Speed walkers, rollerbladers, and bicyclists shut down traffic at today’s Walk + Roll event. Every Sunday this month, a 2.2-mile stretch of Martin Luther King Boulevard will be blocked off to cars and trucks. “A friend of mine had seen something like it in Central Park and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we did it in Cleveland?’” recalls organizer Lois Moss.

The second-annual environmentally conscious outing also takes a cue from similar smog-free celebrations in London and Paris. “Ours is different, though, because those cities close the streets, walk away, and let the people do whatever they want to do,” says Moss. “This is more than just having fun. It’s about showing people that they can live and play in a downtown neighborhood.” Along with all the skating and biking, actors from Charenton, Red Hen, and Cleveland Public theaters will perform scenes from upcoming productions, while bands play some music. Down the road, instructors will give in-line-skating and bicycle-safety lessons. Plus, fitness gurus lead yoga and tai-chi workshops. “Do something besides drive your car,” says Moss. “Take public transportation, walk, or ride a bicycle. If you’ve never experienced MLK Boulevard without cars, your mind will be blown.”
Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Starts: Aug. 5. Continues through Aug. 26

This article appears in Aug 1-7, 2007.