Open Streets event is a step toward reimagining urban life.

FAQs