BOISE, Idaho — You might have heard of the Goathead Fest, but the Boise Bicycle Project is introducing something new this year. I'm your Boise Bench Neighborhood Reporter Jessica Davis, where soon Latah Street will be shut down for BBP's Open Streets Boise.
- Boise Bicycle Project is preparing for their first Open Streets Boise event, with the Boise Bicycle Project, where on Sunday, Sept. 22, drivers will not be able to access Latah Street, between Morris Hill and Cassia Road creating a space without cars.
- If you want to ride with other cyclists to the event, you can hop on a "bike bus" where cyclists will ride together to the event from BBP, the Boise Co-op, Sunset Park and Common Ground Coffee & Market.
- Open Streets Boise will take place on Sunday September 22nd. It starts at 12 p.m. and ends around 5 p.m.
(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)
"This year we're excited to announce open streets Boise it's the next iteration of our community event series building on Goathead," said Devin McComas, Executive Director of Boise Bicycle Project.
Goathead Fest is a Boise Bicycle Project staple, now the event is evolving, bringing the love of biking to this Boise Bench neighborhood.
"So, we're taking it to the streets," McComas said. "What we're doing is joining a global movement called 'opening,' in which citizens close down the street in their neighborhood and they're empowered to see their public space as something that works for them."
The idea for Open Streets is, well, making the space open — that means eliminating cars and inviting cyclists, skaters, and walkers to take over the street.
"The idea with open streets is activating the space, so while we'll have concerts, we'll have shows," McComas said. "It's also about enjoying that public space where you can feel safe, come together as a community."
Open streets will be in the Latah neighborhood on Sept. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. The street will be closed from the cemetery to Cassia Park.
"The big opportunity here is we get to take the event out of Downtown Boise and into the communities where we know we're giving away bikes, where people might not have access to bikes," McComas added. "We're demonstrating we need to invest in infrastructure in those communities that their safety is important that they can join us as a cyclist, as a person who walks around the neighborhood, as an artist."
Each year, the newly named festival will find a new neighborhood, giving bike lovers across Boise a chance to experience open streets.
And Goathead Fest isn't completely gone, there will be a Boise Goathead Fest zone, with a DJ and some interesting looking bikes.
If you want to ride down to the event with other cyclists, you can hope on a "bike bus" where cyclists will ride together to the event from BBP, the Boise Co-op, Sunset Park and Common Ground Coffee & Market.
Open Streets Boise will take place on Sunday September 22nd. It starts at 12 p.m. and ends around 5 p.m.
