Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Damien Talks

DamienTalksSGV 29 – Sunday’s 626 Golden Streets Was 17 Miles of Car-Free Heaven

You know we’ve got a great episode of #DamienTalks when a woman who is eight months pregnant and running a half-marathon is the fourth interview in the podcast.

Today, #DamienTalks looks back at last Sunday’s mammoth open streets event, the 626 in the San Gabriel Valley. #DamienTalks with Joe Linton, the first staff person for open streets super-group CicLAvia, and Brian Velez of BikeSGV. Later, we podcast five interviews Velez conducted with people enjoying the 626 in the sun and rain last Sunday.

To call the 626 a success would be an understatement. Even with the rain, the event attracted roughly 100,000 participants. They biked, jogged, walked, or rolled the seventeen miles of car-free streets along a route that was roughly parallel to the Gold Line Foothill Extension that opened last year.

For more coverage of the event, visit this open thread from Streetsblog yesterday, or check out these stories on ABC7 and in the SGV Tribune and South Pasadena Review.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

The Week in Short Video at SBCAL/SBLA

New Legislation! CicLAvia! No Kings! A Metro echo dome! All of this week's Streetsblog California and Streetsblog Los Angeles short videos in one place.

October 17, 2025

State Transit Transformation Task Force Concludes Its Work with Unsatisfying Final Meeting

Task Force members were disappointed in the scope of the final recommendations, but hope they serve as a starting point for greater reform.

October 17, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

No Kings. Yes Bike Trails.

October 17, 2025

‘Embarrassment’: Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking Still Flawed at Night

Relying solely on vehicle automation for pedestrian detection and collision avoidance is not advised, a new study said.

October 16, 2025

Oakland’s 14th Street Project Wins on Details

Oakland DOT is getting praise from advocates for the attention to detail on the 14th street protected bike lane. Unfortunately, the project is also running late.

October 16, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

As California works on transit funding, Trump accelerates the war on CA.

October 16, 2025
See all posts