Updated: 10:51 a.m. June 2, 2023.
Editor's note: Denverite originally planned to table at the June 4 event, but the rainy forecast has changed our plans. We'll keep you updated on future plans to table at either of the two remaining ¡Viva! Streets events. This article has been updated to reflect the change of plans.
If you missed your first chance to bike or traverse down three, car-free miles of Broadway and Welton Streets, here's some good news: ¡Viva! Streets is back this Sunday, but will close at 11:30 a.m. because of severe weather.
Here's what the first iteration of ¡Viva! looked like in mid-May. Organized through a partnership between the city, Downtown Denver Partnership and Denver Streets Partnership, there were people dancing on the street, enthusiastic cyclists running into friends and families with strollers enjoying the open streets. May's rain may have dampened turnout (and might return again this Sunday), but Denver Streets Partnership organizer Jill Locantore saw success.
"We have music and we have people laughing and talking and you can hear birds singing on Broadway," she said. "Can you imagine a parent feeling safe, allowing their kid to be on a street like Broadway? But they can today, and it just demonstrates what's possible."
¡Viva! is modeled off "ciclovía" (Spanish for "bikeway"), an event started in Bogotá, Colombia in the 1970s.
The Denver route runs north on Broadway from Alameda Avenue to Welton, and continues on Welton to Downing Street. Cars can cross at at 6th., 8th., 17th., 18th. and 20th. Aves., along with Speer Blvd., Colfax Ave. and Park Ave.
These RTD bus routes will have detours: 0, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 15L, 19, 28, 48, 52, 83 and the 16th Street Free MallRide. The L line will not run during the event (RTD suggests the 43 bus as an alternative). RTD routes will resume as normal at 2 p.m.
In addition to Sunday, the next two ¡Viva! Streets will take place on July 9 and Aug. 6.
