The spring edition of Síclovía is taking over some Southtown streets again and giving the community a safe place to get moving.
On March 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, participants of all ages are invited to walk, ride or roll through this year’s route, which covers parts of Flores Street, South St. Mary’s Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Some cross-traffic intersections will be closed to all vehicles.
“A lot of people bring their bikes. You can also bring a skateboard or you can walk (the route),” said Shannon Gowen, senior director of mission advancement and communications for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, which organized the event.
“It’s just really for people to explore new parts of town that they might not go to and just to get active,” she said.
Food trucks, a vaccination clinic, exercise classes and other activities will be available along the route. Reclovía areas will offer water, first aid and restrooms.
The biannual event’s popularity has continued to grow over the years despite pauses during peaks of the pandemic. According to The YMCA, the largest Síclovía event was in fall 2019, when 71,062 people participated.
Though last year’s attendance was slightly above the least-attended Síclovía event in 2011, more participants are expected at the family- and pet-friendly event, as the community is out more and feeling safer around others, Gowen said.
The favorite part of the event for Gowen is attending with her family and watching her 5-year-old daughter on a scooter. Before becoming a parent, Gowen said she and her husband attended on their own to just explore downtown.
“ Just the opportunity to get outside and connect with the community is, I think, my favorite thing about it,” she said.
For those planning to attend, Gowen said nice weather should be expected and participants should wear comfortable clothes, bring a full water bottle, sunglasses, walking shoes and money to purchase anything on site.
Síclovía began in Bogotá, Colombia, where a similar event called Cíclovía is celebrated. This is the 11th year Síclovía has occurred in San Antonio.
“It also engages people in exercise, which is, you know, a big part of what we do is taking care of mind, body and spirit,” Gowen said.
Gowen said a COVID-19 clinic also will also be located along the route for those who would like a vaccine, in addition to other fun activities, such as Zumba, Loteria and painting.
The YMCA is still in need of volunteers for the event, including people to assist with a participant count and surveys. To apply to become a volunteer, click here.
“If there’s any businesses, organizations or individuals that are interested, our volunteers help us guide pedestrians on the route,” said Gowen.
This year’s event is sponsored by H-E-B, WellMed and the Metropolitan Health District, among others. Any money raised by the YMCA goes back into future events for Síclovía, Gowen said.
Disclosure: Shannon Gowen, senior director of mission advancement and communications for the YMCA, is the wife of San Antonio Report Photo Editor Scott Ball.
