Participants walk, skate and cycle Sunday at Siclovia at Broadway and Grayson. Broadway was closed between Parland and Alamo Plaza for the event sponsored by the city of San Antonio. File
By Ian Coleman
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Siclovia will return to Broadway Sept. 28, offering 3.25 miles of cleared streets for pedestrians to engage in physical activities.
This fall’s Siclovia adds a new northeast arm to the route, extending from Nolan Street into the Dignowity Hill neighborhood, where it will end at Dignowity and Lockwood parks.
Siclovia is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. But those who wish to run in the Siclovia 5K must register and pay on www.ymcasatx.org/siclovia.
Sandy Morander, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, said in an email that the YMCA tries to present something new at each Siclovia.
“This route extension adds a fresh take on our event while serving East Side residents who may have not been able to experience past Siclovias,” Morander said.
The city of San Antonio will close off Broadway south from East Mulberry Avenue to McCullough Avenue and North Alamo Street onto Alamo Plaza.
“Moving is the main thing,” said Monica Garza, director of community wellness.
Participants are encouraged to bring bicycles, skateboards, running shoes and even footballs and Frisbees to encourage physical activity.
Participants must observe proper road etiquette and keep traffic moving, Garza said. Faster entrants should use the center of the route, leaving the sides open for slower participants. Parents should always accompany younger children, and pets must be on short leashes.
Garza recommends participants bring refillable water containers. Water will be available at Reclovias, which are stopping points where pedestrians may rest, engage in group exercise classes and listen to live music.
Reclovias will be located along Broadway at locations like Maverick Park, Alamo Plaza and Lockwood and Dignowity parks.
According to the YMCA San Antonio website, Siclovia is modeled after an event in Bogotá, Columbia, named Ciclovía, which began about 30 years ago with eight miles of open streets. Today, its popularity in Bogotá has allowed it to expand to 70 miles of car-free streets.
City officials will begin closing Broadway Steet at 6 a.m. Sept. 28 for the Siclovia 5K which will start at 8a.m. Participants will begin at Alamo Plaza and run along Broadway to Pearl Parkway, where the runners will return to Alamo Plaza.
Siclovia will close McCullough Avenue, from Broadway Avenue to Nolan Street and North Alamo, North Hackberry and North Oliver streets from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call 210-246-9600 or visit www.ymcasatx.org/siclovia.
