The weekly gathering, which began in 1976, is called the Bogota Ciclovia.
(According to the 2010 Census, 12 percent of Brownville’s population is 62 and older.
One in four residents is 50 or older.)
Downtown merchants and restaurants along the route have seen substantially higher sales receipts on CycloBia days and nights.
Our CycloBia gets people off the couch and out and about being active.
It stimulates the economy, its fun, and best of all for the participants it’s free!"
The first CycloBia was held in the fall of 2012.
Each CycloBia is four hours long.
Surveys indicate that people who come to the CycloBia have increased their physical activity after attending.
Studies about ciclovias in other cities have also shown increased physical activity for participants.
The median household income is $30,000, and one in three Brownsville residents is diabetic.
(In the nation as a whole, roughly one in 10 people have diabetes.)
Increasing physical activity coupled with making healthier food choices is important in Brownsville for both health and economic reasons.
Illness results in higher costs for individuals as well as for the community-at-large.
Wellness results in a higher quality of life, and it attracts business to the city.
The Step-by-Step Process
For a ciclovia to be successful, many pieces need to fall into place.
Vendors are required to promote either a healthy eating choice or physical activity.
The Advocates
Many organizations throughout the community have stepped forward to participate in the Brownsville CycloBia.
The Hurdles
The Brownsville community needed convincing before the first CycloBia.
Part of the resistance was due to concerns about closing roads to vehicles for an open streets event.
Also, for a lot of residents, bicycling and bicycling for fun was an entirely novel activity.
“They look forward to it and enjoy it!”
Bike rentals at every CycloBia are exhausted and the demand to have more rentals available continues to grow."
People who take part in the CycloBia embrace the event.
(“It has become a local favorite!”
Roaming the route throughout the city will increase visibility and grow participation.
Melissa Stanton is the editor of AARP.org/Livable.
