Car-Free and Community-Full: SGV’s First Twilight Ciclovía a Resounding Success

Participants in the downtown Alhambra activity hub (Photo – Bryan Zaragoza, ActiveSGV)

On Sunday, June 22, thousands of people celebrated the summer solstice by walking, biking, and skating along five miles of open streets in the San Gabriel Valley. Connecting the cities of San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Alhambra, the event marked Los Angeles County’s first-ever twilight ciclovía, welcoming the public from 3:00 to 8:00 pm for an evening of car-free exploration and community celebration.

By Wesley Reutmiann

Organized by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) in partnership with the cities of Alhambra, San Gabriel, and South Pasadena, and the nonprofit Active San Gabriel Valley, the event was made possible through support from Metro.

Local dignitaries, including Congressmember Judy Chu, Assemblymember Mike Fong (49th District), SGVCOG President Tim Hepburn, and San Gabriel Vice Mayor Eric Chan, helped kick off the festivities in front of the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.

The route featured an activity hub in each downtown district, offering free games, live performances, and vendor booths.

Opening Ceremony speakers at San Gabriel stage (Photo – Tanja Reutimann)

Thousands of attendees also had the chance to explore small businesses along Alhambra’s Main Street and in both Mission Districts. Several businesses activated their storefronts with booths to engage the steady flow of people walking, biking, and skating along the route.

Participants of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed the rare chance to experience a section of historic Route 66 and some of the San Gabriel Valley’s most iconic streets. Families could be seen walking or rolling the route on all kinds of wheeled devices—from wagons to one wheels. Young cyclists in training were a common sight, as the car-free streets gave families a safe space to help the next generation learn to ride.

Pilar Reynaldo, an attendee from the Garvanza neighborhood of Los Angeles, shared, “Even though thousands of people participated, I ran into so many people I know, which allowed me to catch up with old friends I hadn’t seen in years. This would never happen in a car. An active streets event should happen somewhere in the city every weekend, more than ever, we all need connection.”

The next Active Streets – Corazón del Valle – is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 2, 2025. The event will connect the cities of El Monte and South El Monte in Fall. To receive updates about upcoming dates, sign up at activesgv.org/get-involved.

Participants on Marengo Avenue in South Pasadena (Photo – Bryan Zaragoza, ActiveSGV)