Get ready to reclaim the streets this Sunday. Atlanta Streets Alive is kicking off what organizers promise will be the biggest year in the event's history, starting with a brand-new route that stretches about two miles from Broad Street in South Downtown all the way to the Westside Trail in Vine City via M.L.K Jr. Drive.
What I love about this route is how it connects two areas that are both seeing major changes right now. South Downtown has been on fire with new development, and Vine City is experiencing its own renaissance. Having a car-free corridor connecting them gives people a chance to experience both neighborhoods on foot or bike, which is exactly what these events are supposed to do.
This is the first of eight planned Streets Alive events for 2026, which is apparently a record. Some of the later events will tie into World Cup hoopla, which should make for some interesting crowds. The Atlanta Department of Transportation and Propel ATL have been doing these for years now, and they keep getting better at creating routes that actually make sense for exploring the city.
