Oaklavia invited Oaklanders to “come play in the streets” without cars on Sunday and come they did  - on bicycles and roller skates, in strollers and pedicabs. It was a great, sunny day to play in the streets.

The streets of downtown Oakland, normally deserted on a Sunday, pulsed with dance rhythms and phat beats. Walkers and roller bladders enjoyed the open streets, but cyclists were the majority of the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people who attended the East Bay’s first ciclovia, according to event organizers WalkOaklandBikeOakland.

A game of four-square in the middle of Broadway kept a full compliment of four playing for most of the day. Unicycle basketball players dribbled their way down sun-dappled streets. Cyclists made their way up and down the two-mile course, chatting and winding their way around kids on tricycles and scooters.

Businesses benefitted as well: restaurants, normally closed on Sunday, had lines out the door. La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen on Seventh Street held it’s 66th anniversary party in the street and hosted Bomba y Pena dance performances and lessons.

There were many only-in-Oakland touches, some of which included hand-made bikes cruises, Oaklandish was on hand to spread the word about their work and Oaksterdam University provided free pedicab rides in the Cannabis Cruiser.

There also were lots of activities to entertain children. There were circus demonstrations at Kinetic Arts, hula hooping and a Kid’s Bike Rodeo sponsored by Cycles of Change and East Bay Bike Coalition. Perhaps the most fun for kids was the simple joy of running free in the streets.

“It has been crazy ... utter insanity ... good insanity” said Clay Wagers, co-owner of Bay Area Bikes. “It’s something we need to see more often. It’s the best promotion for healthy living in Oakland.”

Oaklavia coordinator Karen Hester  said she felt the event brought out the child in everyone.

"I think we accomplished our goals - we experienced the freedom and profound joy that come from being in the heart of an urban city and seeing it anew, moving through it at a speed where we can take in the sky, the architecture, the people smiling at every corner," Hester said. "We could be like the children around us, relaxed and present in the beauty of the moment, with the fear of  cars the furthest thing from our minds."