San Antonio's Síclovía returns to Broadway six years later
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Síclovía is a family-friendly event. Photo: Courtesy of YMCA
Síclovía, San Antonio's open streets, car-free event, is making its long-awaited return to Broadway on Sunday, marking the first time the route has been used since 2019.
Why it matters: Síclovía temporarily shuts down streets to cars, giving San Antonians a unique opportunity to play outside and connect with the community.
Driving the news: Previously a biannual event organized by the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, Síclovía is now held annually in the spring. The route changes based on construction and permit availability, which is why Broadway hasn't been used since 2019.
- Last year's event took place on North St. Mary's Street.
- Construction on lower Broadway, which is part of the route, finished in October.
Flashback: Síclovía debuted on Broadway in 2011 as San Antonio's version of Ciclovía, a tradition that started in Bogotá, Colombia, more than 30 years ago.
What they're saying: Along with being the birthplace of Síclovía, the Broadway route has long been a crowd favorite due to its flat terrain and access to parks, Shannon Gowen, vice president of marketing and communications for the YMCA, tells Axios.
- "We do a survey after every event, and everybody always asks us to go back to Broadway. That's their favorite route every single time," she says.
How it works: The 2.2-mile stretch of Broadway from Parland Place to McCullough Avenue will be car-free from 9am-3pm for the event, which will be from 10am-2pm. It's a non-competitive event, with no start or finish lines and no registration required.
- Attendees choose how they want to enjoy the path, whether it's walking, biking, skateboarding or more.
- Five "Reclovías," or activation zones, will feature activities like Zumba, vendors, and group exercises along the route.
By the numbers: 1.1 million people have participated in Síclovía since 2011.
- Nearly 60% of attendees cite physical activity as their main reason for attending.
- 47% say they would otherwise be inactive indoors.
- 39% report being more active since attending, according to Síclovía's post-event survey.
What we're watching: Where Síclovía will roll next. While Broadway has been a staple, it's not yet confirmed to be a route in 2026, Gowen says.