CicLAvia Helping Restaurants Keep Outdoor Dining

CicLAvia is working with the city to make its "al fresco dining" program permanent.

1 minute read

May 27, 2021, 10:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Open Streets

Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock

Long before the pandemic made outdoor dining a necessity and "slow streets" a widespread concept, residents of Los Angeles had the opportunity to experience their city without cars through a series of events called CicLAvia. Inspired by Bogota's Ciclovia program, the L.A. version "created pop-up events in L.A. for people to walk, bike, or skate through the city on closed roads." Olivia Richard, writing in LAist, reports on how the nonprofit is using its experience to help restaurateurs make outdoor dining permanent.

"[T]he organization is teaming up with the city of L.A. to help make permanent the al fresco dining program that was launched during the pandemic" and "has been steadily working to assist restaurant owners who are shifting to outdoor dining, but don’t have experience in utilizing outdoor space for that purpose." Despite concerns on the part of restaurant owners about the cost and labor required to implement outdoor dining, says Rachel Burke, director of production for CicLAvia, "It's pretty easy to take this space and use it for something other than cars."

Despite concerns about reduced parking, restaurants on "slow streets" have experienced economic benefits during the past year. As pandemic restrictions wind down, cities will have to decide whether to keep their outdoor dining and slow streets programs in place.

Sunday, May 23, 2021 in LAist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

May 1, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

6-story building at Honolulu Community College.

Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies program highlights the role of community colleges in preparing nontraditional students for careers in architectural and construction technologies.

30 minutes ago - University of Hawai'i News

"Radiation Zone, Keep Out" sign on wood post with red Arizona desert mesa in background

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions

Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.

1 hour ago - Cambridge University Press

Concrete building wth Department of Housing and Urban Development sign

Blocked, Restored, Blocked Again — Housing Funds in Legal Limbo

Since Trump took office, the administration has blocked multiple affordable housing funding streams. Here's a look at which funds have been frozen, which have been reinstated, and which are in the courts.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.