Sunday, June 30 at 11 am: Cyclovia Providence returns to Broad Street

Broad Street will be closed to traffic for exclusive use by bicyclists, pedestrians, runners and skaters

On Sunday, June 30, Mayor Angel Taveras and the City of Providence will host the first of three Cyclovía events in Providence this summer, opening the first event on Broad Street in the heart of Providence's historic Elmwood neighborhood.

Cyclovía is a car-free event that opens the street for people of all ages to walk, skate, run, bicycle, exercise and socialize. A half-mile stretch of Broad Street between Thurbers Avenue and Prairie Avenue will be closed to traffic during the event.

"Cyclovía provides Providence residents with a safe and fun environment that promotes cycling, walking and community interaction, all elements of a healthy, balanced lifestyle," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "Residents from across the city will have the opportunity to enjoy their neighborhoods and to experience the great things that Providence has to offer."

Sponsored by Mayor Angel Taveras in collaboration with the Healthy Communities Office and Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Cyclovía will include bicycle workshops, Zumba, yoga, street vendors and more.

• Legend Bicycle and Recycle a Bike will provide bicycle tune ups
• Recycle a Bike Valet will provide valet bike parking
• 212 Health and Performance will conduct Zumba aerobic dance lessons every hour throughout the event, with lessons beginning at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Properties) will host free yoga sessions at 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (in Spanish) and 1:15 p.m. taught by Southside Yoga Center
• YMCA's Y on the Move inflatable obstacle course

Other health activities will be offered by community partners, including the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, East Coast Greenway, RIPTA, Farm Fresh RI, Quisqueya in Action, Family Service of Rhode Island's Providence Children's Initiative, Providence Police District 2 Neighborhood Crime Watch, Elmwood Neighborhood Association, 3 branches of area Community Libraries, the Red Cross, and more.

Cyclovía is supported by the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation, REI and Whole Foods.

Cyclovía is an international phenomenon that reportedly began in Bogotá, Colombia and has spread to cities across the globe, including New York City, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Cambridge, MA.

Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit planning organization, has described Cyclovía as a large-scale community building exercise that facilitates social interaction and activity between people of all ages, incomes, occupations, religions, and races.

Providence held its first-ever Cyclovía in September 2012 on Broad Street. This year, the City of Providence has expanded Cyclovías to include two additional dates and locations:

• Sunday, July 28 on Valley Street in Olneyville (between San Souci Drive and Amherst Street)
• Sunday, September 15 on Hope Street on the East Side (between Lippitt Park and Rochambeau Avenue)

All events will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit providenceri.com/healthy-communities.