The streets of Atlanta’s West End will spring to life on Sunday, April 19 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., as a 3.5-mile loop in the Historic West End is opened to people on foot, bike, and other human-powered activities, and closed to motorized traffic.

Photo by Fenglong Photography

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s open-streets initiative, Atlanta Streets Alive, is designed to give people the opportunity to experience vibrant, people-oriented streets that encourage walking, biking, and other healthy activities, by taking cars out of the equation for the afternoon. Last year was Atlanta Streets Alive’s first visit to the West End.

This year’s event will feature:

• Tactical urbanism, or inexpensive, individual projects that make small places more lively and enjoyable, designed with seniors in mind, through a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission.
•  People for a Livable Lee Street will construct a pop-up protected bike lane on Lee Street. Lee Street will be highlighted during the event in order to bring attention to the group’s goal of converting this high speed arterial to a Complete Street that encourages transportation by foot and on bike, while connecting neighborhoods, transit, and jobs.
• Atlanta BeltLine’s West End Trail and the currently under construction Westside Trail.
• Music in the Park ATL. Activities will include roving musical performances by Music in the Park, a local nonprofit dedicated to enlightening young performers and inspiring vibrancy in communities through music and performing arts.

Businesses and organizations along the route are invited to sponsor Atlanta Streets Alive or create an activity and join in the fun.

Photo by Fenglong Photography

Community groups and businesses can get involved by: extending business onto the sidewalk by setting up cafe tables or displays and serving guests and customers; planning or sponsoring an activity that activates the space in front of their business; volunteering to help run the event or becoming a sponsor of the event.

The event will kick off with remarks by Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Executive Director, elected officials, and sponsors at 2 p.m., followed by the Bicycle Parade.

 The following streets will be closed to car traffic on Sunday April 19th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

*Ralph David Abernathy Blvd (from Langhorn St SW to Lee Street SW) all lanes

*Lee Street SW (from Ralph David Abernathy to Donnelly) all lanes

*White St SW (from Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW to Lee St SW) all lanes

*Peeples St SW (from Ralph David Abernathy to White St SW) all lanes

Cars will be allowed to cross Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW at Lawton St. SW and White St. SW; Peeples St. SW at Oglethorpe Ave.; Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. crossing Ralph David Abernathy Blvd (businesses and residents only.)

Sponsors of Atlanta Streets Alive in the West End include MailChimp, Creative Loafing, New Belgium Brewing, the Atlanta Regional Commission, Wells Fargo, and 92.9 The Game Atlanta Sports Radio.

The next Atlanta Streets Alive event will take place Sunday, Sept. 27 on a 4.5 mile loop including Highland, North Avenue and surrounding streets. Visit AtlantaStreetsAlive.com for more information about getting involved.  Atlanta Streets Alive is an initiative of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.